August and Teresa Dressler Seiler
AUGUST AND THERESA DRESSLER SEILER
Not long after immigrating from her native Germany, young Theresa Dressel met immigrant August Seiler, (birth country Switzerland), in San Francisco, California. The two fell in love and married in 1875, and made their residence in San Francisco, California. They soon had two sons. Their first child, August, who was born 1876 (died in 1879 at the age of three years.) Their second son, George was born in 1878.
In 1879, August Seiler decided to sell his Hotel, The National Hotel, in San Francisco and venture into “Mining Enterprises” in the booming Bodie District located in Mono County. At the time of this move, Mrs. Seiler was pregnant with her third child. It was decided she and her two year old son, George would remain in San Francisco for the birth and then go to Bodie.
Tragically, the Seiler’s second son, George died the day before their daughter Hermene Seiler was born. (1880). Three months later, Theresa Seiler and infant Hermene, left San Francisco to join her husband in Bodie. It was a week long journey by train and stage- wagons to the “mining town” located on the eastern slope of the Sierra’s. At her arrival, (Spring 1880), the Seilers rented a large house in Bodie, which they lived in from 1880 to the early 1900’s.
The Seilers had two more daughters, Josephine Seiler(1880) and Pauline Seiler (b.1883) and a son Gustav Seiler. Gustav Seiler (b. 1889) died in 1891. The cause of death was “a spasm of the glottis”, a condition which blocked the two year old boys wind pipe. His grave is located in the Miners’ Union section of the Bodie Cemetery.
Josephine Seiler married Cecil Burkham (b. September22, 1878 d. Jan. 7, 1972) from Bodie and their sons were Frank Burkham and Cecil II Burkham (Cecil II was called Bert, for Bertran- his middle name his whole life.)
Pauline Seiler (b. 1883) married Walter J. McKeough. Her 1909 death was nine months after giving birth to her son, Kenneth McKeough. She died at 24 years of age. Pauline Seiler McKeough (1883-1909) grave in the Wards section of the Bodie Cemetery is marked with a WOMEN OF WOODCRAFT grave stone. Kenneth McKeough died in 1992 (83 years of age) is also buried in the Wards section of the Bodie Cemetery.
Theresa Sieler, married to August Seiler for 39 years, died in 1914. August Seiler died in 1919. (Theresa and August Seiler are interred in Colma, California.)
Gustav A. Seiler (1888-1891) buried in BODIE CEMETERY.