James M. Bell, aged 80 years, 1 month and 7 days, resident of Iroquois County for more than 54 years, and highly esteemed citizen of Watseka for the past 46 years, passed away at 3 o’clock a.m., Friday, November 5, 1926, at his home, 617 South Second Street, this city, following a short illness due to heart trouble.
Deceased was the son of David and Jane Bell, and was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 29, 1846. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandparents, William and Jane Bell, emigrated from Beloody Mills, County Down, Ireland, to Philadelphia in 1790. While Ohio was still part of the Northwest Territory, they moved to the section of the state known as Noble County. His maternal grandparents were natives of the same section in Ireland, but came to America in 1788. They crossed the mountains and settled in Ohio County, West Virginia, afterward removing to the Noble County settlement in Ohio.
Mr. Bell received his education in the schools of his native county, and at the age of 21 started in business for himself, engaging in farming in Ohio. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Winstanley, and in 1868, they left Ohio, coming down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, then up the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, residing for a time on a farm near that city. In 1872, they came to Iroquois County, settling at Sheldon. Later, they removed to a farm near Cabery, and from there to Watseka, where Mr. Bell was engaged in business until about 1920, when he retired.
In the ‘60’s, Mr. Bell endeavored to enlist in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War, but was rejected because he was too young.
Mr. Bell was the father of five children by his first marriage, two of whom are now living, namely, Harry, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Wadena, MN, and Homer W., of Watseka. The first wife died in 1882. In 1887, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Ida Vennum and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Roscoe C. South and Mrs. Harry A. Taylor, both of Watseka. Their mother died in 1893. Besides the two daughters and two sons, Mr. Bell is survived by six grandchildren. Deceased was a brother of the late Rev. Joe Bell, at one time pastor of the Methodist Church in Watseka.
By the death of Mr. Bell, the community has suffered the loss of a good citizen, highly esteemed by all who knew him, young and old, for he was a great friend of the children several generations of which will remember him for his pleasant ways and kindly consideration. For many years, Mr. Bell was engaged in the selling of natural ice in Watseka, doing much of the delivering himself, and many the child who enjoyed a ride on the ice wagon, for he would always stop and take aboard any child who wished a ride. Of the sick, too, Mr. Bell was always thoughtful, and in the hot weather saw to it that they were provided with ice, making deliveries at irregular hours if the case required, and making no charge for the ice to those who were unable to pay. Such kindly deeds can never be forgotten, and they will stand as a better monument to his memory than any marble tablet that human hands may erect.
Mr. Bell took active part in all that was for the best interests of the community. He was especially interested in politics, and a sincere advocate of temperance and a supporter of the prohibition laws. For many years he was a member of the city council, and held other offices of public trust. Mr. Bell's ancestors, on both sides of the family, were staunch Presbyterians as loyal to the “kirk” as they were to the government of their adopted country, but Mr. Bell, when a boy, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio, and continued in that faith until his life’s end. For more than forty years he was a member of the First Methodist Church of Watseka, and for a number of years was connected with its official board.
Funeral services for Mr. Bell were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist Church, and interment was made in the Vennum Cemetery seven miles south of Watseka. Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church was in charge of the obsequies.
Watseka Republican
Contributed by Ginny Lee
Deceased was the son of David and Jane Bell, and was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 29, 1846. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandparents, William and Jane Bell, emigrated from Beloody Mills, County Down, Ireland, to Philadelphia in 1790. While Ohio was still part of the Northwest Territory, they moved to the section of the state known as Noble County. His maternal grandparents were natives of the same section in Ireland, but came to America in 1788. They crossed the mountains and settled in Ohio County, West Virginia, afterward removing to the Noble County settlement in Ohio.
Mr. Bell received his education in the schools of his native county, and at the age of 21 started in business for himself, engaging in farming in Ohio. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Winstanley, and in 1868, they left Ohio, coming down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, then up the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, residing for a time on a farm near that city. In 1872, they came to Iroquois County, settling at Sheldon. Later, they removed to a farm near Cabery, and from there to Watseka, where Mr. Bell was engaged in business until about 1920, when he retired.
