Sewell Family
Photo Album
Biographical Sketch of the Life of E. G. Sewell
[from Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers, by H. Leo Boles, pgs.238-242; Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, c.1932]
The writer has the same difficulty to meet in preparing this biographical sketch that he had in writing the sketch of D. Lipscomb. The great abundance of material at hand and the brevity of space allotted for biographical sketches necessitate putting a few historical facts and incidents concerning this great man into such brief space. The amount of material on hands with such an array of facts and incidents makes it difficult to select just such as ought to be presented here. Much of the life of E. G. Sewell is fresh in the memory of the present generation.
Elisha G. Sewell was born in Overton County, Tenn., October 25, 1830. His father, Stephen Sewell, was born in North Carolina, but at the age of twelve came to Carter County, Tenn. Here he met his wife and married. Soon after his marriage he came to Overton County, Tenn., and settled on Wolf River near the Kentucky line, about seven miles from Albany, the county seat of Clinton County, Ky. Stephen Sewell had a large family. There were born to them eight boys and six girls. Two of these died in infancy, the others lived to be grown. All the boys, save one, had Bible names, and four of them became preachers of the gospel. The subject of this sketch was the; youngest boy and next to the youngest child. Stephen Sewell was a pious man and taught his children reverence for God and respect for his word. He belonged to the Baptist Church and impressed upon his children the chief tenets of the Baptist faith. The Baptist Church was very strong in that section of the country; in fact, it was the only church in that section of the county. Brother Sewell’s father was a deacon in that church for a long time, and his brother, William B. Sewell, was clerk of the church for many years.
William B. Sewell married a member of the church of Christ and attended the services frequently with his wife. At one time he took the Lord’s Supper with his wife on the first day of the week. For this he was cited to trial in the Baptist Church and charged with violating the rules of the church. He would not retract his statement about following the New Testament in worshiping God and was forthwith excluded from the Baptist Church. Through William Sewell, Jesse L. Sewell, an older brother of Elisha, was led to study the New Testament, and Jesse L. saw the Baptist error that he was practicing and immediately turned from it and began preaching the gospel. He, too, was excluded “for preaching faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins.” Soon Isaac Sewell, another brother, and three sisters asked that their names be removed from the Baptist roll. By this time three of Brother Sewell’s brothers were preaching the gospel and an uncle was preaching the Baptist doctrine. E. G. Sewell was nineteen years old at this time. He did not know whether his brothers were right or whether his uncle was right; so he decided in the spring of 1849 to study the New Testament for himself. He read the New Testament through once that year, and portions of it many times. On the fourth Lord’s day in October, 1849, E. G. Sewell was buried with his Lord in baptism. About a year after this time he began to make public talks and rapidly developed into a strong gospel preacher. From that time on his life was filled with interesting events of his activities as a Christian.
He gained part of an education from the schools in his community, but these did not furnish very good advantages. Three of his brothers were teaching school in different parts of the county, and E. G. Sewell went to school to his brother for about six months. He then began teaching school near his home. Next be taught in Southeastern Kentucky. On November 22, 1853, he was married to Miss Lucy Kuykendall, near Cookeville, Tenn. Immediately after his marriage he went back to Kentucky and taught another term. He began to see the need of more education, and through the assistance of his father-in-law he was able to enter Burritt College in February, 1856. W. D. Carnes was president of the college at that time. He remained in Burritt College two and one-half years. When W. D. Carnes resigned as president and accepted the position in East Tennessee University, E. G. Sewell left Burritt College. On September 1, 1858, be entered Franklin College under Tolbert Fanning and William Lipscomb. He was admitted to the senior class, with the promise that be would be graduated at the close of the school year, provided he made good. He made good and was graduated with honors in June, 1859.
