Background
Sells was born on March 1, 1858 in Muscatine, Iowa to Elijah and Isabel Sells.
Sells was born on March 1, 1858 in Muscatine, Iowa to Elijah and Isabel Sells.
He attended local public schools and briefly attended Baker University.
At age 16, Sells went to work for the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad and was quickly promoted. In 1884, Sells married Mabel Graves. They had two children.
In 1895, Sells and Haskins formed Haskins & Sells, which was the first major accounting firm formed by American (rather than British) accountants.
Sells became one of the first New York State certified public accountants in 1896 and then the firm"s senior partner after Haskin"s death in 1903. Sells died on March 19, 1924 at the age of 66.