Military Monday~Spanish American War-James A. Sellers

James Aaron Sellers was born 15 June 1872, a son of James Arnold Sellers and Sarah Jane Pittman Sellers.
James served as a  Private in Company D,  2nd Regiment S.C. Infantry Vol. Spanish American War.

“Company D, 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was organized at Manning, South Carolina, and was mustered into service May 21st, 1898; completing the Independent Battalion. Was under the second call of the President, assigned to duty with the 2nd S.C.V.I.. Left Camp Lee, Columbia, South Carolina, for Camp Cuba Libre, September I5th, 1898, and was there assigned to duty with the 7th Army Corps, under General Lee. Left Camp Cuba Libre for Savannah, Georgia, October 21st, 1898. Left Savannah, Georgia, for Havana, Cuba, January 3rd, 1899, and remained at Camp Columbia, Cuba, until March 23rd, 1899, when the regiment was ordered to Augusta, Georgia, for muster-out. Was mustered out of service at Augusta, Georgia, April 19th, 1899, by Lieutenant Ellwood W. Evans, 8th United States Cavalry, mustering officer.”[1]

“The Spanish-America War was a short-lived conflict between The United States and Spain. Due to unrest in Cuba, President McKinney sent the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to protect American citizens. He delayed notifying Spain and that upset the Spanish Government.

On the night of February 15, 1898 there was an explosion on-board the U.S.S. Maine and it sank in the bay killing 266 soldiers.

With the major newspaper (Hearst & Pulitzer) stirring the pot with their ”yellow journalism”  Congress passed a joint resolution which was signed by President McKinley on April 20, 1898. The United States gave Spain an ultimatum and Spain in return declared War on April 23, 1898. Thus began what is known as the Spanish-American War.” [2]

If you haven’t read much about the Spanish-American War, I highly recommend the article here: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War

By 15 June 1900 when the census was enumerated, James Aaron Sellers had been off to war in Cuba, returned home and married Louisa Watson, widow of Robert J. Vick. The 1900 census showed James and Louisa married in 1900; while the  FindAGrave Memorial shows they were married in June 1899. [3] 

James Aaron Sellers died Jun. 20, 1947 and is buried at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.


James Aaron Sellers is my 1st Cousin twice removed.





_____________________________
[1] http://www.spanamwar.com/2ndsouthcarolina.htm
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 16 June 2012); Headstone for James Aaron Sellers; (14 June 1872–20 June 1947); Records of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Military Monday~Pvt. James Arnold Sellers

James Arnold Sellers was born Sept 16, 1846¹ in Madison County, Tennessee to William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons. William & Elizabeth left Chesterfield County, SC sometime before 1850. They are enumerated in the 1850 Census for Madison County, NC.²

1850 CENSUS: District 10, Madison County, Tennessee;  Roll: M432_889;   Image: 187, Page 305B (Written 610); Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244; Wm. E. SELLERS, Male, age 30, born in SC; Elizabeth SELLERS, age 28, born in SC; William R. SELLERS, Son, age 8, born in SC;  Andrew W. SELLERS, Son, age 6, born in SC; James A. SELLERS, Son, age 4, born in TN; Mary A. SELLERS, Daughter, age 2, born in TN and Luellen SELLERS, Daughter, age 1/12, born in TN.

Family tradition says that William Eddins Sellers was killed when he fell from the rafters of a church being built in 1854 Carroll County, Tennessee. (I have not been able to prove or disprove this folklore).³

In 1860, Elizabeth has returned to Chesterfield County without her husband  and 6 children; 4 sons and 2 daughter, one daughter is my great grandmother. Circumstantial evidence give some credibility to the story; something happen to William Eddins Sellers in Madison County, Tennessee. 
Regardless, she back home with 4 sons and rumors of War abounds.⁴

In January 1862, South Carolina succeeds from the Union.  On April 12, the first shots of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter.

By the end of 1861, her two oldest sons, William Riley and Andrew Washington Sellers had enlisted (Dec. 26, 1861) into the War.⁵

James  Arnold stayed behind at the early part of the war to take care of his Mother Elizabeth, two sisters, Mary Abigail and Louise Ellen Sellers. His younger brother Alonzo W. Sellers had passed away in April 1860. 

Then on February 26, 1863, James Arnold enlisted with Company “D”, 6th Regiment Calvary.⁶
James Arnold Sellers was wounded at Trevilian Station, VA on 11 June 1864; the first day of a 2 day battle.⁷ 



James Arnold returned home after the War, married twice and had elven (11) children between two wives. James Arnold and Sarah Jane had 8 children and with Nancy Jane Johnson he had three additional children.

James Arnold “Buck” Sellers died March 14, 1904. He is buried at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, South Carolina.⁸  

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

James Arnold “Buck” Sellers is my Great Grand Uncle; his sister Louise Ellen is my Great Grandmother.





