The Bell Families of Knox County, Ohio

When a man passes away we look back over the life ended and note its usefulness — its points worthy of emulation and perpetuation. What Isaac Bell did for his fellow men might in a manner be told in words, but in its far-reaching influence cannot be measured. He assisted in laying broad and deep the foundation on which to rear the superstructure of Knox county's present prosperity and progress. Through a very early period in its improvement and advancement he was an important factor, and was also connected with the broader interests which had to do with the welfare of the commonwealth.

Isaac Bell was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1829, and was brought to Knox county when he was about one year old. His first home in the county was in Morgan township and he was educated in such old subscription schools as were taught in log houses in the day of primitive things, and almost from childhood had daily experience of the practical work of farming. Meeker Bell, his father, was also born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and when a boy of eight years was brought to Ohio by his parents. Later he returned to Pennsylvania, where he married Rachel Crane. In 1830 he came again to Ohio and settled in Morgan township, whence he removed later to Clay township, where he died in his eightieth year. He was a Democrat in his political views, was a member of the Christian church and in every sense was a citizen of influence and importance. Rachel Crane, who became his wife, was born and reared in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and died at the family home in Morgan township, Knox county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-eight years. She was one of those noble, self-sacrificing women whose name to the present generation is an incentive of well doing. Meeker and Rachel (Crane) Bell had three sons and three daughters.

Isaac Bell, their eldest child, when twenty-one years old, removed to Illinois, where for about a year he herded cattle on the plains of Iroquois county. Later, until 1850, he drove cattle from Illinois to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they were marketed at that time, which was long before the establishment of the great packing interests at Chicago. In 1850 he returned to Knox county and resumed farming. After his marriage he located on a farm three-quarters of a mile south of the present homestead, removing to this place in 1867. The home farm consists of one hundred and eighteen acres and he also owned another farm, of forty-seven acres, in the southern part of the same township. For seventy-two years he made his home in Knox county, much of the time in Clay township, and he witnessed the development of that part of the country from a state of nature to a fertile farming district. He also became prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party.

In March, 1853, - ''''is united in marriage to Mary A. Elliott, a native of Knox county and a daughter of Charles and Phoebe (McWilliams) Elliott, formerly of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of this county. This union was blessed with two daughters: Jennie, who married Allen McLain and resides in Morgan township; and Emma, who became the wife of Terry Ewart and is now deceased. At her death she left a son and daughter, Guy and Edith. For many years the former has been a member of the

Bell household, where he is treated with all the respect due a son. Mr. Bell finally closed his eyes in death, and the entire community mourned the loss of one of its trust and best loved pioneers. He was popular in the social life of his neighborhood, a faithful friend, a kind husband and father and a consistent Christian, and he left behind him an untarnished record.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

There are capitalists who take up farming and there are farmers who by good management and close attention to financial interests develop into capitalists, and of the latter class is James Bell, land owner and money loaned at Martinsburg, Clay township, Knox county, Ohio.

James Bell was born in the township in which he now lives September 20, 1839, the fifth child in order of birth of Meeker and Rachel (Crane) Bell, who had three sons and three daughters, and it is a noteworthy fact that he was their youngest son. A biographical sketch of his brother, Isaac Bell, now deceased, appears elsewhere in these pages. The young man was a member of his father's household until he attained his majority, meantime obtaining a fair education in the public schools of his day and locality. He then took up the battle of life independently, engaging in stock-raising, farming and in the wool trade. For three years he lived in Jackson township, Knox county. In 1868 he located in Clay township, adjoining his father's old homestead, where he remained until 1886, when he bought the house and eight acres of land in Martinsburg where he now resides. He still has the care and supervision of over four hundred acres in Clay township, but the farming is carried on by tenants. He devotes himself principally to general farming, but gives considerable attention to stock-raising and formerly gave considerable attention to the settlement of states. Politically he is a Democrat, and as such has been elected to many important township offices. He has lived the most of his life of sixty-two years in Knox county, where he is well known and highly esteemed by all classes of citizens.

May 6, 1865, Mr. Bell married Sarah Paul, who was born in Clay township, a daughter of James and Sarah (Bane) Paul, who were pioneers from Pennsylvania in Knox county, where they located in the woods and took up the labor of improving the home farm. Mrs. Bell, who is the sixth in order of birth of the seven children of her parents, was educated in the public schools of Martinsburg and Fredericktown, and for some time before her marriage was a successful teacher. They have one daughter, Otta S., who is a member of her parents' household.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. EDWARD BELL.

It is an excellent thing to be born to great wealth, like a Vanderbilt, but it is also an excellent thing to be born to a good name. When ancestors through many generations have lived useful lives and have made a splendid name for themselves by devotion to duty and honor, it is one of the brightest inheritances that can be left to descendants. And so the families that had ancestors in the Revolution or in the service of the country many years ago boast of such services and found organizations of the descendants with the record of their fathers for the foundation stone. And so descendants of families that came to the wilderness of Ohio and carved refined and Christian homes from the primeval wilds may well boast of the deeds of their fathers

8o8 and mothers who conquered the woods and made the soil blossom with the flowers of industry and peace. J. Edward Bell, farmer and stock man of Hilliar township, Knox county, had such ancestors.

