Thomas D. Seals was born on Oct. 23, 1837. He was left an orphan at a very young age while growing up in Pennsylvania. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Thomas joined by serving in both the navy and the army. He enlisted in the United States Navy in New York. Thomas was in the United States Army at the time of the Battle of Bull Run, in which he was wounded during the battle. He remained in the service until the close of the war in 1865.

After the Civil War ended, Thomas spent several years traveling before moving to Minnesota in November of 1874. Upon his arrival in Minneota, the town had only two buildings, a blacksmith shop and a small building containing a few general goods. Seals engaged in the drug and general merchandise business and it became prosperous. It was during this time when he received the nickname “Doc Seals.” Along with the business, he engaged in farming and owned at one time 600 acres of land in Yellow Medicine County. He also held the office of Justice of the Peace for Minneota for 20 years.

On Dec. 28, 1879, Thomas married Edith Kenyon, daughter of Charles P. and Amanda M. Kenyon, early settlers in Lyon County. Edith’s father, Charles P. was also a Civil War veteran. He was 25 years old at the time of his enlistment with the Seventh Minnesota Regiment. Thomas and Edith adopted a daughter, Dorothy Seals. Thomas was the last survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic in the Minneota community, when he died in 1929. He was buried in the Marshall Cemetery. Edith received a Civil War widow’s pension of $90 per month until her death in 1940.

The photograph featured this week is a picture taken of a quilt in the Lyon County Museum’s collection. The quilt was made by Edith Seals. On the quilt, Edith sewed one of Thomas’ Grand Army of the Republic ribbons. The ribbon is from the 8th annual Encampment, 20 Div. Southwestern Minnesota G.A.R. that was held in Marshall June 7-9, 1898.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.