Related Articles:

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/02/interview-with-confederate-veteran.html
• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-great-grandparents.html

_____________________
[1] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for James Arnold Sellers; (16 September 1846–14 March 1904); Memorial # 31354711; Record of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 3 March 2007.
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
[3] Interview with a Confederate Veteran obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 April 1932. Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932).
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[5] http://www.fold3.com/image/66896091/
[6] http://www.fold3.com/image/20/65091847/
[7] http://www.fold3.com/image/20/65091893/
[8] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for James Arnold Sellers; (16 September 1846–14 March 1904); Memorial # 31354711; Record of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 3 March 2007.

Tombstone Tuesday - James Arnold Sellers

Tombstone Photo courtesy of Julious Burr

Tombstone Photo courtesy of Julious Burr

James Arnold Sellers was born Sep 1846 in Madison County, Tennessee.^{1 2 3} He served in the Civil War in 1861–1865.^{4 5} James Arnold died on 14 Mar 1904 at the age of 57 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{6 7} He was buried at Hopewell Baptist Church, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{8 9 10}

James Arnold Sellers and Sarah Jane Pittman were married about 1866. Sarah Jane Pittman, daughter of Kenneth Pittman and Nancy Campbell, was born on 15 Dec 1845 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{11 12} She died on 13 Feb 1896 at the age of 50 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried at Hopewell Baptist Church, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina

James Arnold Sellers and Sarah Jane Pittman had the following children:

          i. William Kenneth Sellers, born 10 Mar 1868, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. 

         ii. Francis Marion Sellers was born on 5 May 1870 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        iii. James Aaron Sellers was born on 14 Jun 1872 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        iv. Annie E. Sellers was born on 31 Jul 1874 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

         v. Nellie Sellers was born on 25 Jun 1876 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        vi. Jesse Washington Sellers was born on 7 May 1880 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ¹³

       vii. Alfred Dudley Sellers was born on 1 Oct 1882 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ¹⁴

      viii. Hardy Lee Sellers was born on 1 Feb 1887 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina,. ¹⁵

James Arnold Sellers and Nancy Jane "Jennie" Johnson were married about 1896 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.¹⁶ Nancy Jane "Jennie" Johnson, daughter of Stanmore P. Johnson and Sarah J. Dabbs, was born in Sep 1862 in Anson County, North Carolina. ^{17 18 19 20} She died on 29 Sep 1956 at the age of 94 in Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina.

James Arnold Sellers and Nancy Jane Johnson had the following children:

          i. Stanmore Sellers was born on 1 Jan 1898 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{21 22}

         ii. Lizzie Jane Sellers, born 3 Aug 1900, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        iii. Mary Bell Sellers was born on 1 Aug 1903 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ²³

After James Arnold Sellers died in 1904; Nancy Jane married William Henry Moore in 1907. The only known source of James Arnold death is a Family Bible own by my Mother. If you have info on James Arnold birth or death please contact me.

James Arnold Sellers is my great grand uncle.

_____________________

        1. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for James Arnold Sellers; (16 September 1846–14 March 1904); Memorial # 31354711; Record of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 3 March 2007.

        2. 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.

        3. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

        4. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 1 October 2012), entry for James Arnold Sellers, Private; 6th Reg't., Calvary; Confederate.

        5. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 20, Page 3A/75A (stamped), Line 29, Dwelling 44, Family 44, Household of James A. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 March 2007); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1523.

        6. Brock Family Bible Family Bible Holy Bible, (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), DEATH DATE - 14 Mar 1904; J. Arnold SELLERS,  Obtained from .

        7. The ONLY KNOWN SOURCE for James Arnold Sellers death date is a Brock Family Bible owned by my Mother. If anyone knows of a source for his death and birth; please contact me through this blog by posting the information or send me a private e-mail.

        8. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 296. Tombstone of James Arnold SELLERS; 16 September 1846–14 March 1904, Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

        9. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 3 March 2007; Headstone for James Arnold Sellers;  Memorial # 31354711.

        10. Interview with a Confederate Veteran obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 April 1932. Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932).

        11. 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 179A; Line 17, Dwelling 1235, Family 1235, Household of Kenneth PITTMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 22 May 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

        12. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 129, Line 29, Dwelling 507, Family 506, Household of Kenneth PITTMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 22 May 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

        13. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 20, Page 3A/75A (stamped), Line 29, Dwelling 44, Family 44, Household of James A. SELLERS.

        14. Ibid.

        15. Ibid.

        16. Ibid.

        17. 1880 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #003, Page 361B, Line 1, Dwelling 9, Family 9, Household of Stanmore JOHNSON; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 April 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 951.

        18. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 20, Page 3A/75A (stamped), Line 29, Dwelling 44, Family 44, Household of James A. SELLERS.

        19. 1910  U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0041, Page 215B; Line 15, Dwelling 267, Family 267, Household of William H. MOORE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1455.

        20. Ibid.

        21. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 20, Page 3A/75A (stamped), Line 29, Dwelling 44, Family 44, Household of James A. SELLERS.

        22. 1910  U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 0041, Page 215B; Line 15, Dwelling 267, Family 267, Household of William H. MOORE.

        23. Ibid.