Background
Sellew, Walter Ashbel was born on February 27, 1844 in Gowanda, New York, United States. Son of Ashbel R. and Jane M. (Tucker) Sellew.
Sellew, Walter Ashbel was born on February 27, 1844 in Gowanda, New York, United States. Son of Ashbel R. and Jane M. (Tucker) Sellew.
Bachelor of Arts, Dartmouth, 1866, Master of Arts, 1869.
June 4, 1873 (died 1895). Children—Mistress Ada Virginia Layman, Mistress Cora R. DeWitt. Married second, Mistress Rebecca East. Muse, March 31, 1897.
Ordained ministry Free Methodist Church, 1872.
Pastor successively, Tonawanda, Rochester, New York, Spring Arbor, Michigan, Dunkirk, New York, Gerry. Allegany, New York, Buffalo.
Presiding elder Chautauqua, Allegany, Buffalo, Oil City, Bradford and Pittsburgh districts, 1887-1898. Elected bishop October 15, 1898.
Treasurer The Gerry (New York) Home for Aged Persons and the Gerry Orphanage.
Also treasurer The Master of Arts Chesebrough Seminary, North Chili, New York Treasurer Free Methodist Public House and president trustees Free Methodist Church of North.A. Officially made a missionary tour of inspection around the world, 1906, visiting all foreign missionary stations of Free Methodist Church. Visited China and Japan, 1910, and again visited Japan in 1926 to preside at the Annual Conference at Osaka. Chairman finance committee General Missionary Board.
Reëlected bishop for 8th consecutive term of 4 years each, in 1927, although past 83 years of age.
Author: Clara Leffingwell, A Missionary. Home: Jamestown, New New York
Married Jennie R. Peters. Married second, Mistress. Children: Mistress Ada Virginia Layman, Mistress Cora R. DeWitt.