John Joseph SEERLEY, Congress, IA (1852-1931) SEERLEY John Joseph , a Representative from Iowa;
born on a farm near Toulon, Stark County, Ill., March 13, 1852;
in 1854 moved to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County;
attended the common schools;
was graduated from the University of Iowa at Iowa City in 1875;
principal of the Iowa City High School in 1876;
was graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in 1877;
was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa;
city solicitor of Burlington 1885-1890 and 1893-1895;
unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1888 to the Fifty-first Congress;