It’s Family Time~The Daniel Cook Sellers Family

Daniel Cook Sellers was born about 1818 a son of Samuel Sellers and Alice Cook. Daniel was named after his grandfather Daniel Cook, Sr. His mother, Alice Cook Sellers, passed away on 7 February 1847. Then in August 1852, his Father, Samuel Sellers, passed away.  Daniel was not the first or second borne son but in August 1852 he was the oldest living son and the administration of his father's estate fell on his shoulder.  On 4 October 1852 he was made administrator of his Father’s estate

Page 90
The State of Alabama} Know all men by these presents that
Wilcox County} we Daniel C. Sellers are held and and <sic> firmly bound unto John G. Jackson, Judge of Probate Court of said county and succefsors in office in the Penal sum One hundred Thousand Dollars for the due and faithful payment of which same well and Truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs Executors and Administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents Sealed with our seals and dated this 4th day of October A. D. 1852.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound Daniel C. Sellers has been duly appointed Administrator of the Estate of Samuel Sellers late of Wilcox County, dec'd. 
     Now therefore should the said Daniel C. Sellers well and truly do and be for, all the duties which are or may be required of him by law as such Administrators then this obligation to be void else to be and remain in full force and effort.
                                                                  D. C. Sellers {seal}
                                                                  N. A. McMillen {seal}
                                                                  L. W. Bridges {seal}
                                                                  Jeremiah Fail {seal}
                                                                 Harriett Pritchett {sea;}
                                                                 Sarah Sellers {seal}

Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 for Daniel C Sellers
Wilcox Will Records, Will Book 3, Jan. 1850 - Sept,. 1858; page 90, Image 586 of 781.

Daniel then served in the Civil War with the Alabama River Rangers -- Company "C", 3rd Alabama Calvary.

After the War, Daniel married Mrs. Eliza P. Hill on 11 November 1868. Their only child, Dannie, was born 15 October 1869. The following month, November 1869, Daniel Cook Sellers died of pneumonia according to the 1870 Mortality Census.

On 17 October 1874, Dannie Sellers, their only son passed away.

On 13 November 1876, Eliza P. Sellers passed away.

Daniel Cook Sellers is my 2nd Cousin 5 times removed.




__________________________

1. 1850 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Wilcox, Alabama, Page: 363A (stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 265, Family 265, Household of Samuel SELLARS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 June 2018); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 16.
2. Wilcox County, Alabama, Will Book 3: page 90 Administrative Bond Samuel Sellers Estate; Probate Office, Camden, Wilcox County, Alabama.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Western Division, Wilcox, Alabama, Page: 1144 (Stamped); Line 38, Dwelling 241, Family 241, Household of Daniel C. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 November 2018); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_26.
4. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 4 November 2018), entry for Daniel Cook Sellers, Capt; Alabama River Rangers -- Company "C", 3rd Alabama Calvary; Confederate.
5. Daniel COOK Jr. (1866), WILLS & TESTAMENTS: Last Will and Testament; Will Book 6; pages 102-107; Wilcox County Probate, Camden, Wilcox County, Alabama.
6. 1870 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, mortality  schedule, Camden, Wilcox , Alabama , USA, Page xx, Line 21, D. C. Sellers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 November 2018); citing National Archives Microfilm XX_003.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  4 November 2018); Memorial page for Daniel Cook Sellers; (1820–November 1869); Find a Grave memorial # 47835676, Citing Camden Cemetery; Wilcox County, Alabama, USA.
8. "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1942," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 4 November 2018), Marriage- Daniel C. Sellers & Mrs. Eliza P. Hill; Marriage Date: 11 Nov 1868.
9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Mrs Eliza P Nettles Hill Sellers (27 May 182–13 November 1876), Memorial # 54426287.

Amanuensis Monday~Land Deed Between Brothers

 

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.
 
Today’s subject is a Land Deed between 3 Brothers executed after the death of their Father Rolin Sellers, Sr. This particular deed is recorded in large 11X17 Ledger books thus only a portion of the deed is contained within but a complete transcription of the said Deed. 

