Catherine Sell was born July 4, 1839 at Poland, Mohoning County, Ohio. Her father, Jacob Sell, and mother Catharine Menzer (our great-grandparents) had five children: John, Solomon, Catherine, Margaret and an infant son who died at birth. Catharine’s father’s parents were John Sell and Christian Beetchler, and his grandparents were Samuel and Margaret Sell. They were Pennsylvania Dutch. Catharine’s mother’s parents were Jacob Mentor and Susannah Delanter, Jacob’s mother was Mary Honesicker. She came from Switzerland. Susanna’s parents were David and Catharine Delanter.
Catharine Sell married William Delany who was a carpenter. 
Her early life was spent in Pennsylvania and Ohio. They came to South Dakota in April of 1884. She was a courageous woman, enduring many hardships raising their family and having to move so many times. She was always happy and cheerful, never complaining through it all. One thing can be said about William and Catharine Delany’s family, all had a wonderful sense of humor including Grandma Catharine. She was a very interesting person. When she talked her conversation was like a story. She loved little children, though she wouldn’t make over them too much. Her daughter, Matilda said, for she always thought of her little girl that died wanting to be with her grandma and aunt that had favored her so much. The little one wanted to be with them but couldn’t, after they had moved away. She was so homesick, her little hear was broken. Also Matilda told about her mother Catharine, helping care for a little girl that was very sick. She said Catharine would fix something for to eat, she would put a little bouquet of flowers on the tray with her food. When she did the little girl’s washing she’s pin a flower on her little nightie. She di small things like that, to make the little one happy.
After her husband’s death, Catharine remained for a short while on the homestead in Nebraska, she sold it in 1901. She filed for a claim in Gregory County in 1905 and came to Herrick, South Dakota to live until a shack was built on her claim in Turney township, rural Lucas, S.D. the last years of her life were spent visiting among her children. Most of the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents of Catharine Sell Delany’s were Pennsylvania Dutch and English.
Catharine joined the Baptist Church when she was quite young and lived a good Christian life. She died trusting in the Savior’s promises February 26, 1935 at the home of her son Orlando at the age of 95 years, 7 months and 22 days. She is buried at Fairfax, South Dakota. She had 76 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren. They had fifteen children, all are deceased. Cyrus lived the longest. He died October 23, 1963. their children were: infant son, Lydia, John , Eliza, Audly, Chatherine, Orlando,m Sarah, Phillip, Matilda, Franklin, Thomas, Chauncy, Allen and Cyrus.
Catharine Sell Delany’s mother, Catharine Mentzer Sell was remarried to a man named Antibus, after the death of her first husband. they had two children, Eliza Margaret Sell Beals until her death and Solomon Sell. 
Margaret’s brother, lived with her also. Catharine, our great-grandmother lived to be 97 years old. She is buried in a small town cemetery at Richmond, Ohio.
Catharine Sell <pg 137> Blue book, Delany family history
Catharine Sell was born July 4, 1839 at Poland, Mohoning County, Ohio. Her father, Jacob Sell, and mother, Catharine Mentzer (our great-grandparents) had five children, John, Soloman, Catharine (our grandmother), Margaret and an infant son who died at birth. Catharine’s father’s parents were John Sell and Christian Betchler, and his grandparents were Samuel and Margaret Sell, they are Pennsylvania Dutch. Catharine’s mother’s parents were Jacob Mentzer and Susannah Delanter, Jacob’s mother was Mary Honesicker, she came from Switzerland. Susannah’s parents were David and Catharine Delanter.
Catharine Sell married William Delany who was a carpenter. Her early life was spent in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
They came to South Dakota in April, 1884. She was a courageous woman, enduring many hardships raising their family and having to move so many times. She was always happy and cheerful, never complaining through it all. One thing can be said about William and Catharine Delany’s family, all had a wonderful sense of humor including Grandma Catharine. She was a very interesting person. When she talked her conversation was like a story. She loved little children, though she wouldn’t make over them too much. Her daughter, Matilda said, for she always thought of her little girl that died wanting to be with her grandma and aunt that had favored her so much. The little one wanted to be with them but couldn’t, after they had moved away. She was so homesick, her little heart was broken. Also Matilda told about her mother, Catharine, helping care for a little girl that was very sick. She said Catharine would fix something for her to eat, she would put a little bouquet of flowers on the tray with her food. When she did the little girl’s washing she’d pin a flower on her little nightie. She did small things like that, to make the little one happy.
After her husband’s death, Catharine remained for a short while on the homestead in Nebraska, she sold it in 1901. She filed for a claim in Gregory County in 1905 and came to Herrick, South Dakota to live until a shack was built on her claim in Turney township, rural Lucas, South Dakota. The last years of her life were spent visiting among her children. Most of the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents of Catharine (Sell) Delany’s were Pennsylvania Dutch and English.
Catharine joined the Baptist Church when she was quite young and lived a good Christian life. She died trusting in the Savior’s promises, February 26, 1935 at the home of her son, Orlando, at the age of 95 years, 7 months and 22 days. She is buried at Fairfax, South Dakota. She had 76 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren. They had fifteen children, all are deceased. Cyrus lived the longest. He died October 23, 1963. Their children were; infant son, Lydia, John, Eliza, Audly, Catherine, Orlando, Sarah, Phillip, Matilda, Franklin, Thomas, Chauncy, Allen and Cyrus.