Sellers settle in Red Level
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 28, 2003
Two weeks earlier, the family of Dr. Thomas Leonard Sellers, a pioneer physician in the county, was featured in this column. Some responses from the publication has provided additional information and some further clarification to the Sellers genealogy. Today's writing will be an update and continuation of that family's history.
One important and early correction is the names of Dr. Seller's parents. They were Simeon and Martha Ann (Hewitt) Sellers rather than the stated Elijah and Emma Abigail Sellers. They were natives of North Carolina and reared the following four children: Thomas Leonard, b. 1882, d. 1913, m. (1) ca 1854 Finetta "Nettie" Braxton, daughter of Oliver Braxton (2) ca 1865 Mittie Anne Andrews; John; Martha, m. Gardner Simmons; and Liddie.
Thomas Leonard became a physician and surgeon, a career which he practiced for most of his life. He and his first wife, Nettie, had the following children: Martha Ann Priscilla, b. 1856, d. 1949, m. 1874 William G. Peterson; Finetta Victory Liddie "Dora," b. 1858, d. 1936, m. Daniel Frank Peterson; Dorcus Angeline, b. 1860, m. 1880 James Jefferson Pierce; and Mary Jane, b. 1862, d. 1937, m. Henry Clay Bardin.
After Nettie's death circa 1864, Dr. Sellers was married to his second wife, Mittie Ann Andrews (1940-1913) in 1865. They reared the following two children: Emma Abagail, b. ca 1866, d. 1937, m. Lawson Turner; and Simeon Moses Lafayette, b. 1868, d. 1940, m. ca 1889 Ida Adelle Mason.
Dr. Sellers moved his family during the 1880s from Holmes County, Florida, to the Red Level community. He began practicing medicine throughout the area and continued to care for patients until his death in 1918. It must have been quite sad for the family since Mittie Ann had died on January 8, and then Dr. Sellers, on January 13. They were buried in the historicFairmount Cemetery at Red Level.
The children for most of Dr. Sellers's children were outlined in the previous column, but some additional data will be presented here. Mary Jane's husband, Henry Clay Bardin, left his family and moved to Mississippi or Louisiana, where he reared a second family. For the youngest son, Simeon's, family, the following additions are provided: Charles L. was Charles Leonard Sr., Stella was Beulah Estella, and Willis B., b. 1907, should be added to the list of children.
The additional data for the family of the youngest daughter, Emma Abagail includes the following. Emma and her husband, Lawson Turner, son of James and Amanda C. (Veasey) Turner, reared the following children: Rosie Lee, m. Thomas Henderson; Thomas, b. 1888, d. 1937, m. 1911 Evie Cassady; Mittie Mae, b. 1891, d. 1989, m. 1909 Alex Cassady, brother to Evy; Annie Lou, b. 1893, d. 1946, m. 1909 Homer "Bud" Wiggins; Cora Lee Hastie, b. 1896, d. 1969, m. 1913 Otis Anderson; Joseph Milton, b. 1898, d. 1922, m. Virgie Fuqua Findley; Ella C., b. 1900, d. 1989, m. 1918 Robert Rabren; Ernest Beauregarde, b.1903, d. 1910; Flora Flossie Emma, b. 1905, m. 1927 Sammy Glisson; and Mary Asa Lee or Azaleah, b.&d. 1908.
Some of the next generation, Dr. Sellers's great grandchildren, was presented in the previous column. Charles Lamar Sr. and Mary Lois's two infants who died were boys. Next, additional descendants in this generation will be outlined.
Rosie Lee, oldest daughter of Emma Abagail (1882-1954) and Lawson Turner (1882-1960), and her husband, Tommy Henderson, reared the following four children: Nancy, m. Burt Sasser; Myrtice, m. Albert Burnett; Bertha, m. Glen Dukes; and Buna Mae, m. Pulaski Davis.
Emma and Lawson Turner's daughter, Ella, and her husband, Robert Rabren, son of Daniel and Mary Magdalene (Fuqua) Rabren, reared the following children: Earnest Edwards, b. 1919; Ellie Mildred, b. 1920, m. ? Sanborn; Wilton Willard, b. 1923; Carlie Marguerite, b. 1925, m. ? Kovacic; Madline Louise, b. 1928, m. ? Zima; and Robert Broughton.
The above corrections and additional genealogical data were contributed by several Sellers descendants: Pat Wiggins, Glen Cassady, and Evelyn Moseley. Any one who might have other corrections or any new information related to this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com.
QUERY:
Additional information is needed on the Turner families of Covington County. One of the above Sellers descendants married into the Turner family, so some data is available. Anyone who might have any genealogy or history on the Turner family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at the above address or telephone 334-222-6467.