Rolin R. Sellers and Phillip A. Sellers to William R. Sellers Deed
 
The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield District}
Know all men by these presents that we Phillip A. Sellers & Rolin R. Sellers of the State of North Carolina, Anson County for & In consideration of the sum Two Hundred & Thirty Dollars to us paid by William R. Sellers of the District of Chesterfield in the state aforesaid, we have granted , bargained Sold and released & by these presents do grant bargain Sell & release unto the said William R. Sellers all our Titles, Claims & Interest of these pieces of land being in the State aforesaid & of Chesterfield District, Situated on the east Side of Cruses Branch conveyed to Rolin Sellers By Phillip Sellers by Deed bearing date of Eighth day of March in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and & twenty one which was willed to us by the last will and testimony of our deceased Father Rolin Sellers the said tract of land with all and singular the Rights Members Hereditaments & appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident of appertaining to have and to hold all and Singular the premises before mentioned unto the Said William R. Sellers his heirs & afsigns forever & we do hereby bind our Selves our Heirs, Executors & Administrators’ to warrant and forever defend all and Singular the same premises unto the Said William R. Sellers his Heirs and afsigns against our Selves and our Heirs & against every Person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the Same or any part thereof Witnefs our hands and Seals this the Seventh of October One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty.
Signed, Sealed and delivered}
In the presence of }                                              Rolin R. Sellers {LS}
R. C. Sellers}                                                       Phillip A. Sellers {LS}
Jas. D. Sellers}

The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Personally appeared before me R. C. Sellers and made oath that he saw Rolin R. Sellers and Phillip A. Sellers sign Seal and as their act and deed deliver the within written deed and that he with Jas. D. Sellers witnefsed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me this}                                    R. C. Sellers
10^th August 1880}
W, A. Mulloy {Seal}}
Notary Public}
Auditors Office}
Chesterfield County}

Recorded 10^th August 1880. In Sales Book “A”, Page 162.
C. L. Evans
Auditor

Chesterfield County, SC Deed Book 6, pages 112-113
 
This Land Deed is significant for the genealogy information contained within; all of the named Sellers men are brothers and sons of Roland Sellers, Sr. including the witnesses to said deed.

If anyone knows the location of the said WILL of Roland Sellers mentioned in this Land Deed please contact me – e-mail. 

These Sellers men are my 1st cousin 4 times removed. 
_________________________ 
[1] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 6: pages 112 & 113., Rolin R. Sellers and Phillip A. Sellers to William R. Sellers Deed; 7 October 1850, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Tombstone Tuesday–Elizabeth Parsons Sellers

Elizabeth Parsons was born on 9 Mar 1822 in ,North Carolina.^{1 2} She appeared in the census in 1860 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States.^{3 4} Elizabeth died on 30 May 1899 at the age of 77 and was buried at Zoar Church Cemetery.^{5 6 7} A Memorial has been created for her at www.findagrave.com.⁸

Elizabeth Parsons and William Eddins Sellers were married about 1840. William Eddins Sellers, son of William Sellers and Gilly Eddins, was born about 1820 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Madison County, Tennessee.⁹ He died about 1854 at the age of 34 in Madison County, Tennessee.

William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons had the following children:

i. William Riley Sellers was born about 1842 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{10 11} He served in the military Enlisted into Civil War by J. C. Craig on 26 Dec 1861 in Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States. William died on 23 Mar 1865 at the age of 23 in Elmira, Chemung, New York, United States.¹² A Memorial has been created for him at www.findagrave.com.¹³

ii. Andrew Washington Sellers, born 24 Nov 1844, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Catherine Pinkney Wallace, 27 Dec 1865, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 12 Jan 1935, Florence County, South Carolina.

iii. James Arnold Sellers, born 16 Sep 1846, Madison County, Tennessee; married Sarah Jane Pittman, abt 1866; married Nancy Jane Johnson, abt 1896, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 14 Mar 1904, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

iv. Mary Abigail Sellers, born 24 Mar 1848, Madison County, Tennessee; married John W. Brock, 14 Mar 1869, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 3 May 1907, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

v. Louise Ellen Sellers, born Sep 1850, Madison County, Tennessee; married Benjamin Franklin Brock, 1870; died 15 Dec 1928, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

vi. Alonzo W. Sellers was born about 1854 in Madison County, Tennessee. ¹⁴ He died in Apr 1860 at the age of 6 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
 

