As I’ve been updating my data on the descendants of James Sellers and his wife, Mary Crawford, I came across a SELLER biography in Weik’s History of Putnam County, Indiana, Even though the surname is slightly different, there is a connection between the two families.
According to the Luna Seller biography, his grandmother was Rebecca Sellers. I believe this Rebecca Sellers is the daughter of James and Mary (Crawford) Sellers. [See the post for John L. Sellers for more information on the Sellers family.]
Not only did Luna Seller inherit CRAWFORD DNA thru his great-grandmother (Mary Crawford Sellers, mother of Rebecca Sellers Seller), but also thru his grandmother, Mary Crawford Seller, wife of Theophilus Seller.
According to the Luna Seller biography, Myra Crawford was the daughter of Moses and Melinda Crawford. The FamilySearch tree shows that Myra’s grandfather was English Crawford. While I haven’t encountered this branch of the CRAWFORD family in my research of Garrard County, Kentucky, there may be a connection since English Crawford was married in Botetourt county, Virginia before migrating to Knox County, Tennessee. Thus, the English Crawford family is going to be added to my Crawford fan club.
I doubt I would have uncovered this connection if I hadn’t been going back thru my research and using digital versions of the county history versus relying on my original photocopies!
Luna Seller
page 340
Luna W. Seller
In studying the interesting life histories of many of the better class of men, and the ones of unquestioned merit and honor, it will be found that they have been compelled, very largely, to map out their own career and furnish their own motive force in scaling the heights of success and it is such a one that the biography is pleased to write of in the following paragraphs.
Luna W. seller, whose fine farm is located in Jefferson township, Putnam county, Indiana, was born in the city of Greencastle, this county, on the 21st day of December, 1868. He is the son of Theophilus and Myra (Crawford) Seller. Theophilus Seller was born in Greencastle, January 21, 1827, the son of John F. and Rebecca (Sellers) Seller.
John F. Seller, one of the first settlers of Putnam county, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, February 22, 1791. In early life he removed to Garrard county, Kentucky, where he married Rebecca Sellers, July 24, 1817. She was a native of Garrard county, born November 12, 1797. In 1822 he came with his family to Putnam county, Indiana, and settled on section 27, Greencastle township, later removing to section 21 of that township. John F. and Rebecca Seller had twelve children, of which Theophilus, father of the subject was the fifth in order of birth. The others were: Delorians, born January 12, 1819; James W. P., born December 4, 1820; Milton H., born November 12, 1822; Columbus D., born October 11, 1824, and died October 4, 1853; Bainbridge B., born August 18, 1828, and died August 11, 1829; Louisa J., born February 14, 1830, and died August 25, 1845; John F., born September 28, 1831, and died September 27, 1858; Rebecca Ann, born July 20, 1833, and died May 11, 1843; Western W., born April 9, 1835; Elizabeth H., born February 1, 1838, and died May 17, 1843;page 341
Weik Jesse W., Weik’s History of Putnam County Indiana (Indianapolis, IN: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers, 1910), pages 341-342; archive.org viewed online 7 October 2022.
Tabitha C., born May 6, 1840, and Theophilus Seller, who became a physician and was well-known as a highly respected citizen. He died September 6, 1871.
The subject’s mother was born in 1838 in Hendricks county, Indiana and was the daughter of Moses and Melinda (Churchman) Crawford. Theophilus Seller received a good preliminary education and then studied medicine. He followed the active practice of his profession for a time, but finding that line of work detrimental to his health he gave up his professional work and thereafter applied himself to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1871. Sometime after his death, his widow married Wallace Johnstone, by whom she has a daughter, Minnie, the wife of Robert C. Schell, of st. Louis, where she now resides with them. To Theophilus and Myra Seller were born three children, Walter, Jennie and Luna. Walter is engaged in the grocery business in Greencastle, Jennie is the wife of William Randel, of Greencastle.
Luna W. Seller was reared by his parents and received his education in the public schools of Greencastle, also attending an academy in that city. After completing his education, he devoted himself to farming, with which he has been identified continuously since. In 1889 he located on the farm in section 15, Jefferson township, where he now resides. He had formerly owned one hundred and ten acres of the old home farm, but now his holdings in section 15 amount to one hundred and ninety acres, nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation and yielding bountiful crops. Mr. Seller carries on general farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country. He has also given some attention to the raising of live stock, with considerable success. In 1895 Mr. Seller built a substantial and attractive residence and the property is otherwise highly improved, its appearance reflecting credit on the owner.
On May 7, 1893, Mr. Seller married Nettie, the daughter of Francis M. and Sarah E. (Sandy) Allee, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. To this union has been born a son, Hubert, who is now a student in the high school at Greencastle.
Politically Mr. Seller is a Republican, while his religious affiliation is with the New Providence Baptist church. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in the subordinate lodge at Belle Union. He is a man of splendid personal qualities and is public spirited in his attitude toward all movements for the advancement of the best interests of the community. Because of his genuine worth he enjoys the esteem of all who know him.