BIO:  Rev. Daniel SELL, East Berlin, Adams County, PA

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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 438

REV. DANIEL SELL, P.O. East Berlin, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., August 
18, 1819, a son of John and Susannah (Kealer) Sell.  His paternal ancestors were 
natives of Germany, his maternal of Switzerland.  His early education was 
obtained at subscription schools, were the rod, instead of intelligence, 
governed, and where, by reason of repeated punishments, he was so intimidated 
that he was unable to recite, although master of his studies, which at that time 
consisted of orthography, reading, writing and arithmetic.  Notwithstanding that 
the teacher had called him “blockhead,” yet in 1829 he stood at the head of his 
class, although only eleven years old.  One year later he went to work at his 
father’s forge, and during each succeeding summer developed his muscle by 
swinging the sledge, attending during the winters short terms of school.  He 
worked for the money that purchased his first grammar, but was obliged to keep 
its purchase a secret from his father, who feared the knowledge it imparted 
“would make him crazy.”  When seventeen years of age Daniel had mastered, by his 
own exertions, the common branches, also German, and was employed as a teacher 
in the Wallace School, Frankford Township, Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1836, and 
for eight successive winters taught school.  November 22, 1838, he was united in 
marriage with Frances M. Rice, an estimable lady, to whom he pays the glowing 
tribute: “To her I owe most everything that I am, for to her exertions are 
mainly due my education and conversion, for she was a Christian when we married, 
and through her my conviction of sin hastened, and my conversion on Ascension 
Day, 1839, brought about.”  The wish of his revered mother was that her son 
should become a minister, and, aided by the counsel of his wife, Mr. Sell 
concluded to obtain a theological education.  November 20, 1845, at the time the 
possessor of $250, he matriculated at the Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg, 
and in 1851 graduated from that college and seminary, and was assigned a charge 
at Rossville, York County.  He founded the first Lutheran mission at Lock Haven 
in 1860, and other brethren, after the failure of his health, completed the 
work.  Having been for thirty-five years regularly engaged in the ministry, Rev. 
Mr. Sell takes a just pride in stating that in all the years of his pastorate 
here (Paradise charge) no appointment was ever missed by reason of ill health, 
and his arduous toil in the ministry has not only brought with it excellent 
health, but a competency for his riper years.  Seven years ago he was appointed 
to the Paradise charge, and has to-day the largest number of communicants 
(1,900) in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of West Pennsylvania.  Five children 
were born to his first marriage (two died in infancy); Edward H., a railroad 
conductor between Altoona and Harrisburg, married to Mollie S. Nicholas, of Pine 
Grove Mills, Penn., and reside at Altoona; Martha J., wife of B. F. Seibert, now 
residing at San Francisco, Cal., and Annie M., wife of N. S. Riggs, residing in 
Versailles, Morgan Co., Mo.  The death of Mrs. Sell occurred in 1873, and the 
following year our subject married Caroline Williams, of New Kingston, 
Cumberland Co., Penn.  She died in February, 1883, without issue.  With the 
reward that comes to those who are just and true, Rev. Daniel Sell stands at the 
head of the ministry in Adams County, by reason of his industry and zeal.