Photo courtesy of Julious Burr

 
 






________________________________________
1. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Elizabeth Sellers; (9 March 1822–10 May 1899); Memorial # 83059642; Record of the Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County. South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 11 June 2010.
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. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page 325C, Line 29, Dwelling 252, Family # 252, Household of Benj. F. BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archive Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.
5. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 837. Tombstone of Elizabeth Sellers; 9 March 1822–10 May 1899, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

6. Brock Family Bible Family Bible Holy Bible, (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), Death - May 30th 1899; ELIZABETH SELLARS, Obtained from . DEATH: Taken from a Brock Family Bible (30 May 1899) in possession of my Mother and Tombstone at Zoar Cemetery. "ELIZABETH SELLARS departed life May the 30th, 1899".
7. 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). Interview with a Confederate Veteran

Andrew Washington Sellers is my great grand uncle. He is the brother of my Great Grand Mother Louise Ellen Sellers.  Andrew was born 24 Nov 1844 and died 12 Jan 1935 in Florence, Florence County, SC. He married Catherine Pinkey Wallace on 27 December 1865.
Interview with Andrew Washington Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932)
[Note: All spelling and punctuation left as printed].
8. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 11 June 2010; Headstone for Elizabeth Sellers; Memorial # 83059642.
9. 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.
10. Ibid.
11. 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.
12. Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: Univ of South Carolina, 1997), page 312. SELLERS, W. Riley, died 23 March 1865 at Elmira, NY , Died in Prison; buried at Woodlawn, NY #2438 Elmira.
13. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://findagrave.com; Headstone for Pvt W R Sellers; (1842–23 March 1865); Memorial # 66214868; Record of the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Plot: CSA 2438; Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA; Accessed on 2012. Pvt W R SellersBirth: unknown
Death: Mar. 23, 1865
Note: 4th SC Cavalry Company A
Burial: Woodlawn National Cemetery
Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA
Plot: CSA 2438
Created by: Hope
Record added: Feb 27, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 66214868
14. 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.

Great Great Grandparents

William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons are my Great Great Grandparents. Family folklore says that William & Elizabeth migrated from Chesterfield County, South Carolina about 1845. Census records show their second child born in Chesterfield and their 3rd child born in Madison County, Tennessee. It is also stated that William Eddins Sellers died from a fall while building a church in Madison County, Tennessee about 1854. Elizabeth packed her family up and moved back to Chesterfield County, South Carolina to be with family and friends. I have found no record of William Eddins Sellers death but a thorough search of local newspapers have not been made at this time.

William Eddins Sellers was born about 1800 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Madison County, Tennessee.¹ He died about 1854 at the age of 54 in Madison County, Tennessee, United States.

William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons were married about 1840. Elizabeth Parsons, daughter of Abington Parsons and Mary, was born on 9 Mar 1822 in North Carolina.² She appeared in the census in 1860 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States.^{3 4} Elizabeth died on 30 May 1899 at the age of 77 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried at Zoar Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons had the following children:

              i.   William Riley Sellers was born about 1842 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{5 6} He served in the military Enlisted into Civil War by J. C. Craig on 26 Dec 1861 in Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He served in the military Muster Roll on 25 Jan 1862 in Georgetown, South Carolina. William died on 23 Mar 1865 at the age of 23 in Elmira, NY.⁷ A Memorial has been created for him at www.findagrave.com.⁸

           ii.   Andrew Washington Sellers, born 24 Nov 1844, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Catherine Pinkney Wallace, 27 Dec 1865, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 12 Jan 1935, Florence County, South Carolina.

           iii.   James Arnold Sellers, born 16 Sep 1846, Madison County, Tennessee, United States; married Sarah Jane Pittman, abt 1866; married Nancy Jennie Johnson, abt 1896, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 14 Mar 1904, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

           iv.   Mary Abigail Sellers, born 24 Mar 1848, Madison County, Tennessee; married John W. Brock, 14 Mar 1869, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 3 May 1907, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

           v.   Louise Ellen Sellers, born Sep 1850, Madison County, Tennessee; married Benjamin Franklin Brock, 1870; died 15 Dec 1928, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

             vi.   Alonzo W. Sellers was born about 1854 in Madison County, Tennessee. ⁹ He died in Apr 1860 at the age of 6 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

        1. 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.

