Helen Sells (dsells@tampabay.rr.com) received the following information from Merlin Alsobrook of Livingston County, Kentucky:
"Thomas Sells, who died in 1908, leaving an estate of one horse and $200, had the following children:
(1) William Reuben Sell, born 1857
(2) Virginia Susan Sells, born 1867; died Sept. 1966; married John Thomas Alsobrook, who also died about 1908. They had two children: First: Otto Alsobrook, born 5 May 1902, died 18 Sept. 1997 in Crittendon County, Kentucky. (He was the father of Merlin Alsobrook, born 1933.) Second: Nellie Alsobrook.
(3) Milton Sells
(4) George Sells
(5) Alex Sells
(6) John Warden Sells
(7) a sister who died at the age of 9 years."
I could not locate this family on the 1880 Census; but the Reuben Sells, born about 1830, living in Princeton, Caldwell Co., KY in 1880 MAY be related perhaps a brother?? Reuben has a son named Thomas L. Sells, born about 1869. (see Celle Newsletter #123, page 2.)
Thomas Sells in the 1880 Census
First: in District 13, Overton County, Tennessee; page 373A: "Thomas Sells, widower, age 60, born VA, father born PA, mother born NC." He is living alone and is almost certainly the Thomas Sells outlined in "A" below. Two doors away from him is listed: "S. H. Sells, age 20, born TN; and his wife Elizabeth, age 21, born TN; and their two children, daughter M.E. Sells, age 3; and son John H. Sells, age 1." This is almost certainly Samuel H. Sells, son of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells. And living next door to Samuel is "Jacob Sells, age 34, b. VA; his wife Mary, age 28, b. VA; son Isaac, age 13, b.TN; daughter Emma J., age 11, b.TN; daughter Sephrona, age 9, b. TN; son J. W. Sells, age 6, b.TN; son Thos. H. Sells, age 1, b. TN." This Jacob Sells is also a son of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells.
Second: recorded in 1880 in Auburn, Lee Co., Alabama; page 151D: "Thomas Sells, age 55, born GA, farmer, both parents born GA; wife Sallie, age 55, born GA." This MAY be the Thomas son of Macklin and Cynthia Hollisman Sills/Sell of Columbia County, Georgia (see "G" below),
Third: living in Scioto, Pickaway County, Ohio in 1880; page 523B: "Thomas Sells, age 43, born VA, works on farm, father born Va, mother born PA; wife Mary E., age 36, born Ohio; daughter Rebecca Sells, age 19, born Ohio; son James Sells, age 17, born Ohio; son George W. Sells, age 14, born Ohio; son Joseph Sells, age 12, born Ohio; daughter Susan Sells, age 8, born Ohio; son Edward Sells, age 6, born Ohio; and daughter Viola Sells, age 3, born Ohio." I have no idea which Thomas Sells this might be. Can anyone help us identify him?
Thomas Sells in our Celle Family Book;
Who COULD have lived until 1908:
A: Thomas Sells, b.a.1819, Scott Co., VA; died about 1890, probably in Overton Co., Tenn.; son of Solomon and Elizabeth Sells; married 1st about 1840 to Barbara Booher, 1825/30-1879/80; nine known childen. This Thomas is also certainly the one listed as a widower on the 1880 Overton County, Tennessee Census above. As it is also known that he remarried on 10 June 1881 in Overton County to Virginia Richardson. (see Part 12, Family #5; Celle CD #2, History Volume 1, page 319.)
B: Thomas L. Sells, born about 1854/56 in Tennessee; son of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells (above); married about 1878 in Tennessee or Kentucky to Talitha or Elitha Ann Hammond.
In 1880 he is listed in E.D.29, Neathery and Shelly, Clinton County, Kentucky; page 608D: "Thomas L. Sells, age 24, born TN, farmer, both parents born VA; wife Talitha, age 27, born TN; and daughter Ada J. Sells, age 1, born KY."
C: Thomas Sells, twin of Porter Sells, born about 1885, probably in Overton County, Tennessee; son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth Morris Sells; and grandson of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells.
Family records say that he married Lida Hull; but nothing further is known about his family.
D. Thomas H. Sells, born about 1879, Overton Co., Tennessee; son of Jacob and Mary Pierce Sells; grandson of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells. He is listed as age 1 on the 1880 census of his father's family (above). Nothing further is known of him.
E. Thomas A. Sells, born about 1874, Overton Co., Tennessee; son of Richard Lilburn and Sarah Catherine Pierce Sells; grandson of Thomas and Barbara Booher Sells. He is listed as age 6 on the 1880 Census record of his father's family. Nothing further is known of him either.
F: Thomas Logan Sells, born 23 May 1854, Overton Co., Tennessee; age 6 in 1860; died 30 March 1932; son of Phillip and Louisa Jane Ledbetter Sells; grandson of Henry and Mary Ringley Smith Sells. Nothing further is known of him. (see Celle CD#2; History Volume I, page 311)
G: Thomas Sills/Sell, born about 1826, Columbia Co., Georgia; son of Macklin and Cynthia Hollisman Sills; grandson of Thomas and Mary Sell; great-grandson of Jonathan and Sarah Tatum Sell of North Carolina and Georgia. He is very likely the "Thomas Sells, age 55, born Georgia" listed on the 1880 Census in Auburn, Lee County, Alabama (see above).
Does anyone else know of any other Thomas Sells who might be the great grandfather of Merlin Alsobrook?
Could his Thomas Sells, who died in 1908, be any of the above?
Please send any additions or questions to:
Carolyn Cell Choppin
Choppin.Carolyn@usa.net
