Arthur was born September 22, 1866 in Roseville, Warren County, Illinois to Alexander and Lucelia Agatha Rice Sellman. In 1870, the family moved to Jasper County, Iowa, then to Audubon County, Iowa. In the early 1880's, the family moved once again to Keya Paha County, Nebraska, where Arthur lived for almost twenty years. During part of that time, he worked in mines. On March 31, 1897, he married Lennie Leota Knapp, and they had six children: Troy, Arthur, Leota, Chance, Jesse & Dorothy. Around 1904, he moved the family to Hastings, Nebraska where he took over the clothing store his mother and step-father had owned. He turned the back of it into a pool hall. On April 14, 1914, the family moved to Keota, Keokuk County, Iowa, where Arthur, Troy and Arthur worked at laying gas pipelines outside Keota. Arthur believed that his sons should stand up straight, and he would poke them in the back if they started to slouch. Arthur used to put a cigar in the corner of his mouth, but didn't smoke it, which eventually led to carcinoma of the face. He lived in the Keokuk County Home until the cancer spread enough that they asked him to leave. He died in a tent just outside of Harper, Keokuk County, Iowa, and was buried in the Keokuk County Home cemetery that night.
Arthur was born September 22, 1866 in Roseville, Warren County, Illinois to Alexander and Lucelia Agatha Rice Sellman. In 1870, the family moved to Jasper County, Iowa, then to Audubon County, Iowa. In the early 1880's, the family moved once again to Keya Paha County, Nebraska, where Arthur lived for almost twenty years. During part of that time, he worked in mines. On March 31, 1897, he married Lennie Leota Knapp, and they had six children: Troy, Arthur, Leota, Chance, Jesse & Dorothy. Around 1904, he moved the family to Hastings, Nebraska where he took over the clothing store his mother and step-father had owned. He turned the back of it into a pool hall. On April 14, 1914, the family moved to Keota, Keokuk County, Iowa, where Arthur, Troy and Arthur worked at laying gas pipelines outside Keota. Arthur believed that his sons should stand up straight, and he would poke them in the back if they started to slouch. Arthur used to put a cigar in the corner of his mouth, but didn't smoke it, which eventually led to carcinoma of the face. He lived in the Keokuk County Home until the cancer spread enough that they asked him to leave. He died in a tent just outside of Harper, Keokuk County, Iowa, and was buried in the Keokuk County Home cemetery that night.
Gravesite Details
Records show that Arthur is buried here, but family members say that a wooden marker was placed, which quickly deteriorated. It's believed that another person was buried above him.
Family Members
Siblings