        2. Ibid.

        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. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page 325C, Line 29, Dwelling 252, Family # 252, Household of Benj. F. BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225. 1880 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina;  Roll: 1225;  Family History Film: 1255225; Enumeration District: 005; Page 325C, Line 29, Dwelling 252, Family # 252; Benj. F. BROCK, age 29, born in SC; Luella BROCK, Wife, age 28, born in SC; Charles [Riley] BROCK, Son, age 2, born in SC and Elizabeth SELLERS, Mother, age 58, born in NC.

        5. 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.

        6. 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.

        7. Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: Univ of South Carolina, 1997), page 312. SELLERS, W. Riley, died 23 March 1865 at Elmira, NY , Died in Prison; buried at Woodlawn, NY #2438 Elmira.

        8. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://findagrave.com; Headstone for Pvt W R Sellers; (1842–23 March 1865); Memorial # 66214868; Record of the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Plot: CSA 2438; Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA; Accessed on 2012. Pvt W R Sellers.

        9. 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.

Interview with a Confederate Veteran

Andrew Washington Sellers is my great grand uncle. He is the brother of my Great Grand Mother Louise Ellen Sellers.  Andrew was born 24 Nov 1844 and died 12 Jan 1935 in Florence, Florence County, SC. He married Catherine Pinkey Wallace on 27 December 1865.

Interview with Andrew Washington Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932)

[Note: All spelling and punctuation left as printed]

The car stopped on the highway just below Bannockburn where a man sat on the plazza of a farm house set well back from the road.

"Can you tell me where Mr. Andrew Sellers lives?"

"Yes, ma'am," and the man rose and came down the steps, meeting the visitor about half way the long walk.
"I'm looking for Mr. Andrew Sellers, an old Confederate veteran."

"Yes, Ma'am, that's me."

You?  You're not Mr. Sellers?" incredulously.

"Yes ma'am, --won't you come in?"

And this old fellow, eighty-eight years young, walked briskly up the steps, went in the house and brought out a heavy, upholstered chair for his visitor to sit in while he talked reminiscently of old days.

Mr. Sellers was born in Chesterfield county in 1844, son of Bill Sellers and Elizabeth Parsons. His grandfather was known as "Old Frozen Bill" Sellers, whose wife was Gilly Edens. He says his parents, with several of his father's brothers and sisters, seven families in all, took a great notion to go west in the forties, and very shortly after he as born they made the trip and settled out there. But a few years later his father died and when an uncle from South Carolina came out to visit them in 1854, his mother and her children returned with him to Chesterfield.

"And when we got there, said he, "though I was just a little boy, my grandmother Sellers put me and my brother to work on the farm. She had lots of niggers, but we had to work."

He worked on the farm until the war broke out, and in 1862, as a boy of seventeen, he answered the call to arms, serving in "Company A, Fourth South Carolina Cavalry, Butler's Brigade, Hampton's Division, Army of Northern Virginia." He was in the Company of Capt. J. C. Craig all through the war.

"We lay right around Richmond and Petersburg, up and down from Alexandria almost to Weldon, just in front of Grant," he said, and with evident relish stated: 
Gen. Lee would whip ever general against him, --till Grant came. Continuing he said, "Grant didn't want to take charge there, but he said he would take the job if they would let him run it to suit himself. Then when he came he said there was no use killing the whole population off--- it would be better to just sit down and starve them out. So he did----or tried to. That began the siege of Richmond."

"You were there all during the war?"

"Yes, around Petersburg and Richmond all the time, except about seven months when I stayed in prison."

"Tell us about that."

"Well, they captured us at Stony Creek.  The soldiers got down almost to starvation---just the little they could give us and what we could steal and pilfer. Once Hampton took about 800 cows from Grant," and he laughed as he said, "We had a grand time as long, as the beef lasted." 
"But when Grant got the Confederate soldiers pinched down so close to starvation, the Confederate Army moved its supplies down to Stony Creek, about four or five miles from Petersburg.

and there were eighty-three men sent there to guard the supply station---in a big depot building right on the creek.

