The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used documents and data from my RootsMagic Genealogical Software. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 49+ years of research. Today's Biography of ”JWilliam R. Sellers (1824 - 1898)" was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:
On Sellers Hill
A Family Biography of
William R. Sellers
1824 – 1898
Chesterfield, South Carolina · Carroll County, Tennessee
Introduction
William R. Sellers was born on May 26, 1824, in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina — a time when the American frontier was still pushing westward and the young republic was finding its footing. He would go on to live a long and quietly remarkable life, spending most of his years as a farmer in Carroll County, Tennessee, raising two families, surviving the upheaval of the Civil War, and leaving behind a legacy rooted in community and land. He died on September 28, 1898, at the age of 74, and is buried in Sellers Hill Cemetery in Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee — a cemetery he himself donated to the public just after the war.
His story is one shared by countless ordinary Americans of the 19th century: hard work on the land, the joys and heartaches of family life, and an unassuming sense of civic responsibility that quietly shaped the community around him.
Early Life & Family Origins
William was born into the Sellers family in Chesterfield, South Carolina. His father, John Sellers (born 1772, died 1844), and his mother, Henrietta Norwood (born 1784, died 1866), had deep roots in the Carolinas. At some point during William's early life — likely in the 1840s — the family made the journey west to Carroll County, Tennessee, as part of the great migration of families seeking new farmland in the mid-South.
By 1850, the U.S. Census found the household in District 13 of Carroll County, Tennessee. William was 26 years old and already listed as a farmer — a calling he would hold his entire life. Living in the same household was his elderly mother Henrietta (listed as head of household at age 66), along with other family members: John (age 37), Mary (age 43), Louisa (age 15), Henrietta J. (age 9), Clemantine (age 7), and Martha E. (age 5). It was clearly a large, extended family making a fresh start in Tennessee.
The 1840s and 1850s were a time of tremendous growth in Tennessee. Carroll County had been carved out of western Tennessee in 1821 and was becoming increasingly settled farmland. Life would have centered on agriculture, local church communities, and the rhythms of the seasons.
First Marriage: Priscilla Scott
On June 16, 1858, when William was 34 years old, he married Priscilla Scott in Carroll County, Tennessee. Priscilla was born on July 14, 1826, in Carroll County, and was the daughter of John L. Scott Jr. (born 1797) and Rebecca Brandon (born 1804). The Scotts were also an established Carroll County family, so it's quite possible William and Priscilla had known each other for years before tying the knot.
The 1860 Census captured the young household in District 13, Carroll County. William (age 38) and Priscilla (age 34) were farming together, with Henrietta Sellers (age 75, likely William's mother) and Elizabeth Scott (age 18, possibly Priscilla's sister) also living in the home. It was a full house, and the farm was busy.
By 1870, the household had grown and changed. The Census shows William (now 46) and Priscilla (45) still farming in District 12, Carroll County, now with a daughter, Bettie (age 6), and a hired farmhand, Alvin Roark (age 22), working the land alongside them.
William and Priscilla had at least two children together:
• Nancy E. Sellers – born circa 1865.
• Elizabeth (Bettie) Sellers – born 1864.
Sadly, Priscilla passed away on April 12, 1878, in Carroll County, Tennessee, at the age of 51. She was buried at Sellers Hill Cemetery in Clarksburg — the same cemetery her husband would later donate to the public. Their years together had spanned the turbulent Civil War era and the difficult years of Reconstruction that followed.
The Civil War Years (1861–1865)
The Civil War loomed large over William's middle years. Carroll County, Tennessee, like much of the state, was deeply divided in its loyalties. Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union in June 1861 and the first Confederate state to be largely recaptured by Union forces. Western Tennessee, where Carroll County sits, changed hands multiple times and was the site of significant military activity, including the pivotal Battle of Shiloh just 60 miles to the south in April 1862.
For a farmer in his late 30s with a young wife and household, the war years would have brought immense uncertainty — disrupted crops, the movement of armies through the region, and the constant fear of loss. Carroll County families, like so many others, were often split in their sympathies between Union and Confederate causes.
It was in the aftermath of this terrible conflict that William made one of his most enduring contributions to his community: he deeded the Sellers Hill Cemetery property as public land shortly after the war ended. This quiet act of generosity ensured that families in the Clarksburg area would have a place to bury their dead — a particularly meaningful gift in a region still grieving so many lost lives.
