Contributed Story to Brownwood News – On Saturday, April 6th, the descendants of Charles Jones Sellman held a Texas Ranger Cross dedication at Oakview Cemetery in Mullin, honoring their ancestor’s service as a Texas Ranger.
“Charlie” J. Sellman was born in Maryland on May 14, 1858. About 1880, he was the first Sellman in this line to leave Maryland in over 200 Years. Seeking new opportunities, he came to Texas and settled in the central Texas area.
In 1887, Sellman enlisted with the Texas Rangers when Captain Schmitt and his men of Company C, Frontier Battalion were called to the Brownwood area to address fence cutting problems. Open range was ending, and the new barbed wire fencing was not setting well with a lot of the stockmen. In 1886 Charlie’s own cousin, Tom Sellman, also of Maryland, had been stabbed to death in San Saba when he caught two men cutting his fence.
Charlie served the Texas Rangers for just six weeks, but in that short span of time his service took him from Brownwood/McCulloch County area fighting fence cutters to Karnes County hunting horse thieves.
In 1888 Charlie married a first-generation Texan, Nancy “Nannie” Elizabeth Roberts. Nannie was the daughter of Nathaniel Thomas and Sarah Marelda (Jeffreys/Jeffries) Roberts of Voca, Texas area. Charlie and Nannie had five sons, Nathaniel Houston, Charlie Ellahue, John Howard, Thomas William, and Frank Richard Sellman. Their four daughters include Marelda “May” Forrest (Sellman) Tyson Henry, Ruth Brewer (Sellman) Henderson, Nannie Stella (Sellman) Humphrey, and Nell Beckham (Sellman) Chesser. Most of their children and many of their descendants have remained in the central Texas area.
Members of the Former Texas Rangers Association, along with the Sons of the Republic of Texas assisted with the ceremony, leading the pledges to the US and Texas flags, and leading the group in the Ranger Prayer. Mike Young presented a short history about the founding and purpose of the FTRA.
Four grandchildren, Patsy Nan Henry Roe, Callie Sellman McMurry, Dickie Sellman, and Nancy Chesser Stewart participated in the ceremony by unveiling the Texas Rangers cross.
Other descendants assisted with the ceremony. Great granddaughter, Tammy Stewart Poole welcomed the guests and presented the biography of the Sellman family. Great granddaughter, Joy Sellman Jenkins presented the history of Charlie’s service in the Texas Rangers. Great granddaughters, Dedra “Dee” Sellman Henrich and Sharon Sellman assisted greeting the family and guests and with recording the event through photography. Great grandson, Jaye Forrest Chesser offered the invocation.
Long guns and canon fire finished out the ceremony with a Black Powder Salute. (pictured at top)
Following the graveside ceremony, a covered dish luncheon was held at the First Baptist Church in Mullin. Over 75 family and friends gathered to enjoy food, fellowship and memories.