"When the Yankees found out about it they slipped in on us, above and below, and nabbed the whole business, and burned what supplies we did have---burned up everything that was there. That was along about the first day of December, 1864, and they carried me and all the balance--caught every one of us, and carried the whole bunch to Point Lookout, Md. There were 180 of us caught at Stony Creek at one time. And there they kept us until June 19, 1865."  

"But that was after Lee's surrender, wasn't it"?"        

"Yes, but I'll show you my release and he went in the house and brought out the old prison release, with the oath of allegiance he was required to sign, and sure enough it bore the date June 19, 1865."

Continuing his story, Mr. Sellers said:

"When they let us go they sent us to Richmond on a boat, and from there by train to Salisbury, but from there we had to foot it home."    "Why didn't they send you all the way home"?"

"They could have, but they wanted to treat us just as bad as they could. While we were in prison they tried to see if they could kill us without shooting us.  That was the hardest place I ever struck in my life," said he. "I'll take the battle field all the time."

So he tramped from Salisbury to his home near the village of Chesterfield.  It took three or four days and his feet became so sore he could scarcely stagger along.  He tried pulling off his shoes, but found that wouldn't do. He and some other South Carolina boys came along together, and they were "all in" when they reached Chesterfield.  They had sent his horse home some time before.

"When I got home I went to work on the farm again," said he. "My brother, James, had been wounded. He belonged to the same brigade I did, but not to the same company.  He had been sent home when he was wounded and he had him a farm all started. So I put in and went to work farming, and have been at it ever since. My oldest brother, William Riley Sellers, was also in the army, but he was killed at Trevillian Station, VA[1][2]. [See Footnotes]

Besides these two brothers, Mr. Sellers had two sisters, Mary Ann Abigail Sellers, who married John Brock, and Lou Ella Sellers, who married Benjamin Brock, all of Chesterfield County.

Mr. Sellers married Catherine P. Wallace, daughter of Jesse Wallace, of Chesterfield and North Carolina, and their children were Charles Riley, Aurilla Jane, Mary Ellen, Jesse C., Alonzo H., Andrew J., Fannie and Kitty Sellers.  All live in Chesterfield except Jesse C. Sellers, who lives near Bannockburn, Florence county, and it is with him and his family that the genial old confederate veteran has made his home since shortly after his wife died some twenty years ago. He had four grandsons in the World war, one of them having been captured by the Germans and held in Prison all through the war.

"You are wonderfully well-preserved, Mr. Sellers, for a man of eighty-eight."      

"Well, I never had much sickness. I take all the exercise I can---I think that is the thing to do. And I'm hearty all right."

Some of this "exercise" is bring in wood, and sometimes cutting it too. He says he has two "bad habits"---coffee and tobacco.  He went on to tell of the craving for coffee in the army.

"They'd make coffee out of burnt rice, burnt peas, corn---anything that would make it black. They'd make a big kettle full and then call the boys to come get some coffee.  And they'd come too, "he laughed, "every one with his tin cup. Sometimes we'd have good boxes from home, and when one of the boys got a box he would just kick it open and call the rest, and here they'd come. Took things in their hands, and ate long as there was anything in the box to eat."

"Did you have any Ku Klux Klan or Red Shirts up in your country after the war?" "Oh, yes. I was in all that. We had a lot of trouble with the Negroes at first, but we soon broke that up."

When asked to pose for a snap shot he went gaily after his coat with the Bronze Cross of Honor in the lapel, so prized by the "boys" who wore the gray," and sat jauntily in the beaming sun beside the well curb for the picture.

And as his visitors turned to go he urged them hospitably to come again, smiling as he said:

"Come and let's talk some more. I haven't got started good yet."

 

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[1] Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes (Columbia, South Carolina: SC Historical Society, 1995), page 312. SELLERS, W. Riley, died 23 March 1865 at Elmira, NY, Died in Prison; buried at Woodlawn, NY #2438 Elmira

[2] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://findagrave.com; Headstone for Pvt W R Sellers; (1842–23 March 1865); Memorial # 66214868; Record of the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Plot: CSA 2438; Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA; Accessed on 2012.

[3] Also published in the Chesterfield District Chronicle, Chesterfield District Chapter, S.C.G.S.,  Volume III, No. 1, Winter 2000, pages 19-21

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