_Hezekiah SELLARDS __+
| (1732 - 1760)
_Samuel Thomas SELLARDS _|
| (1773 - 1835) m 1803 |
| |_Jean BREVARD _______+
| (1734 - 1770)
_Thomas DANIEL ________|
| (1789 - 1868) m 1835 |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Nancy BELCHER __________|
| (1773 - 1819) m 1803 |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Julius Belcher DANIEL
| (1838 - 1884)
| _____________________
| |
| _________________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Winnie Anne O'BRYANT _|
(1817 - 1881) m 1835 |
| _____________________
| |
|_________________________|
|
|_____________________
[N169]
Julius was quite a frolicking youngster and was a veteran drinker by age 17. during his younger years, he cam close to death several times from rafting timber and especially so when the rafts occasionally broke up in the swollen streams spilling him into ice filled currents among the loosened logs. His brother pulled him out on at least two occasions.
At age 17, while attending the Paint Union Association meeting Flat Gap, he held back on his drinking due to his fear of the local law enforcement officers. When he saw the drunken stupor of his companions, who had loaded up on local apple and peach brandy, he swore off drinking.
It was not until he was around 20 that he was converted on 03 Oct 1858, at Toms Creek Baptist Church and on the following Tuesday, 05 Oct, Rev G. W. Price pastor of the Toms Creek Church baptized him in the Big Sandy River. Shortly after the conversion, Julius felt a call to preach, but fought this off at the time. So strong though was his later attempt to reject this call that he was instrumental in convincing his father to make the move to Texas.
According to the diary of Julius, mimeographed from the original by the Fleming Library, Southwestern Theological Seminary, Forth Worth, Texas, he stated his dad had a rather severe financial reverse. Tom had been a bondsman for his nephew, a Johnson County Sheriff, who skipped in 1854, breaking all his bondsmen. The homeplace and two other farms were lost. Julius and one of his brothers were able to recover two of the farms, but not the homeplace which they were permitted to live on until 1859. So on 23 April 1859 they left for Texas.
His escape to Texas was not successful. While visiting friends in Anderson County, Texas in June 1860 he was approached and asked the question "Aren't you a preacher?" He then felt there was no escape, and determined then he would do his God's will or perish in the task. After helping the local group in Anderson County form a church, he went on to become one of the foremost Elders in the Southwestern Baptist Conference. He was instrumental in the development of many new churches in the Texas area.
In the summer of 1880 he came back to Kentucky to visit the Southern Baptist Convention being held in Louisville, Kentucky, and from there took time to journey back to his boyhood area. Here is how Julius reported his visit in his diary:
"At 10 o'clock A.M. of the 13th (13 May 1880) I parted company with my traveling brethern, having arrived at Catlettsburgh at the mouth of the river on which I was raised. Here I remained until 5 P.M. when I started on Fanny Freeze to Louisa at the forks of the Big Sandy River. On these boats I made the acquaintance of Dr. Harting of Cincinnati, a very clever gentleman. We arrived at Louisa at 7 o'clock A.M. of the 14th. Here I hired a buggy and a Mr. Collins of Letcher County and I started for Paintsville in Johnson County. At 5 o'clock P.M. I arrived at Brother Williams, in two miles of Paintsville. I had not seen him or any of the family for more than 21 years, and of course as they were not expecting me they did not know me. I sat up late at night, in the open air, on the damp ground conversing with a great many friends and relatives who came to see me. I took severe cold which lasted all the time I stayed among my relatives and friends in Kentucky. This greatly mared my enjoyment, and prevented me from doing the amount of preaching I might otherwise have done. I spent Saturday, 15th, in visiting Paintsville and some relatives and friends. Sunday, 16th, I went on to Toms Creek near the Rush and Sycamore forks and preached two sermons, and a number of brethern and sisters were made to rejoice in the Lord. I had good liberty at both services and we had a rejoicing time. Here I met a great many of my old friends, acquaintances and relatives. I stayed with my only sister that night.
