Sam Riley Sells | |
|---|---|
 Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | Zachary D. Massey |
| Succeeded by | B. Carroll Reece |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Riley Sells August 2, 1871 (1871-08-02) Bristol, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | November 2, 1935 (1935-11-03) (aged 64) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Frances Rice Hayward Sells |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | King College,Bristol, Tennessee |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Company F, Third Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Samuel Riley Sells (August 2, 1871 – November 2, 1935) was an American politician and a member of theUnited States House of Representatives for the1st congressional district ofTennessee.
Sells was born on August 2, 1871, inBristol, Tennessee, inSullivan County son of George Washington and Mary Margaret McCrary. He attended the rural schools and King College in Bristol, Tennessee from 1895 to 1890. He studied law, was admitted to thebar, and commenced practice inBlountville, Tennessee. He served as aprivate in Company F, Third Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Infantry during theSpanish–American War. He married Frances Rice Hayward on April 25, 1904, and they had four children, Samuel Hayward, Charlotte Wyman, Lucy McGuire, and Frank Hayward.[1]
After moving toJohnson City, Tennessee, Sells engaged in the lumber business. He served as a member of theTennessee Senate from 1909 to 1911.[2]
Sells was elected as aRepublican to theSixty-second and to the four succeeding Congresses. He served from March 4, 1911, to March 3, 1921,[3] and was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1920. During theSixty-sixth Congress, he was the chairman of the United States House Committee on Pensions. He was a delegate to theRepublican National Convention in 1912, 1916 and 1932.
Resuming the lumber business in Johnson City, Tennessee, Sells also engaged in the manufacturing of shale brick and in numerous other enterprises.
Sells died in Johnson City, Tennessee, on November 2, 1935 (age 64 years, 92 days). He isinterred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Johnson City.[4]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's 1st congressional district 1911–1921 | Succeeded by |
