OBIT: Brice SELL, 1922, Freedom Township, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ REV. BRICE SELL IS MOTOR VICTIM Well-Known Minister of Church of Brethren and Freedom Township Citizen Killed in Ninth Ward. HE IS THROWN UNDER TRUCK WHICH RUNS AWAY Is Native of Blair County, 75 Years Old, and Death Occurs Just One Year After That of Son. Rev. Brice Sell, a minister of the church of the Brethren, and a retired farmer, residing in Freedom township, west of Leamersville, was fatally injured this morning at 10.45 o'clock, in a motor accident on Oak avenue, between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh streets, death ensuing on the ambulance as he was being taken to the Altoona hospital. Mr. Sell is the father of D. M. Sell, the well known grocer at Fourth avenue and Third streets and lived on the homestead in Freedom township with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Leonard. He came to the city this morning with a load of produce on a truck and the fatal accident occurred while he was engaged in making sales along Oak avenue. Persons who saw the accident say that he stepped on the running board of the truck, took hold of the steering wheel and started the car, but at the same moment a front wheel struck a stone and the car was swerved to the side, while he was thrown off and caught by a rear wheel and dragged for some distance until the truck struck a telephone pole. Help Comes Quickly. Mr. Sell was well known in that neighborhood, as his daughter, Mrs. Conrad Powell, now living at 610 Twenty-fifth street, formerly lived there. Assistance was quickly given and it was at once apparent that he was seriously injured and he lapsed into unconsciousness within a short time. The son, D. M. Sell, and Mrs. Powell, were notified by telephone of the accident and they arrived before the ambulance and accompanied their father to the hospital and were thus with him when he passed away. Examination revealed that he was injured internally about the body and that the injury was bound to prove fatal. Although 75 years old, Mr. Sell was an active, vigorous man. He had been driving motor cars for some years, but was probably unused to handling the truck with which he met death today. The son and daughter, following his death, drove to the parental home to break the news to their mother and to bring her to Altoona. The body will be prepared for burial here and later taken to the home. Son Killed a Year Ago. The tragic death of Mr. Sell occurs just one year after that of his son, Simon O. Sell, a Pittsburgh division conductor, who was killed on Sept. 11, 1921, while in the discharge of his duties with his train in the vicinity of Conemaugh. Rev. Brice Sell was born July 24, 1847, being a son of Daniel and Rachel Sell, and a grandson of Abraham Sell, who was one of the pioneers of Blair county. He received his education in the public schools of his native district, in Freedom township, and when he grew to young manhood he taught school for several terms. The greater part of his life was spent in farming and he lived in Freedom township practically all his life. He was elected to the ministry of the Church of the Brethren when a young man and throughout his life was actively engaged in church work, being identified with the Leamersville and Carson Valley churches, and also in years gone by, he frequently preached in the churches in this city. He was a man of considerable oratorical ability and enjoyed a wide popularity as a preacher. He was never a salaried minister, however. He was married in young manhood to Elizabeth Burns, who survives him, [along with] three sons and two daughters, D. M. and Mrs. Conrad Powell of this city, Stephen H. of Roaring Spring, Mrs. Arvilla Leonard, who lives at the old homestead, and Edgar, also of Freedom township. He is also survived by three brothers, Daniel D. of Plattsburg, Mo., and James A. and Simon of Freedom township, Blair county. Altoona Mirror, September 9, 1922, p. 1, col. 1