This material is taken from D. D. Sell's obituary which appeared in the Gospel Messenger, June 25, 1927, p. 411. In the spring of 1866, at the age of 23, Daniel D. Sell came in a colony of 40 people, including children, from Blair County, PA to Clinton County Missouri. He was born May 23, 1843 near Newry, Blair County, PA, the son of Daniel Sell and Rachel Detweiler and one of eight brothers, two of whom were also ministers: David Detweiler Sell and James Arnold Sell who remained in PA. In August 1866 those already living in the area and the newly arrived colony members gathered in council to organize a church. D. D. Sell rode mule-back 160 miles for elders [from KS] to officiate at this service. A Love Feast was held in October, 1866. At the second Love Feast, October 1867, D. D. Sell was called to the ministry. [With no resident elder to help, D. D. began almost immediately to serve the church to the best of his ability.] He was advanced in the ministry four months later and at the age of 27 he was ordained to the eldership. [This was an unusual step to place one so young in the eldership, but it demonstrates the need for ministers at this time on the edge of the frontier.] His education was limited and he felt strongly about his lack of training, but he secured books and spent many hours in study after the farmwork was done. On Feb. 22, 1872 he was united in marriage to Leah Hendricks [dau. of David and Malinda Hendricks]. Six children were born to this union. His death occurred April 29, 1927 following a severe attack of influenza. He was 83 years, 11 months, and 6 days of age at his death, having served 48 years in the active ministry of the Smith Fork/Walnut Grove/Plattsburg Church of the Brethren.