On January 1, 1870, he joined Brother D. Lipscomb as co-editor of the Gospel Advocate. He wrote regularly for the Advocate a little more than fifty years. He covered wide range of Biblical subjects. His writings were clear and simple, easy to be understood. Brother Sewell and Brother Lipscomb were coworkers and fellow workers in the church of our Lord for more than half a century. They were in sacred league and hallowed covenant with each other for more than fifty years. Their companionship was beautiful, each revering the other, having no suspicion or jealousy the one toward the other, but each ministering to the other and with each other in the work of the Lord. Each recognized the ability and talent of the other and respected the same. Like David and Jonathan, their union was pleasant and profitable, and their love for each other “was wonderful, passing the love of women.” They were different types of men, but their lives were in harmony with the word of God, hence they were in ‘harmony with each other. Brother Sewell said in his first editorial in the Gospel Advocate: “I expect to make the Word of God my guide in whatever I say through, the Advocate, just as I have endeavored to do in my preaching. I have no confidence in anything in religion which is not fully authorized by the Bible.”
Brother Sewell was a co-laborer with Brother Lipscomb in preaching the gospel in and around Nashville. They labored together in building up the churches in Middle Tennessee. One time Brother Lipscomb bad been preaching at a place two weeks, and the people seemed interested, but did not respond to, his preaching. He told them that he would go home and send Brother Sewell to them. Brother Sewell went, and within a few days he baptized more than sixty persons. Few men who have labored in Tennessee baptized more people than Brother Sewell. Brother Sewell stood with Brother Lipscomb in contending for the faith and simple order of New Testament work and worship. With the exception of Brother Lipscomb, possibly Brother Sewell did more to encourage the churches in the South to remain faithful to, the New Testament than any other man. He was kind and gentle in his manner and pleasing in his style of writing and speaking, but he was as sturdy as the oak in standing for the New Testament order of things.
Brother Sewell lived to a ripe old age. He died on March 2 1924, at the age of ninety-three years. He died as did his fellow worker, D. Lipscomb, on the Lord’s Day. He had kept the faith and finished his course. Death to him was the climax of his mission on earth. Funeral services were held at the Russell Street Church, Nashville, Tenn., by Brethren S. H. Hall and J. C. McQuiddy.
Source: http://www.therestorationmovement.com/sewell,eg.htm (via the Internet Archive)
Old Philadelpia Meetinghouse and Grave of Jesse Londerman Sewell
The Old Meetinghouse is located in the Cumberland Gap [sic] area of Tennessee, just south of McMinnville, in the Viola Community. The Price family, and others from North Carolina moved into the area uniting with people in the community on the basis of taking the Bible as their only guide. Some say they were influenced by James O’Kelley, and his movement in the east. Ultimately New Testament Christianity was established in that community, separate from the influence of the Campbells and Stones.
In the photos [on the original page] you will see photos of the old building that went through a major renovation in the last few years. The old building saw many preachers, a list of a few of which are in a photo below. One great preacher was Jesse Londerman Sewell. He was the oldest brother of E.G. Sewell. Brother Sewell preached at Old Philadelphia many years and is buried in the cemetery behind the old meetinghouse. In the early 20th century it was mainly used by African-American brethren, enjoying the preaching of great men such as Marshall Keeble. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for directions to this most interesting site in South-Central Tennessee. Also click on the other links below with more in-depth histories on this great work. Today this great old building is used by the community for meetings, and occasionally Gospel Meetings are held there. For the interested fan of the Restoration Movement, any visit in the South Central Tennessee area would have to include a stop in Viola at the Old Philadelphia Meetinghouse.
Source: http://www.therestorationmovement.com/oldphiladelphia.htm (via the Internet Archive)
Biography of J. B. Sewell
(Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago : Lewis, 1918. Click here to view original transcription at Access Genealogy.)
Postmaster and for many years a merchant at Bolton, J. B. Sewell had lived in Montgomery County forty-five years, and is one of the men of sterling citizenship who have contributed on every hand to progress and prosperity in this seetion of the state.
He is descended from a family of Sewells that in colonial times located in Maine at the Town of Sewell. Later a branch moved south to North Carolina, and Mr. Sewell’s grandfather, William D. Sewell, was born in that state in 1783. He afterwards moved over the mountains into Tennessee, located on a farm there, and was a local preacher of the Baptist denomination, and beginning at the age of twenty presched to a single congregation in Overton County for more than fifty years. He died in Tennessee in 1878, when near a hundred years of age. His wife Susan was born in North Carolina in 1788 and died in Overton County, Tennessee, in 1878.