Mr. Bell was born on February 12, 1865, on the farm, three miles northwest of Centerburg, where he has always lived. He is the son of Hiram and Mary Ann (Hughes) Bell, the father born near Utica. Licking county, and the mother on a farm in Clay township, Knox county. The father spent his boyhood in his native county, coming to this county in early life and he and his wife settled in the spring of 1864 on the farm in Hilliar township, where their son, J. Edward, now lives, and there they continued to reside. This farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres, has always been regarded as one of the best in the community. The father was a progressive farmer for his day and became an influential citizen here, active in Democratic politics, and he held local offices with credit, such as that of township trustee. His death occurred on July 6, 1900. His widow survives.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Bell, one of whom died in infancy; besides the subject, Florence is living, being the wife of J. M. Ervin, of Columbus, Ohio.

J. Edward Bell spent his childhood and youth pretty much as the average farmer boy, and he received his education in the common schools. He was married on October 2, 1886, to Mary Taylor, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth Ann (Bradfield) Taylor, of Morrow county, Ohio, and to this union two sons have been born. Ray C. and Jay M., both at home.

For fourteen years after he was married, Mr. Bell operated a rented farm of one hundred acres, lying north of his father’s farm, and at the death of the father the subject bought all the interests in the home place, and moved there and this has continued to be his place of above. He has kept the old place so well cultivated that it has retained its original fertility and has yielded abundant crops from year to year. He has kept it under a high state of cultivation and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has a good home and a competency as a result of his close application and good management. He has also purchased the farm which he rented for fourteen years when he first started out in life, and in addition to this another tract, all adjoining, making in all a most excellent farm of two hundred and ninety acres. But notwithstanding this large amount of productive land, Mr. Bell is not an extensive crop raiser, producing only enough to properly feed his flocks of sheep and other stock. He has long been one of the largest sheep raisers in this part of the state. His Delaine sheep are greatly admired by all who see them and because of their superior quality they find a very ready market when offered for sale, and they are known to lie great wool producers. His home is one of the most attractive in Hilliar township.

Mr. Bell is a thoroughly progressive man in all that the term implies, adopting whatever measures, through investigation, prove to be the best. Politically, he is a Democrat, but is not a partisan, being an independent voter, supporting candidates and measures instead of parties. He has never been an office seeker. Fraternally, he is a member of the Centerburg Knights of Pythias lodge.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LLOYD M. BELL.

In Lloyd M. Bell, well known and capable editor and publisher of the Ccnterburg Gazette, we have a public-spirited, progressive citizen, belonging to the somewhat rare class that direct and control public sentiment without pushing self forward and without incurring the ill will of those with whom they come into contact, and leave the impress of their strong personality indelibly stamped upon the community, winning the good will of all classes.

Mr. Bell was born on March 8, 1871, near West Carlisle, Coshocton county, Ohio. He is the son of Stephen and Julia (McKee) Bell, the father a native of Knox county and the mother of Coshocton county, Ohio, she being the daughter of George McKee, a member of the Ohio Legislature at one time and also a soldier in the Mexican war. The father was a farmer and was long a resident of Coshocton county. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Disciples church. His death occurred in January, 1902. The mother is still living, making her home with the son, Lloyd M., of this sketch. These parents were representatives of sterling pioneer families who assisted in the early development of this locality.

Lloyd M. Bell spent his youth on the farm and be attended the country schools. When he was twelve years old the family moved to Croton, Licking county, and there he remained for thirteen years and completed his public school education, later attending the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he prepared himself for teaching, which profession he followed with much success for a period of five years in the rural schools of Licking county. In

April, 1896, he came to Centerburg, Knox county, and purchased the Centerburg Gazette, an independent newspaper which, under his able management, fields a potent influence in this locality. He has greatly increased its circulation. improved its mechanical appearance and rendered it much more valuable as an advertising medium, keeping its columns filled with crisp, important news of the day and its editorial page is ably and convincingly set forth.

Politically, Mr. Bell is a Democrat and he has been active in public and party affairs. He has been a member of the Democratic county executive committee, and a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He is a member of the county board of elections and in 1910 he was candidate for county treasurer of Knox county. Something of his high standing in his own township will be seen from the fact that he received there a majority of two hundred and seventy-six votes, in a Republican township, a record unprecedented in the political history of the county.

Mr. Bell was married on October 20, 1898, to Gertrude Hasson, daughter of Marvin F. and Hattie (Rinehart) Hasson, an influential Centerburg family. To this union two children have been born, Rusler H. and Hattie Louise.

Fraternally, Mr. Bell is a member of the Masonic order and the Clinton Chapter and Kinsman Council of Mt. Vernon. Also a member of Hawthorne Lodge No. 228, Knights of Pythias. He and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a member of the Disciples church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Bell uses his paper for the encouragement of all measures looking to the general good of Centerburg and adjacent community and be fields a wide influence in this respect.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.