The 17th I dined with one of my nieces, and preached on the muddy branch at night. it so happened that in the sermon I gave Mormonism, which was rampant in the community, a terrible scathing, and one of their ministers who was present groaned and writhed terribly during the sermon; so much so that some of the little boys present were heard to say, "Didn't Tom Brown die hard". Tuesday, the 18th, I went up Paint Creek in company with cousin James Bryant, to your Uncle Harrison Bryant's. Here I preached again to a small audience. Here also I met Uncle James V. Bryant and Aunt Rachel, mother's only living sister. On the 19th we came back and spent the day with Uncle William Bryant. At night I preached at Paintsville with great power on the subject of repentance.
On the night of the 20th of May, 1880, I preached in the Old Toms Creek Church into which I was first baptized more the 22 years ago. this was a sad, yet joyful occasion. Many of the members of 22 years ago had died and moved off, yet many faces were present which were familiar and several who joined the church and were baptized when I was were present to greet me again. Quite a number of God's brethern and sisters got happy at this meeting and praised God aloud. On Monday, the 21st, after an absence of 21 years and one month, I visited the old farm on which I was born and raised, but alas how changed--house gone, fences changed, no one living on it. O, how desolate and lonely it did look. The bottom appeared smaller, the hills steeper; nothing looked natural but the old elm tree in the meadow. What is true of this spot is eminently true of all this country--it is all so changed, none of it looks natural. Twenty-one years brings great changes, physically, politically, financially, socially, mentally, and religiously.
When I left this country 21 years ago it was all peace and harmony in every respect; now it is a perfect ferment socially, religiously, politically, and financially.
After walking over the old homestead and surveying it I started and walked to Concord Church by 11 o'clock and preached with peculiar power on the "Value of the Soul". After taking dinner with Mr. Sick I returned in the evening to Bro. Williams and met Bro. George for the first time during my visit in Kentucky. He, living some distance away on Rock Castle Creek, came to see me in Company with his son George and his Son-in-law, Mr. Mills. We spent the night together at Bro. Williams, and next morning we went over to sister's and remained a while. Then we went to N. P. Hylton's where we were joined by a number of my old friends and acquaintances. here we remained all night. On the morning of the 23 of May, 1880, the fourth Sunday, I went on the George's Creek, where I preached with great power to an immense audience, on the death, burial and resurrection. The fruits of this sermon I confidently expect to meet in the judgment. At night of the 23rd I preached at the Ward School House five miles away from the place of the morning service. At this place I had a large audience and good liberty, and much good I trust was done. I went to cousin Peter's and stayed all night. Next day i dined with Cousin Wyatt.
At 4 o'clock in the evening I preached at Greenville Preston's, near my old home, to an immense audience with great power on the offices of Christ. At the close of the sermon, which was the closing service, I baptized my brother Solomon, and my niece, Mariah Daniel, in the creek at the old farm on which I was raised. This was a very joyful occasion, and many of those present were made to rejoice on account of God's presence and blessings with them. This was my farewell and closing service with my friends and relatives in Kentucky.
On the morning of the 25th of May, 1880, I took a Jo Boat in company with Bro Solomon for Louisa, which place we reached about sundown in the evening. We stayed all night at Mr. Adkins' hotel. On the morning of the 26th i bid my brother farewell, and in company with Mr. & Mrs. Frank and Rev. James Abbot of the M.E. Church, South, I started on a hack for Catlettsburgh at the mouth of Sandy River, at which place we arrive at 4 1/2 o'clock."
Julius apparently was prone to colds and respiratory problems. As a lad one left him with impaired hearing. His return visit to Kentucky resulted in health problems he was not able to overcome. he spent time at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, trying the water to regain his health.
When Julius' first wife died in 1875 he left with five children, the oldest ten years of age and youngest on ten days old. Instead of his wife's death deterring him, he seemed to work harder in his ministry.
For more insight into Elder Julius' life, you wish to read his90 page diary, or a synopsis in Bob Kennedy's River Roundup columns in the Ashland Daily Independent of 19 Nov, 26 Nov, and 03 Dec 1961 issues.