In the ‘60’s, Mr. Bell endeavored to enlist in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War, but was rejected because he was too young.
Mr. Bell was the father of five children by his first marriage, two of whom are now living, namely, Harry, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Wadena, MN, and Homer W., of Watseka. The first wife died in 1882. In 1887, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Ida Vennum and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Roscoe C. South and Mrs. Harry A. Taylor, both of Watseka. Their mother died in 1893. Besides the two daughters and two sons, Mr. Bell is survived by six grandchildren. Deceased was a brother of the late Rev. Joe Bell, at one time pastor of the Methodist Church in Watseka.
By the death of Mr. Bell, the community has suffered the loss of a good citizen, highly esteemed by all who knew him, young and old, for he was a great friend of the children several generations of which will remember him for his pleasant ways and kindly consideration. For many years, Mr. Bell was engaged in the selling of natural ice in Watseka, doing much of the delivering himself, and many the child who enjoyed a ride on the ice wagon, for he would always stop and take aboard any child who wished a ride. Of the sick, too, Mr. Bell was always thoughtful, and in the hot weather saw to it that they were provided with ice, making deliveries at irregular hours if the case required, and making no charge for the ice to those who were unable to pay. Such kindly deeds can never be forgotten, and they will stand as a better monument to his memory than any marble tablet that human hands may erect.
Mr. Bell took active part in all that was for the best interests of the community. He was especially interested in politics, and a sincere advocate of temperance and a supporter of the prohibition laws. For many years he was a member of the city council, and held other offices of public trust. Mr. Bell's ancestors, on both sides of the family, were staunch Presbyterians as loyal to the “kirk” as they were to the government of their adopted country, but Mr. Bell, when a boy, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio, and continued in that faith until his life’s end. For more than forty years he was a member of the First Methodist Church of Watseka, and for a number of years was connected with its official board.
Funeral services for Mr. Bell were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist Church, and interment was made in the Vennum Cemetery seven miles south of Watseka. Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church was in charge of the obsequies.
Watseka Republican
Contributed by Ginny Lee
James M. Bell, aged 80 years, 1 month and 7 days, resident of Iroquois County for more than 54 years, and highly esteemed citizen of Watseka for the past 46 years, passed away at 3 o’clock a.m., Friday, November 5, 1926, at his home, 617 South Second Street, this city, following a short illness due to heart trouble.
Deceased was the son of David and Jane Bell, and was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 29, 1846. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandparents, William and Jane Bell, emigrated from Beloody Mills, County Down, Ireland, to Philadelphia in 1790. While Ohio was still part of the Northwest Territory, they moved to the section of the state known as Noble County. His maternal grandparents were natives of the same section in Ireland, but came to America in 1788. They crossed the mountains and settled in Ohio County, West Virginia, afterward removing to the Noble County settlement in Ohio.
Mr. Bell received his education in the schools of his native county, and at the age of 21 started in business for himself, engaging in farming in Ohio. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Winstanley, and in 1868, they left Ohio, coming down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, then up the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, residing for a time on a farm near that city. In 1872, they came to Iroquois County, settling at Sheldon. Later, they removed to a farm near Cabery, and from there to Watseka, where Mr. Bell was engaged in business until about 1920, when he retired.
In the ‘60’s, Mr. Bell endeavored to enlist in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War, but was rejected because he was too young.
Mr. Bell was the father of five children by his first marriage, two of whom are now living, namely, Harry, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Wadena, MN, and Homer W., of Watseka. The first wife died in 1882. In 1887, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Ida Vennum and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Roscoe C. South and Mrs. Harry A. Taylor, both of Watseka. Their mother died in 1893. Besides the two daughters and two sons, Mr. Bell is survived by six grandchildren. Deceased was a brother of the late Rev. Joe Bell, at one time pastor of the Methodist Church in Watseka.