Second Marriage: Caledonia Irene Scott
Four years after Priscilla's death, William remarried. On December 19, 1882, at the age of 58, he wed Caledonia Irene Scott in Carroll County, Tennessee. Caledonia — sometimes spelled Caladonia in records — was born on January 26, 1850, in Carroll County, and was a full 26 years younger than her new husband. She was the daughter of Chronicle F. Scott (born 1801, died 1880) and Jane Brandon (born circa 1811).
Interestingly, both of William's wives carried the surname Scott, though they came from different Scott families in Carroll County. The Scott family was clearly well-established in the area.
Caledonia came from a large family herself. Her siblings included Harrison B. Scott (1824–1894), Matilda Scott Springer (1833–1923), Samuel Thompson Scott (1834–1913), James Jones Scott (1843–1918), and Winfield C. Scott (1847–1938). The Scotts and Sellerses were clearly deeply intertwined families in the Carroll County community.
William and Caledonia's marriage records, found in the Tennessee Marriage Records (1780–2002), confirm the December 1882 wedding in Carroll County. The two would share the remaining 16 years of William's life.
Later Life
William continued to farm through his later years. The 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters lists a W. R. Sellers, white male, age 65, residing in Carroll County — still living, still a citizen of his community, still counted among the voting men of Tennessee. (His birth year is estimated as 1826 in this record, a minor discrepancy common in 19th-century records.)
The 1890s were an interesting time in Tennessee. The state was wrestling with the aftermath of Reconstruction, the rise of new political movements including the Populist Party, and the beginnings of industrialization. For an aging farmer in western Tennessee, though, life likely continued much as it always had — working the land through the seasons, tending to family, and gathering with neighbors and church.
William R. Sellers passed away on September 28, 1898, in Carroll County, Tennessee, at the age of 74. His tombstone at Sellers Hill Cemetery in Clarksburg confirms both his birth and death dates. He had outlived his first wife by 20 years and left behind his second wife, Caledonia.
Caledonia After William's Death
When William died in 1898, his widow Caledonia was 48 years old. Under Tennessee law of the time, a widow was entitled to a year's worth of support from her late husband's estate — a legal provision meant to give widows time to settle their affairs and find their footing. The Carroll County probate records document this clearly.
The April Term 1898 court record shows that neighbors William Johnson, A.R. Tucker, and James H. Kee were sworn in as householders to assess and set apart a year's worth of provisions for Caledonia from her late husband's estate. They allocated her: three choice hogs, all bacon and lard on hand, all corn on hand plus fifteen barrels of the new crop, all molasses on hand, twenty dollars cash, one yearling for beef, and all flour and meal on hand. It's a vivid snapshot of farm life in rural Tennessee at the turn of the century — the wealth of a farmer measured in hogs and corn and molasses, not dollars.
Caledonia lived on for another 25 years after William's death, finally passing away on January 27, 1923 — just one day after her 73rd birthday — in Clarksburg, Carroll County. Her death record lists her as "Valdona Irene Sellers" (a phonetic variant), and confirms she was born January 26, 1850, with her father as Chronicle Scott and her mother as Jennie Brandon. She was buried beside her husband at Sellers Hill Cemetery.
The Sellers Hill Cemetery
Perhaps one of the most lasting legacies of William R. Sellers is the cemetery that bears his family's name. Sellers Hill Cemetery in Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee, is the resting place of William, his first wife Priscilla, and his second wife Caledonia — as well as countless other Carroll County families.
According to the Find A Grave memorial, William deeded the cemetery property as public land just after the Civil War. This was a significant act of community generosity at a time when the South was struggling to rebuild. By giving this land to the public, William ensured that all families in the area — regardless of means — would have a dignified place to bury their loved ones.
The Sellers Hill Cemetery continues to exist today, and the tombstones of William and Caledonia remain there, testaments to a family that put down deep roots in Carroll County, Tennessee.
Family Summary
Parents
• John Sellers (born 1772 – died 1844)
• Henrietta Norwood Sellers (born 1784 – died 1866)
First Wife
Priscilla Scott (born July 14, 1826, Carroll County, Tennessee – died April 12, 1878, Carroll County, Tennessee). Married June 16, 1858. Buried Sellers Hill Cemetery, Clarksburg.
