Biography written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
----------
"Grandma Bell" was not actually my father's grandmother, but her place in our family was sealed through her love and care.
Samantha Jane Sines was born in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, to John Sines and Belinda Woods. She had many siblings, and was particularly close to her sisters Susannah and Matilda. Samantha married Lavirus Addison Bell on 19 Dec 1865, in Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio. Susannah and Matilda married two Hawkins brothers and the three families were very close. Matilda even named own her daughter Samantha Ellen Hawkins, undoubtedly in honor of Samantha Jane.
Sadly, soon after the birth of Matilda's third child, both mother and infant succumbed to tuberculosis. Matilda's husband, William Hawkins, felt inadequate to raise both his tiny daughter and his very young son, so Samantha Jane and her husband, Lavirus, took in Samantha Ellen and raised her as their own. They called her "little Mattie" as she reminded them so much of her beloved mother, Matilda. The Bells had lost their only child a year earlier, and they were happy to once again have a child as part of their family. A few years later, the Bells also had another child, Edwin Addison Bell.
After "Mattie" was grown and had children of her own, Lavirus and Samantha Sines Bell filled the role of grandparents and then great grandparents to the entire extended family... to the extent that some within the family never realized that she was not truly "Grandma"!
Samantha Jane Sines Bell died on 10 Mar 1936. Lavirus Addison Bell died soon thereafter, on 2 Apr 1937. They are buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kansas.
NOTE ABOUT SPOUSE:
Husband Lavirus Addison Bell, who is linked below, should also not be forgotten. He selflessly opened his home to his wife's relatives. He supported and nurtured "Mattie" as if she was his own, doting as much as any biological father ever could! As their only son had no children, Lavirus and Samantha had no grandchildren of their own... and thus no direct descendants to hold their memories close.
Samantha Jane and Lavirus are remembered... and they are missed.
----------
"Grandma Bell" was not actually my father's grandmother, but her place in our family was sealed through her love and care.
Samantha Jane Sines was born in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, to John Sines and Belinda Woods. She had many siblings, and was particularly close to her sisters Susannah and Matilda. Samantha married Lavirus Addison Bell on 19 Dec 1865, in Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio. Susannah and Matilda married two Hawkins brothers and the three families were very close. Matilda even named own her daughter Samantha Ellen Hawkins, undoubtedly in honor of Samantha Jane.
Sadly, soon after the birth of Matilda's third child, both mother and infant succumbed to tuberculosis. Matilda's husband, William Hawkins, felt inadequate to raise both his tiny daughter and his very young son, so Samantha Jane and her husband, Lavirus, took in Samantha Ellen and raised her as their own. They called her "little Mattie" as she reminded them so much of her beloved mother, Matilda. The Bells had lost their only child a year earlier, and they were happy to once again have a child as part of their family. A few years later, the Bells also had another child, Edwin Addison Bell.
After "Mattie" was grown and had children of her own, Lavirus and Samantha Sines Bell filled the role of grandparents and then great grandparents to the entire extended family... to the extent that some within the family never realized that she was not truly "Grandma"!
Samantha Jane Sines Bell died on 10 Mar 1936. Lavirus Addison Bell died soon thereafter, on 2 Apr 1937. They are buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kansas.
NOTE ABOUT SPOUSE:
Husband Lavirus Addison Bell, who is linked below, should also not be forgotten. He selflessly opened his home to his wife's relatives. He supported and nurtured "Mattie" as if she was his own, doting as much as any biological father ever could! As their only son had no children, Lavirus and Samantha had no grandchildren of their own... and thus no direct descendants to hold their memories close.
Samantha Jane and Lavirus are remembered... and they are missed.
Biography written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
----------
"Grandma Bell" was not actually my father's grandmother, but her place in our family was sealed through her love and care.
Samantha Jane Sines was born in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, to John Sines and Belinda Woods. She had many siblings, and was particularly close to her sisters Susannah and Matilda. Samantha married Lavirus Addison Bell on 19 Dec 1865, in Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio. Susannah and Matilda married two Hawkins brothers and the three families were very close. Matilda even named own her daughter Samantha Ellen Hawkins, undoubtedly in honor of Samantha Jane.
Sadly, soon after the birth of Matilda's third child, both mother and infant succumbed to tuberculosis. Matilda's husband, William Hawkins, felt inadequate to raise both his tiny daughter and his very young son, so Samantha Jane and her husband, Lavirus, took in Samantha Ellen and raised her as their own. They called her "little Mattie" as she reminded them so much of her beloved mother, Matilda. The Bells had lost their only child a year earlier, and they were happy to once again have a child as part of their family. A few years later, the Bells also had another child, Edwin Addison Bell.
After "Mattie" was grown and had children of her own, Lavirus and Samantha Sines Bell filled the role of grandparents and then great grandparents to the entire extended family... to the extent that some within the family never realized that she was not truly "Grandma"!
Samantha Jane Sines Bell died on 10 Mar 1936. Lavirus Addison Bell died soon thereafter, on 2 Apr 1937. They are buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kansas.
NOTE ABOUT SPOUSE:
Husband Lavirus Addison Bell, who is linked below, should also not be forgotten. He selflessly opened his home to his wife's relatives. He supported and nurtured "Mattie" as if she was his own, doting as much as any biological father ever could! As their only son had no children, Lavirus and Samantha had no grandchildren of their own... and thus no direct descendants to hold their memories close.
Samantha Jane and Lavirus are remembered... and they are missed.
----------
"Grandma Bell" was not actually my father's grandmother, but her place in our family was sealed through her love and care.
Samantha Jane Sines was born in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, to John Sines and Belinda Woods. She had many siblings, and was particularly close to her sisters Susannah and Matilda. Samantha married Lavirus Addison Bell on 19 Dec 1865, in Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio. Susannah and Matilda married two Hawkins brothers and the three families were very close. Matilda even named own her daughter Samantha Ellen Hawkins, undoubtedly in honor of Samantha Jane.
Sadly, soon after the birth of Matilda's third child, both mother and infant succumbed to tuberculosis. Matilda's husband, William Hawkins, felt inadequate to raise both his tiny daughter and his very young son, so Samantha Jane and her husband, Lavirus, took in Samantha Ellen and raised her as their own. They called her "little Mattie" as she reminded them so much of her beloved mother, Matilda. The Bells had lost their only child a year earlier, and they were happy to once again have a child as part of their family. A few years later, the Bells also had another child, Edwin Addison Bell.
After "Mattie" was grown and had children of her own, Lavirus and Samantha Sines Bell filled the role of grandparents and then great grandparents to the entire extended family... to the extent that some within the family never realized that she was not truly "Grandma"!
Samantha Jane Sines Bell died on 10 Mar 1936. Lavirus Addison Bell died soon thereafter, on 2 Apr 1937. They are buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kansas.
NOTE ABOUT SPOUSE:
Husband Lavirus Addison Bell, who is linked below, should also not be forgotten. He selflessly opened his home to his wife's relatives. He supported and nurtured "Mattie" as if she was his own, doting as much as any biological father ever could! As their only son had no children, Lavirus and Samantha had no grandchildren of their own... and thus no direct descendants to hold their memories close.
Samantha Jane and Lavirus are remembered... and they are missed.
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