From:
              Jsellars3@aol.com

I found these letters written by Edward Sellers of Lawrence County, IN and
later Mason, Effingham County, IL.
Jim Sellars

The Christian Record Elder J. M. Mathes editor

(1) November 1845, p. 147
Statistical Report
The following churches were heard from, at the Annual State Meeting, which
was held at Bloomington, commencing on the 3d October, 1845, by letter or
otherwise;

W. River U. - Lawrence County - Prs't No. 145 - Deacons E. Sellars, D.
Sears.

(2) August 1846, p. 60
Lawrence County, Ind., June 30th, 1846.
Brother Mathes,
I would inform you and the readers of the "Christian Record," that on the
1st
Lord's day in May, brother J. J. Sadler held a meeting with us, when two
noble young ladies made the good confession. On the 5th Lord's day in May,
bro. M. R. Trimble was with us, and delivered some four or five
discourses,
and the result was eleven additions to the church, six by letter and five
by
baptism. May the Lord add daily to the church such as shall be saved.
Your brother in the Lord,
Edward Sellars

(3) September 1846, p. 94.
Lawrence County, Ind., Aug. 25th, 1846.
Brother Mathes,
With great pleasure I sit down to inform you and your readers, that on the
third Lord's day in this month, at a meeting held in Spice Valley, six
persons volunteered for the heavenly country, and were baptised forthwith
in
White River, by Eld. Abraham Kern; while the brethren and sisters present
rejoiced much in the Lord. O Lord revive thy good begun work, and carry it
on
over the head of all opposition, until all come to know and obey the
truth!
Your brother in the Lord,
Edward Sellars

(4) August 1849, p. 64.
Brother Mathes: After so long a time, I set down to inform you of the
death
of our little daughter, Mary Catherine Sellars. She took her flight to the
spirit land on the 12th of May last. She was nine years one month and
twelve
days old. - Her illness only lasted about eight days. She had her right
mind
to the last moment. About two hours before her death, I asked her if she
thought she was going die and leave us. She said she did not know, I then
asked her if she would rather stay with her pappa; she answered , I
reckon.
She then said to me; pappa, I wish you and Mother would stay with me all
the
time, as though she had just got a glimpse of another world, and soon
after
her spirit fled.

O brother Mathes! How hard it seems for us tp part with our dear children!
-
This is the seventh and last of our children, who have gone to the
promised
land, except three who are of age and doing for themselves. We are now all
alone, but we hope to see them againin the land of everlasting rest.
Yours in the good hope.
Edward Sellars

(5) January 1870, p. 32
Mason, Ill., November 10, 1870.
Bro. Mathes,
We have had another fine meeting here, held by Bro. M. T. Smith, of
Noblesville, Ind. We had excellent preaching but no additions.
Edward Sellers

(6) July 1870, p. 321.
Mason, Ill., June 2, 1870
Bro. Mathes: - We have a small church here of about twenty members, and
another in the country, some three miles out, of one hundred members. Bro.
Clayborn Wright is the preacher, with J. I. Bush, and I help what I can.
Your old brother,        Edward Sellers

(7) November 1870, p. 521
Bro Mathes: - We have just closed a meeting last night, with 12 additions,
11
of them by immersion - one, an old lady about 70 years of age, the wife of
an
old Methodist preacher, or at least he had been. He does not preach any
now.
Nine of the number were young ladies. One young man was immersed, and an
excellent lady of our town united by letter. The meeting lasted nine days.
The Interest increased to the last, and last night the people could not
near
all get into the house. Our preacher was M. T. Smith, of Noblesvile, Ind.
We
meet every Lord's day to break the loaf.
As ever yours,
Edward Sellers

(8) December 1870, p. 565
Mason, Ill., Oct. 19, 1870
Bro. Mathes: - We have captured two more members from the Methodist
Episcopal
Church, or rather the truth has captivated them - a man and his wife. Some
of
the Methodists call it "stealing," but I do not, for they came
voluntarily.
Your brother in Christ,
Edward Sellers

(9) July 1871, p. 330
Brother Edward Sellers, of Mason, Ill., under date of June 22, [1871]
writes:
"We had a meeting, held by Bro. J. M. Berry, of your county, some two
weeks,
closing on the fifth Lord's day in April, with the following result: Five
by
relation, three from the Baptists, one from the Methodists and two from
the
world; in all, eleven. Bro. Buchannon, of Rising Sun, Ind., also preached
for
ud some days, including the fourth Lord' day in May; no additions. Bro.
Borroughs, of Marshall, Illinois, also visited us recently. Please request
our preaching brethren, when they pass this way, to give us a call."

