The Franklin County, Ohio Sells Family Records give us a very sketchy outline of the family of Elind Sells, born 10 Oct. 1796, probably in Huntingdon Co., PA (or perhaps in Bracken County, Kentucky); son of John Sells and Elizabeth Stroup; and grandson of Ludwig Sells and Catherine Deardorff. Elind (or Elliott or Elias) as he has been found listed in various records, was married on 20 August 1820 to a Mary "Polly" Sells (her parentage is unknown). They were married by Chandler Rodgers, Justice of the Peace of Franklin County, Ohio.
The family records list eight children: Elind Jr.; Franklin, Harriet, Susan, Benjamin, Eliza, Lucy, and Betsy. Five of these children are recorded on the 1850 Census of Dublin, Washington twp., Franklin Co., Ohio; still living at home with their mother. Their father died in 1849 according to the Franklin County, Ohio probate index.
The children listed on this 1850 Census record are: Susan, age 24; Benjamin, age 20; Eliza, age 15; Luiz, age 13; and Betsy, age 11.
On the 1880 Census in Payson, Adams County, Illinois is listed: "Elind Sells, age 45, born Ohio, laborer, both parents born KY; wife Francis Sells, age 38, born Ill., both parents born NJ.; daughter Adrien Sells, age 16, born Ill.; daughter Adilade Sells, age 13, born Ill.; daughter Florence Sells, age 11, born Ill.; son Orrel Sells, age 9, born Ill.; daughter Myrtle Sells, age 6, born Ill.; daughter Anna Sells, age 6 months, born Ill."
How many "Elind Sells" could there be in our Sells clan?
Is there any doubt that this is Elind Sells Jr., son of Elind and Mary "Polly" Sells? If this record is correct, this gives him a birth year of about 1835, and age of 15 in 1850. Although he is not listed with his mother on the 1850 census, perhaps he was living with neighbors or relatives, or already in Illinois with relatives.
Some of his cousins, notably Susan Sells Newcomer, and her brother Daniel K. Sells, children of Samuel Sells; brother of Elind's father John Sells; had moved to Sangamon County, Illinois as early as 1824. Susan Sells Newcomer died there in 1872; and Daniel K. Sells was still living in Woodside twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois in 1880.
Also found in the Illinois records is a Benjamin F. Sells, who married on 17 January 1858 in Christian County, Illinois to Mary J. Bankston. Thank you Brenda Hare for finding and sharing this record.
This couple is recorded on the 1860 Census in Christian County, Illinois in Taylorsville as follows:
"Benjamin Sells, age 28, born Ohio
Mary J., age 20, born Ill.
Mary O., age 1 year, born Ill."
It would seem certain that this is the Benjamin Sells who married Mary J. Bankston in 1858. Is he also perhaps the Benjamin, son of Elind and Mary "Polly" Sells, listed as age 20 in 1850?
Any additional records of these families would be welcome.
Choppin.Carolyn@usa.net
