The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-10
FARMER JOHN SELLERS.
An Eccentric Old Ohioan of Whom
Many Queer Tales are Told.

i
Many Queer Tales are Told.
A New Philadelphia CO., cor
respondent of The Chicago Times
VIZ ties: The body of John Sellers,
the eccentric old bachelor who lately
died on his farm near here, still lies
in our city vault and is closely guard
ed night and day. Sellers eccen.
tricities were known far and wide.
and about one year ago he figured
conspicuously in the illustrated papers.
He was very close Bible student.
and when young man conceived the
| idea that no woman ever went to
heaven. His reasons for remaining
single were that he believed that il
he married he would be cursed with
the woman of his choice. Regarding
his personal appearance one was
greatly reminded of odd Rip or the
pictures we see of 'Old Father Time. "
He never shaved nor cut his hair,
claiming it would be interfering with
Gods laws for him to do SO. HIS
iinger-nalls We're long and bent over
at the ends like claws, rs also were
his toe nails. Everything lie used or
wore was homemade. His first pillow
is great curiosity and was made
entirely of wood, something after the
fashion of the old German pillow. All
his farming utensils were homemade.
He would patron re no one who used Il
sewing-machne. At the table the
knives and forks were wooden, as were
also the plates, cups and saucers.
Sellers had flock of sheep that had
never been shorn. The wool was six
teen inches long and dragged on the
ground. The reasons he gave for not
shearing his sheep We're that God
placed the wool on their backs to stay
there and keep them warm, and he
would not interfere with his plans BY
removing it. A short time before his
death the Society for the Prevention OF
| Cruelty 10 Animals of this city took
the matter in hand and tried to compel
him to shear his sheep. but without
success. People came for miles around
to see Sellers sheep. He was known
to have been in good circumstances,
and for years during his life deposited
his money in one of our banks. During
the latter years lie became suspicious
| of banks and withdrew all his money
which was principally in gold. He
purchased q dozen old-fashioned gallon
jars or crooks, with lids on, and. TAX
ing them home, hid his treasures away
in these. HIS sister states that he
buried his treasures always under
cover of darkness, selecting different
spots about his farm. The secret of
the exact location of these spots he
never revealed to anyone. How much
wealth he had accumulated will pro.
bable never be known, as he trusted
no one. His sister will fall heir to his
estate, and every precaution is taken to
protect the place against midnight
treasure-hunters The six men who
were detected few nights ago digging
for the hidden treasure are supposed to
have been residents of the neighbor.
hood. 1t was noticed that they were
supplied with dark lanterns, and first
commenced digging in the barnyard.
From there they adjourned to a neigh
boring field and began operations
Rumor has it that they made an inn
portant discovery in the field, aud per-
haps found one of the precious crooks
1t has not yet been fully developed as
to how much, if any, of the money
they obtained. The ground will be
thoroughly gone over under the direc-
ton of the sister, and every effort will
be made 10 unearth the hidden treas
| ure