North Dakota where she received her Masters in Micro-Biology. Since then she has completed her studies on her Doctorate. At present Julie is doing research in the Mayo Hospital at Scottsdale, AZ. John is serving a Lutheran church in Mesa, AZ. They have three children: Jeff, an Electrical Engineer; Jay, a pilot flying charter out of Rochester, MN; and Heather just graduated from the University of Minnesota, Winona, MN.

Steve married Sharon Marie Hanson. He graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. He entered the Army Air Force in Jan 1969 and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the Vietnam Conflict. Steve returned to the States and was discharged from active service as a Captain. Since his discharge he has worked as a stockbroker in Stockton, CA. He also has served the Air Force as Liaison between the northern area of California and the Academy at Colorado Springs. He now holds the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

Gideon Seegmiller

Since our retirement we have been involved with the search of our roots, here, in Canada, France, Switzerland and Norway. This has required some traveling. We have made a number of trips to Europe and Norway and have had the good fortune to visit with many relatives and found much information pertaining to our ancestors. We have much information that we have researched on side lines that we have not entered into our computer, but as of now we have more than 13,000 individuals entered. This includes much data on and including dates and places of birth, marriages and deaths.

Seegmiller, Jacque Jacob

(Gillmer Seegmiller)

Jacob Seegmiller was born 28 Nov 1838 in Hurtigheim, Alsace, France. Jacque Jacob Seegmiller II was the son of Marie Catherine Litt, born in Duntzeheim, Alsace, France on 14 Jan 1808, and Jacque Seegmiller, born in Hurtigheim, Alsace, France on 7 Oct 1808. His father died in 1840 at Hurtigheim, Alsace, France, and Marie Catherine later married Valentin Barth of Quatzenheim, Alsace. In the spring of 1853 the family, consisting of

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Seegmiller

Valentin, mother Marie Catherine, a sister Marie Catherine, and Jacque, left France and sailed for the United States, arriving in New York 5 Apr 1853 on the Bark Waltham, captained by Captain Franklin Hondlette. They left immediately for Ontario, Canada, traveling up the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Niagara then across to Ontario, where relatives and friends from France had settled. Arriving in Canada, they were met by brothers and sister of the mother Marie Catherine, but sadly the mother Marie passed away within several days of arriving in Canada. The sister went to live with the Litt families, but Jacob lived with an Adam Seegmiller in Stratford, Ontario. Adam had a leather tanning and shoe making business. Jacob worked for Adam learning the shoe making trade for three years, and for his work earned $100.00.

In 1856 he started his own business. On 22 Feb 1860 Jacob married Mary Schwalm. That same year he came to Winneshiek Co. and purchased land in the Locust area. He returned to Canada, and in the spring of 1861 he moved his wife and small son to Iowa. They arrived in Decorah, and there was only one room left at the Winneshiek Hotel. Mary and the baby shared the room with another woman and baby while the men slept under the wagon behind the hotel. There were 14 children born to this union, but due to thyroid fever and diphtheria, only eight children reached adulthood - John, Gideon, Jacob, Emma, Lydia, William, Reuben and Aaron.

The Litt family in Canada was involved in the raising of horses, and the interest in good horses followed Jacob into Iowa. He and his sons imported and sold Clydesdale, Belgians, Normans, Percherons and a French Coach Horse. Jacob and his oldest son, John, made several trips to France to purchase horses. These horses were shipped by rail from New York to Decorah. Arriving in Decorah they were unloaded at the Kornmeyer Barn which was located at the place now occupied by the Vets Club. The Jacob Seegmiller and Sons business was located in a brick barn that was situated just east of the present Library building. They raised horses on the farm, and sold registered stallions, and mares throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. As the sons were married and started farming, the business was discontinued. However the oldest son, John, continued until his death.