James' year of birth is estimated from census records. His birth county is assumed to be the county in which his parents lived. It is not known exactly when or where James died. According to family tradition, after leaving his mother's home in about 1872, James wrote his sweetheart, Mary Tipton, and told her he had "found a sack of gold" and was coming back to marry her. No one ever heard from him again. After a while, James' mother hired a detective to find out what happened to him. The detective reported that he traced him as far as the Red River (assumed to be the river of that name in Robertson County, TN) but could find no trace of him after that. It was speculated he was murdered and his body perhaps thrown in the river.
James' year of birth is estimated from census records. His birth county is assumed to be the county in which his parents lived. It is not known exactly when or where James died. According to family tradition, after leaving his mother's home in about 1872, James wrote his sweetheart, Mary Tipton, and told her he had "found a sack of gold" and was coming back to marry her. No one ever heard from him again. After a while, James' mother hired a detective to find out what happened to him. The detective reported that he traced him as far as the Red River (assumed to be the river of that name in Robertson County, TN) but could find no trace of him after that. It was speculated he was murdered and his body perhaps thrown in the river.
Family Members
-
Robert Bell
1841 – unknown
-
![]()
John G. Bell
1843–1853
-
Sarah "Teenie and Sallie" Bell
1844–1873
-
Martha Bell
1845 – unknown
-
![]()
Benjamin Franklin Bell
1846–1853
-
![]()
Thomas J. Bell
1849–1901
-
![]()
Mary Frances Bell Gay
1853–1928
-
![]()
William Alexander "Bill" Bell
1854–1926
-
![]()
Elvina A. "Viney" Bell
1858–1924
-
Caroline "Caline" Bell Jenkins
1860–1930
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
