Richard S. SEAL, farmer, was born in Hawkins, now Hancock County, February 14, 1831, the son of Noel and Nancy (Frost) SEAL, of Irish-English and Irish origin respectively, and natives of Hawkins County, the former born July 30, 1798, and deceased November 29, 1873, and the latter born June 8, 1806, and deceased December 1, 1860, having been married since January 13, 1820. For twenty-four years they lived near Sneedville; in 1844, came to Clinch River, and three years later to Little Barren Creek. Seven years after he moved to another part of the county, and about the same length of time after that settled at Sand Lick. The father was an influential man.
Our subject, the fifth of twelve children, has always been a farmer. October 7, 1855, he married Martha LEWIS of this county, and became a farmer near Big Barren Creek, ten years later moved to near where he now lives, and in 1872, settled at his present home. From June, 1873 to 1877, he was a merchant near his residence, and now owns 400 acres of land. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are Missionary Baptists. They have four sons and three daughters, one of the latter deceased.
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1887.