It was in Overton County, Tennessee, near Livingston that J. B. Sewell was born June 11, 1854. His father, J. G. Sewell, was born in the same state December 6, 1829, grew up and married there and in 1871 set out with his family, crossed the country and on the 16th day of July arrived in Independence. About ten miles from that city but in Montgomery County he secured a claim of 160 acres, and that land, subsequently well improved, is part of his estate and is situated about a mile and a half south of Bolton. J. G. Sewell died in Montgomery County December 29, 1882. He was a Democrat, acrved on the school board, was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and for many years was a loyal Mason affiliating with Fortitude Lodge No. 107, Aneient, Free and Accepted Masons. He and five brothers participated in the Civil war on the Confederate side. Every one of them was wounded, but none killed. J. G. Sewell served three years under Captain McGinnis and Colonel Forrest, and was in many of the important cngagements, including Shiloh and was wounded at Murfreesboro. J. G. Sewell married Catherine Ann Maybury, who was born in Tennessee June 22, 1834, and died in Montgomery County, Kansas November 29, 1915, when nearly eighty years of age. Her oldeat child, Martha Jane, died at the age of sixteen. The second child and oldest son is J. B. Sewell. W. C. Sewell, a twin brother of J. B., is a retired farmer living in Independence. A. C. Sewell is given more extended mention in later paragraphs.
J. B. Sewell grew up on his father’s Tennessee farm, was seventeen when he came to Kansas, and remained with his father in Montgomery County until he was twenty-two. In the meantime he had married and on leaving the old home he took up farming for himself in Montgomery County. In March, 1888, having sold his farm, he opened a stock of general merchandise at Bolton, and for some years also conducted a grain and stock business. He now gives his attention entirely to merchandising, had a well stocked general store, and since the administration of President Taft had been postmaster of Bolton. He had been prospered as he deserves, and is one of the well-to-do and influential citizeas of Montgomery County. His residence at Bolton is surrounded by four acres of ground, and he also had a third interest in his father’s old homestead.
Politically he had kept an independent attitude. He was once a candidate for sheriff and once a candidate for representative on the populist ticket. His principal service had been rendered to his home county and community. He had served as a member of the township board of trustees and had frequently been elected to the school board. He is a member and elder of the Christian Church, and fraternally is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 69, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of Camp No. 649, Modern Woodmen of America, and of the A. H. T. A.
When only nineteen years of age, in 1873 in Montgomery County, Mr. Sewell married Miss Mary M. James, a daughter of J. L. and Martha Ann James. Her mother is now deceased. The father lived with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hudson during the latter part of his life. He was a farmer all his active career. Mr. and Mrs. Sewell have a fine family of ten children: Everett Wayman, who died at the age of three weeks; Henry Seymour, who is in the grocery business at Independence; Etta, who died in 1905 at Bolton, married W. B. Scott, who is an oil operator at Independence; Lloyd lives on the homestead farm; Mattie May is the wife of F. A. Lynch, living on a farm three miles northwest of Bolton; Minnie married Walter Bates, who is in the lumber business at Iola; Gertrude is the wife of George Mills, a stock buyer and farmer living at Independence; Gracie Ann married Earl Dematt, who works for the Prairie Oil & Gas Company, and lives in Independence, Kansas; Lillie married W. H. Adams, who works in the oil fields and lives at Independence; Ethel is now a senior in the Montgomery County High School.
Biography of William C. Sewell
(Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago : Lewis, 1918. Click here to view original transcription at Access Genealogy.)
William C. Sewell. While Montgomery County had contributed many millions to the wealth of the world through its oil and gas fields, it is primarily and essentially an agricultural county, and many of its more substantial citizens laid the basis of their prosperity as farmers. One of these is William C. Sewell, who is now living at Independence, and since retiring from the farm had busied himself with the management of a number of property interests.
In his period of residence in Montgomery County practically every development of importance had occurred since the Indians left this section of Kansas. Mr. Sewell was born in Overton County, Tennessee, June 11, 1854, a son of J. G. and Catherine Maybury Sewell. His grandfather came from North Carolina to Tennessee, and the family record is one of praiseworthy participation in pioneer life and in all the relationships which come to upright and honorable men.