By the death of Mr. Bell, the community has suffered the loss of a good citizen, highly esteemed by all who knew him, young and old, for he was a great friend of the children several generations of which will remember him for his pleasant ways and kindly consideration. For many years, Mr. Bell was engaged in the selling of natural ice in Watseka, doing much of the delivering himself, and many the child who enjoyed a ride on the ice wagon, for he would always stop and take aboard any child who wished a ride. Of the sick, too, Mr. Bell was always thoughtful, and in the hot weather saw to it that they were provided with ice, making deliveries at irregular hours if the case required, and making no charge for the ice to those who were unable to pay. Such kindly deeds can never be forgotten, and they will stand as a better monument to his memory than any marble tablet that human hands may erect.
Mr. Bell took active part in all that was for the best interests of the community. He was especially interested in politics, and a sincere advocate of temperance and a supporter of the prohibition laws. For many years he was a member of the city council, and held other offices of public trust. Mr. Bell's ancestors, on both sides of the family, were staunch Presbyterians as loyal to the “kirk” as they were to the government of their adopted country, but Mr. Bell, when a boy, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio, and continued in that faith until his life’s end. For more than forty years he was a member of the First Methodist Church of Watseka, and for a number of years was connected with its official board.
Funeral services for Mr. Bell were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist Church, and interment was made in the Vennum Cemetery seven miles south of Watseka. Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church was in charge of the obsequies.
Watseka Republican
Contributed by Ginny Lee
Deceased was the son of David and Jane Bell, and was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 29, 1846. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandparents, William and Jane Bell, emigrated from Beloody Mills, County Down, Ireland, to Philadelphia in 1790. While Ohio was still part of the Northwest Territory, they moved to the section of the state known as Noble County. His maternal grandparents were natives of the same section in Ireland, but came to America in 1788. They crossed the mountains and settled in Ohio County, West Virginia, afterward removing to the Noble County settlement in Ohio.
Mr. Bell received his education in the schools of his native county, and at the age of 21 started in business for himself, engaging in farming in Ohio. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Winstanley, and in 1868, they left Ohio, coming down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, then up the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, residing for a time on a farm near that city. In 1872, they came to Iroquois County, settling at Sheldon. Later, they removed to a farm near Cabery, and from there to Watseka, where Mr. Bell was engaged in business until about 1920, when he retired.
In the ‘60’s, Mr. Bell endeavored to enlist in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War, but was rejected because he was too young.
Mr. Bell was the father of five children by his first marriage, two of whom are now living, namely, Harry, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Wadena, MN, and Homer W., of Watseka. The first wife died in 1882. In 1887, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Ida Vennum and to this union were born two children, Mrs. Roscoe C. South and Mrs. Harry A. Taylor, both of Watseka. Their mother died in 1893. Besides the two daughters and two sons, Mr. Bell is survived by six grandchildren. Deceased was a brother of the late Rev. Joe Bell, at one time pastor of the Methodist Church in Watseka.
By the death of Mr. Bell, the community has suffered the loss of a good citizen, highly esteemed by all who knew him, young and old, for he was a great friend of the children several generations of which will remember him for his pleasant ways and kindly consideration. For many years, Mr. Bell was engaged in the selling of natural ice in Watseka, doing much of the delivering himself, and many the child who enjoyed a ride on the ice wagon, for he would always stop and take aboard any child who wished a ride. Of the sick, too, Mr. Bell was always thoughtful, and in the hot weather saw to it that they were provided with ice, making deliveries at irregular hours if the case required, and making no charge for the ice to those who were unable to pay. Such kindly deeds can never be forgotten, and they will stand as a better monument to his memory than any marble tablet that human hands may erect.
Mr. Bell took active part in all that was for the best interests of the community. He was especially interested in politics, and a sincere advocate of temperance and a supporter of the prohibition laws. For many years he was a member of the city council, and held other offices of public trust. Mr. Bell's ancestors, on both sides of the family, were staunch Presbyterians as loyal to the “kirk” as they were to the government of their adopted country, but Mr. Bell, when a boy, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio, and continued in that faith until his life’s end. For more than forty years he was a member of the First Methodist Church of Watseka, and for a number of years was connected with its official board.
Funeral services for Mr. Bell were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist Church, and interment was made in the Vennum Cemetery seven miles south of Watseka. Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church was in charge of the obsequies.
Watseka Republican
Contributed by Ginny Lee
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