Children with Priscilla
• Elizabeth (Bettie) Sellers – born 1864.
• Nancy E. Sellers – born circa 1865.
Second Wife
Caledonia Irene Scott (born January 26, 1850, Carroll County, Tennessee – died January 27, 1923, Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee). Married December 19, 1882. Buried Sellers Hill Cemetery, Clarksburg.
Life at a Glance: Key Dates
1824 — Born May 26, in Chesterfield, South Carolina.
by 1850 — Family relocated to Carroll County, Tennessee. William (age 26) farming in District 13.
1858 — Married Priscilla Scott on June 16 in Carroll County.
1860 — Census shows William farming in District 13 with Priscilla and extended family.
1861–1865 — The Civil War tears through Tennessee. Western Tennessee sees significant military activity.
post-1865 — William deeds Sellers Hill Cemetery property to the public.
1870 — Census shows William and Priscilla farming in District 12 with daughter Bettie (age 6).
1878 — Priscilla Scott Sellers dies on April 12 in Carroll County, age 51.
1882 — William remarries on December 19, to Caledonia Irene Scott.
1891 — Listed in Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters, Carroll County, age 65.
1898 — William R. Sellers dies on September 28, Carroll County, age 74. Buried Sellers Hill Cemetery.
1898 — Carroll County court sets apart one year's provisions for widow Caledonia.
1923 — Caledonia Irene Scott Sellers dies on January 27 in Clarksburg, age 73. Buried Sellers Hill Cemetery.
William R. Sellers is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed.
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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 March 2019); Memorial page for William R. Sellers; (26 May 1824–28 September 1898); Find a Grave memorial # 35279981, Citing Sellers Hill Cemetery; Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee, USA.
2. 1850 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 13, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 113B(Stamped), Line 11, Dwelling 1502, Family 1502, Household of Henryetta SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 13, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 124(Stamped), Line 35, Dwelling 1657, Family 1634, Household of William SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 May 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1243.
4. 1870 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 12, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 416(Stamped), Line 34, Dwelling 13, Family 13, Household of Wm R. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1517.
5. "Tennessee Marriages, 1780-2002," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019), Marriage: William R. SELLERS & Priscilla SCOTT; Marriage Date: 16 Jun 1858.
5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 March 2019); Memorial page for Priscilla Scott Sellers; (14 July 1826–12 April 1878); Find a Grave memorial # 35280085, Citing Sellers Hill Cemetery; Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee, USA.
7. "Tennessee Marriages, 1780-2002," database, Ancestry, Marriage: William R. SELLERS & Caledonia SCOTT.
8. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Caladonia Irene Scott Sellers (26 January 1850–27 January 1923), Memorial # 35280415.
9. Carroll County, Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008, Mrs Caledona Sellers years support; digital images, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com: online 3 March 2019); William R. SELLERS.
Prepared by Charles Purvis · Thomasville, NC 27360 · CPurvis1@gmail.com
Sources: Find A Grave, U.S. Federal Census (1850, 1860, 1870), Tennessee Marriage Records, Tennessee Death Records, Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891, Carroll County Wills & Probates
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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 March 2019); Memorial page for William R. Sellers; (26 May 1824–28 September 1898); Find a Grave memorial # 35279981, Citing Sellers Hill Cemetery; Clarksburg, Carroll County, Tennessee, USA.
2. 1850 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 13, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 113B(Stamped), Line 11, Dwelling 1502, Family 1502, Household of Henryetta SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 13, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 124(Stamped), Line 35, Dwelling 1657, Family 1634, Household of William SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 May 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1243.
4. 1870 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 12, Carroll, Tennessee, Page 416(Stamped), Line 34, Dwelling 13, Family 13, Household of Wm R. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1517.
6. "Tennessee Marriages, 1780-2002," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2019), Marriage: William R. SELLERS & Priscilla SCOTT; Marriage Date: 16 Jun 1858.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Priscilla Scott Sellers (14 July 1826–12 April 1878), Memorial # 35280085.
8. "Tennessee Marriages, 1780-2002," database, Ancestry, Marriage: William R. SELLERS & Caledonia SCOTT.
9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Caladonia Irene Scott Sellers (26 January 1850–27 January 1923), Memorial # 35280415.
10. Carroll County, Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008, Mrs Caledona Sellers years support; digital images, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com: online 3 March 2019); William R. SELLERS.