When William C. Sewell was seventeen years of age he was one of the family group which crossed the country in a prairie schooner and arrived at Independence, Kansas, on the 14th of July, 1871. In the meantime he had attended the public schools of Overton County, Tennessee, and was equipped to take up real life when he arrived in this pioneer section of Kansas. A few days after reaching Independence his father moved to a homestead about twelve miles from Independence, and during the next five years William C. Sewell worked at home and completed his education in the local schools.
Since he was twenty-two he had been an independent farmer and business man. Starting with a small property he developed it by good management and when he sold out a few years ago he had 400 acres, situated fifteen miles southwest of Independence. Since the fall of 1910 he had lived in Independence, and had ample employment for his energies in looking after his investments in that city. Besides his residence at 700 West Laurel Street, Mr. Sewell owned a residence property at the corner of Chestnut and Thirteenth streets, another at 409 North Thirteenth, one at Eleventh and Chestnut, a bakery and dwelling on West Chestnut, a residence building at 305 North Thirteenth, and two residence properties and store buildings in Tyro.
While living in the country Mr. Sewell served as treasurer of his home township and was also a member of the school board. He is independent in politics. His church is the Christian. On May 18, 1876, in Montgomery County, Mr. Sewell married Miss Aurora E. James, a daughter of J. L. and Martha Ann James. Her mother is now deceased and her father afterward lived near Wayside with his daughter, Mrs. Dora Hudson. He died July 25, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Sewell have eight children: G. L. is a farmer in Montana; Walter is now a junior in Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa; Estella is the wife of Carl Creps of Montana; Annie is the wife of D. P. Douglas, a farmer at Webb, Colorado; Harry L. lives at home and is building up some good connections in the insurance business; Paul is attending the Montgomery County High School, as is also the next younger child, James, while Ernest is in the grade schools at Independence.
Biography of Andrew Calvin Sewell
(Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago : Lewis, 1918. Click here to view original transcription at Access Genealogy.)
Andrew Calvin Sewell, a younger brother of J. B. Sewell, was born in Overton County, Tennessee, May 30, 1856. He was fifteen when the family came across the country in a prairie schooner to Montgomery County, Kansas, and in the meantime had attended public schools in Tennessee. While living on the farm southwest of Independence he continued his education in the district schools and in the fall of 1876 became a teacher. Preparatory to beginning his work as a teacher he had attended a private school conducted by Professor Morrison of Radical City. In his home district, Harrisonville, he taught a term, then attended the Normal Institute at Independence, and in the fall of 1877 took up his work in the Peebler District. The following spring he returned to the Harrisonville District and taught a term of three months, and then for three years was principal of schools at Elk City. After that he was again in the Harrisonville District, afterwards was principal for a year at Elk City, and then entered the mercantile business at Elk City. In 1898 he moved to Joplin, Missouri, where he was connected with merchandising and also as a prospector and miner for about two years. In 1901, after coming back to Elk City, he secured leases for about 17,000 acres of land in behalf of the Elk City Gas and Oil Company. Beginning in 1903 he was again in the mercantile business in Elk City for five years, and in the fall of 1907 went to Kansas City, Missouri, and worked in a dry goods department store until failing health compelled him to return to Kansas. In February, 1908, he took up work with the Daily Evening Star, remaining with that journal for two years, and on March 16, 1910, entered the H. Baden Mercantile Company, where he had since remained He now had charge of the wholesale furnishing goods line and also assists in the retail department. He owned a third interest in the old homestead, and had his home at 905 West Pine Street in Independence.
He had been active figure in democratic politics in Montgomery County for many years. In 1880 he was a candidate for county superintendent of schools, and succeeded in cutting down the normal republican majority of 700 to 146. Since the age of seventeen he had been a member of the Baptist Church.
In 1882 at Elk City he married Miss Etta Davis, whose father Lew Davis was a farmer. Mrs. Sewell died at Elk City in 1894, leaving five children: Bessie, who now lives on her Grandfather Davis’ farm; Addie, who died at the age of 4 1/2 years; Thomas G., who is with the Prairie Oil & Gas Company at Independence; Ellene, wife of Turner Jones, who is cashier of a bank at Altoona, Kansas; and Gladys, who is a teacher in the public schools of Elk City. In 1905 Mr. A. C. Sewell was married at Independence to Miss Stella MeVey, whose father was a Methodist Episcopal minister. By this marriage there were two children: Beatrice, who died at the age of six months; and Ruth, still at home.