Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Sell, Robert 1854 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 21, 2006, 7:51 pm

Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908)

  ROBERT SELL is one of the pioneers and best known farmers of Willmont

township, having made his home on the farm where he now resides over thirty

years. He is a native of Colberg, in the province of Pommern, Germany, and Aug.

27, 1854, was the date of his birth. His father is Louis Sell, who was born in

Germany Feb. 9, 1828, and was the owner of a brick yard in his native country.

He came to America and to Carver, Minn., in 1868, where he engaged in farming

and where he now lives. Our subject's mother, Caroline (Dummer) Sell, died in

Germany Oct. 5, 1866, aged 34 years.



  Robert Sell was raised on a farm and received his education in his native

country. He came to the United States with his father, landing in Baltimore June

7, 1868. They located at Carver, Minn., and near that village Robert worked on

his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age. He then went to Stillwater

and for five years worked in the sawmills and at other kinds of work.



  During the month of March, 1878, Mr. Sell came to Nobles county and became one

of the early settlers of northwestern Nobles county. He homesteaded the west

half of the northwest quarter of section 30, Willmont township, and has ever

since resided on the place. He has added to his real estate possessions until

today he owns 400 acres of land in Willmont and Leota townships. One eighty acre

tract he bought at the time of settling there for six dollars per acre. Another

eighty he bought five years later at seven dollars, and recently he bought his

last quarter at fifty dollars. His first home was a frame building, 12x14 feet,

and his barn was built of sod. Later he added to his house, and continued to

live in it till 1900. That year he erected his present handsome farm home. Mr.

Sell raises considerable stock besides carrying on general farming. He has

retired from active work himself and the farm is managed largely by his sons.



  In the village of Adrian on Oct. 29, 1878, Mr. Sell was married to Mary

Tabbert, daughter of John and Dora Tabbert, both deceased. Mrs. Sell was born

near the city of Berlin, in Brandenberg, Prussia, March 12, 1856, came to the

United States with her parents when three months old, and settled in Carver

county, Minn. To Mr. and Mrs. Sell have been born eleven children, as follows:

Elizabeth, died Feb. 10, 1890, aged 10 years; Emma (Mrs. R. Bartell), of

Brookings, S. D.; Edith, Louis, Mathilda, Remold, died March 30, 1899, aged 10

years; Carrie, Roy, Bertha, Mary, Robert.



  When the township of Willmont was organized Mr. Sell was one who took part in

bringing about the organization. He served as chairman of the board of

supervisors from 1900 to 1907. He has always taken an active part in business

enterprises which have been established in his neighborhood. He was one of the

organizers of the Lismore Farmers' Elevator company and is one of the trustees

of the company. He put up the Robert Sell telephone line and is manager of the

line and vice president of the company. Fraternally he is connected with the M.

W. A. lodge.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:



AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY

MINNESOTA

BY

ARTHUR P. ROSE



NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY 

WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA 

PUBLISHERS

1908

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