(10)February 1872, p. 96
Mason, Ill., Jan. 10, 1872.
Bro. Mathes: - This will inform you and your readers that my wife, Amelia
Sellers, departed this life January 5, 1872. She died in great peace,
exhorting us all to meet her in heaven. This she continued to the last
breath. I am now left all alone in this world. But I think I shall follow
her
before long. Brethren and sisters, pray for me in my lonely home, that my
last days may be my happiest days. My wife's age was about sixty-eight
years.
Edward Sellers

(11) November 1871, p. 518
Brother E. Sellers of Mason, Ill., under date of Sept. 27th, writes"
"Brother
Jacob Wright, of Covington, Ind., has just closed a successful meeting at
East Union, three miles east of this place, where Brother C. Wright lives.
The meeting began on Friday, before the 3d Lord's day in September, and
continued some ten days, 4 were immersed. He then came up to Mason and
delivered three discourses to good acceptance."

(12) January 1873, p. 43-44
Franklin, Ind., Nov 27, 1872.

Another of the Faithful Gone to His Reward.---Bro. Edward Sellers was born
the 18th day of March, A.D., 1802, in Knox Co., Kentucky.  He joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Laurel county, Ky., on the 11th day of
January,
1823, in which Church he became a class leader and an exhorter.  On the
20th
day of March following, he was married to Miss Amelia Martin, with whom he
lived until her death; which occurred on the 5th day of Jan. 1872.  After
living in the M.E. Church some four years, Bro. Sellers became better
enlightened on the subject of baptism, and consequently dissatisfied with
his
sprinkling, (his Methodist brethren would not immerse him), the result of
which was, he left th M.E. Church and united with the regular Baptists;
with
whom he lived in harmony some four years longer.  In the year 1828, he
moved
to Lawrence county, Ind., where he lived about two years before he again
attached himself to any church.  During this interval he heard for the
first
time, the ancient apostolic gospel preached by Elder Abraham Kern, Joseph
Hostetler, Isaac Martin and numerous others of the great reformation of
the
19th century, to which his truth-loving mind, readily triumphing over
party
prejudices, yielded a hearty and soul-cheering assent.  He became a member
of
the Church of Christ in the summer of 1830.  To the membership of this
church, to-wit, White River Union, Bro. Sellers was a welcome accession.
Shortly after his connection with this congregation he was ordained a
preacher or evangelist.  In this Church Bro. Sellers lived for a period of
thirty-five years in perfect peace and fellowship with the brotherhood,
zealously laboring as far as his health would admit, earnestly contending
for
the faith once delivered to the saints.  In June, 1863, Bro. Sellers again
moved to Effingham county, in the State of Illinois.  On the 10th day of
Sept., 1867, Bro. Sellers moved to Mason, a town on the I. & C. R.R. in
the
same county.  In the year 1868, a small congregation of disciples was
organized in Mason, at which time brother and sister Sellers were among
the
first to become members.  In this town they lived much beloved by the
church,
and highly esteemed as citizens to the close of their earthly labors.
They
both suffered great afflictions in their latter years; he with cancer in
the
face, and she with chronic rheumatism.  Their deep and painful sufferings
were borne by both with Christian patience and resignation.  In her death
she
preceded her husband six months and eighteen days.  He died on the 23rd
day
of July, 1872; aged 7o years, 4 months and 5 days.

Afflictions o'er their life prevailed,
Wave after wave in floods were driven;
Faith manned their bark, they safely sailed,
The last wave rolled them on to heaven.  J.D. Bush.
Communicated from Mason Ill.