In keeping with the original intent of this blog I submit the following article. It was written by Debra Daniel and appears on page 160 of the “Benton County Genealogical Society Quarterly”,Vol. 19, No. 4, October, November, December, 2007.

Bell Family

John Houston Bell was the son of John W. and Georgianna Pegram Bell. He was born and raised in Perry Co., TN, where he met and married Malinda (Millie) Sanders. Millie’s birth is 25 January, 1855. Her parents were, Berryman and Naomi Williams Sanders.


John and Millie’s family consisted of seven children: (1) Lula was born 2 November 1880 and died 10 September 1895, from burns after falling into a fireplace. (2) Alma was born 2 February 1885 and died 14 August 1886. (3) William Ben was born 1882 and died in 1910. He married Molly O’Quinn and had one child. (4) James Oscar was born 25 May 1883 and died 31 October 1963. He married Ida Cantrell and they had 9 children: Lottie Bell Spence, Selma Bell Morris, John, Roy, Byrd, Hairty, Ben D., Laverne Bell Cagle and Beatrice Bell (1931-1935). (5) Ida Estell was born 5 June 1888, died 17 September 1965, married Claudie Deaton and had 5 children: Jessie Mae, Linnie, Bonnie, Perrin and G. Claudie. (6) Lucy was born 29 May 1890, died 6 April 1976, married Lester Hudson and had one child, Elliot “Hud” Hudson. (7) Grover J. was born 6 November 1893, died 13 December 1953, married Ida Hartley and had 11 children: Louis, Lynn, Mildred, Cecile, Ralph, Joyce, Kenneth, Franklin, Julian, Jimmie and Nellie Ann. Burial for John Houston Bell, Lula Bell and Alma Bell is in the Hartley Cemetery, at Hog Creek, in Perry County, Tennessee.


After John H. Bell passed away, Millie moved the family to Camden, Tennessee, to a house on Main Street, where today Nunnery’s Burger and Shake is located and across the street from the Camden City Cemetery. Ida moved her family back in with Millie when her husband was murdered in Arkansas. Ida would walk through the cemetery to get to the train station, to go see family in Carroll County. Someone once asked her if she was afraid of “them dead people” and she replied she was more afraid of the live ones.


When Millie passed away, it was a cold and bitter winter and they could not get her body to Hog Creek, so she is buried at Post Oak Cemetery, outside Camden, Tennessee. The weather dominated many decisions in those days. Millie only got to see her family from Perry County, about twice a year and only when the river was down enough to cross in a low spot in summer or frozen enough to get a team of horses over in winter.


John H. Bell’s father, John W. Bell, served in the Civil War, was wounded and died at the age of 38 years. Georgianna Pegram Bell later married A Sutton and had a son, Frank Sutton. John H. also had a sister, Sally Bell Marchbanks.


John W. Bell’s parents were John Bell, born 1801, died before 1880; his mother was Esther McDaniels, born 1805, died between 1854-1860.
John Bell’s parents were, Thomas Bell born in 1760, mother Martha Pegram, born 1760, died 1847. They were married in 1782. They are buried in the Thomas Bell Cemetery, in Cheatham County, Tennessee. Martha’s father was Daniel Pegram.



As always, thanks for stopping by, hope this was beneficial to someone and comments are welcomed and encouraged. Until next time, have a great day and try to stay cool! The weather folks are saying we're in store for several hot days ahead here in the South.