Hopkins genealogist to present program
John Sellers, president of the Hopkins County Genealogy Society, will bring a program on “Your Ancestor’s Own Cousin, other Relations, and their Value to Your Research” on Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. at the Wood County Genealogy Society at the Quitman Public Library, 202 E. Goode St.
He has been doing genealogical and historical research since 1985. His favorite area of research is in the courthouse. He has visited courthouses in several southern states and has conducted extensive research in Texas and Louisiana.
Sellers is a fifth generation native of Hopkins County. He graduated from Texas Tech University, with a degree in advertising/public relations and received his teaching certificate in history from Texas A&M, Commerce.
He is an active member of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and has served 15 years on the executive board and as president, 1997-1998 and 2017-present. He was a speaker at the FGS National Conference in 1997 and 2004 and NGS in 1994. He has been the featured speaker for more than 70 all-day seminars in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. John has given over 300 programs on genealogy and history. He was the featured speaker at the DRT Genealogical Conference at the Alamo in 2002, 2003 and 2011 and the Louisiana Historical and Genealogical Seminar in Baton Rouge in 2007 and 2011.
He has been a faculty member for Angelina College Genealogy Conference, 1999-2014 in Lufkin and was a featured instructor at the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research in 2017, 2019 and 2021. He has completed Genealogy as a Profession, Advanced Methodology, and Advanced Library Research courses at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, Samford University. John was a lecturer at the Institute of Genealogical Research, Samford University, 2009, 2010, 2014 and University of Georgia, 2018 and 2021 and will be in 2024. He compiled an addendum to the 1850 Census of Hopkins County. He is the Hopkins County marker chair for the Texas State Historical Commission.
He is director of marketing with City National Bank of Sulphur Springs. He is mayor of Sulphur Springs and was first elected to the city council in 2011.
