BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 609-610.


PETER SELLARS was a native of eastern Virginia, where he was born in 1813,
in Rockingham county. He was a carpenter. Coming to Wheeling in 1838, he
worked at his trade there for some time, then opened a repair shop for
clock and watches. He moved his business to Bellaire in 1867, and lived
there until his death in 1885. In 1837 he married Nancy E. Colter, a
native of Belmont county, Ohio, by whom he had seven children; his
wife and four children are still living, the mother having reached
the ripe age of seventy-two years. James W. Sellars, son of Peter, one
of the oldest photographers of Belmont county, and the subject of this
sketch, was born in Wheeling, W. Va., in 1840, where he attended school
for some time, after which he spent some years as pressman in the Gazette
office in that city. The paper was then under the management of James A.
Bingham. After leaving the Gazette, Mr. Sellars was for several years an
employe in a rolling mill. Spending some years in travel he, in 1860,
began to study the art of photography under Charles Griffen, of Wheeling.
Mr. Sellars first began business for himself at Wheeling, but soon came
to Bellaire, and has since resided in this city. Maggie E. Giffen became
his wife in 1863, and the marriage has resulted in the birth of five
children: Laura B., Annie E., Daisy M., James H. and Edith E. Daisy and
Edith are deceased. Mrs. Sellars is a native of Belmont county. Both she
and her husband are members of the Disciples Church, of Bellaire. Annie
E. is now the wife of Louis Battell, secretary of the Goblet works, of
Finley, Ohio. Mr. Sellars is identified with the republican party,
although only as a voter of that ticket, as he has never cared to
connect himself actively with politics. He has made a success of his
business, being one of the best artists in the Ohio valley, and commands
the respect of the people of the community.