Roxbury, Feb. 12-Elder Arnold Hill Bellows, 73, well-known pastor of the Old School Baptist faith, author of the noted epic poem, "The Legend of Utsayantha and Other Folklore of the Catskill," died last week Thursday night at the Benedictine hospital in Kingston where he had been a patient for a week. He had been in poor health and became ill with pneumonia, followed by pleurisy.

Elder Bellows was born in Halcott Center Jan. 26, 1994, the eldest child of Sniffin K. Bellows and Harriet Davis (Hill) Bellows. In 1900, when he was 16, the family moved to Roxbury and for many years lived on a farm below this village in the Cold Spring area. Elder Bellows received his education at Roxbury central school and graduate from Stamford Training class for teachers.

For many years he was a successful teacher in the country schools about Delaware and Ulster counties. He began his career as a pastor of the Old School Baptist or Primitive Baptist churches in 1929. When Elder George Ruston, pastor of the churches of this area, was called Dutton, Ontarion, Canada, that year Elder Bellows took his place as pastorof the seven churches of the Roxbury-Lexington association, and in September, 1930, he was ordained at Shokan at that church's request. The several churches were: The Fist and Second Roxbury churches (Elder Bellows having been a member of the Second Roxbury church), the Middletown and Andes church, the Olive and Hurley church, the Middleburgh church, the Clovesville church and the Lexington church.

During several years the churches had been gradually consolidated until only the First and Second Roxbury churches and the church at Cobleskill remained. Several months ago Elder Bellows became pastor also fo the Primitive Baptist church at Baltimore, Md. He was an eloquent speaker and was much in demand as a preacher in New Jersy, Virginia, Maryland and other states.

Elder Bellows was also a poet of talent. In his early twenties he had a volume, "Reminiscences of School Bays" published. He had written much poetry during his lifetime, but his chief claim to fame rests on the epic poem, "The Legend of Utsayantha," which was published by the Catskill Mountain News in 1944. More than five thousand copies of this poem have been sold. It has become the subject of study in social studies classes in more than 100 high schools throughout this and other states. It has been translated in other languages, including the Japanese. Elder Bellows has lectured in schools throughout this area concerning Catskill mountain folklore in which he was known as an authority.

In the early days of the century, Arnold Bellows, was the Cold Spring correspondent of the Catskill Mountain News and wrote interesting letters which were read by far more than the locality which he represented. He has an unusual vocabulary and command of words. He wrote easily.

He was united in marriage to Mrs. Florence Beede Paxson of Leesbug, Va., at Washington, D. C. April 30, 1935. This was a happy union. He is survived by his wife, who devotedly cared for him during his last illness. Their married life was spent at West Hurley, where they purchased a home shortly after their wedding.

Besides his wife, Elder Bellows is survived by three brothers and five sisters. They are Merrick Bellows and Mrs. James Bradley, Roxbury; Casper Bellows, Margaretville; Mrs. Robert Daley, Syracuse; Charles Bellows, Sequoit; Mrs. Howard Lawrence, Kelly Corners; Mrs. Malcom Wright, Andes; Mrs. Harvey Travis, Middletown.

The funeral of Elder Arnold H. Bellows was held at the Woodstock funeral parlors Monday afternon at 1:30. Elder George Ruston of Dutton, Ontario, Canada, had charge. Also speaking was Elder John D. Wood of Manassas, Va., Elder H. M. Bennett of Salisbury, Md., and Elder Amasa J. Slauson of Kingston. A large number were present from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, as well as relatives and friends in this state. His body was put in a vault at New Vernon, Orange county, for interment at the cemetery there later. From this area Mr. and Mrs. James Bradley, Merric Bellows and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lawrence were present.
Catskill Mountain News (Margaretville, NY) Feb 15, 1957