Used by Ann Miller White with permission of Jane Graff, editor of "Seward County Nebraska 1982 By The People of Seward County"

Guy T. Bell was born November 23, 1889 on a homestead near Brainard, Nebraska, the youngest of thirteen children born to William and Elizabeth Bell. William and Elizabeth Ferrill were married in Illinois in 1864. Shortly thereafter, they came to Florence, Nebraska, where William ran a freight line between Florence and Kearney. On his way between these two places, he became attracted to a piece of table land between David City and Brainard. He filed a homestead claim for this land about 1871. The family moved there, living in a dugout. Their third child was born there. Finding the winters very severe and a shortage of fuel, they left the homestead and returned to Florence where he freighted a few more years.

About 1874, he filed a homestead south of Brainard, where fuel and water were more plentiful. Here the family remained for 26 years and their other children were born.

The family endured the usual hardships of pioneer life, one being that supplies had to be hauled by lumber wagon from Lincoln. These trips required several days.

In 1897, William died of dropsy after a prolonged illness. In 1900, Elizabeth and her family sold the homestead and moved to an 80 acre farm north of Beaver Crossing. Later they moved into the first house south of the Catholic Church in Beaver.

Guy completed his education in the Beaver Crossing school, graduating in 1909 with the first twelve year class to graduate from the school. A grandson, William Michael Black, was to graduate in 1966, the next to last class to graduate from Beaver High.

Guy went on to Fremont Normal (Midland) College for two years, studying to be a teacher. He taught at Magnet, Swanton, Waco, Tamora, and Goehnor, Nebraska. In 1920, he started teaching at Beaver Crossing. He became Superintendent in 1923, a position he held until 1928. He was Superintendent at Beaver when the new school building was dedicated in 1927.

He worked for some time for the University of Nebraska in the extension division, assisting there in setting up courses. His specialty was in the field of taxes. Hus last job was with the United States Employment Service in Lincoln where he worked for twelve years as an interviewer.

On December 24, 1912, Guy and Myrta Crowder eloped to Omaha, where they were married. Nine children were born to this couple, all of whom grduated from Beaver Crossing High School namely: Treva (Springer), Lincoln; Retha (Peterson), Milford; Rex, Lincoln; Verna Mae (deceased); Keith, Lincoln; Evelyn (Black) Divis, Sun City, Arizona; Roselma, Lincoln; Duane, Rochester, Minnesota; Jean (Larsen), Beaver Crossing.

Guy served many years as Village Clerk of Beaver Crossing. He also served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher in the Christian Church.

He was a staunch Democrat all his life, he was a great student of history, he considered the right to vote a sacred trust which all should honor.

Guy died of a heart attack on June 29, 1955 and is buried in the Beaver cemetery. (Written and submitted by Retha Peterson and Evelyn Divis)