I promised genealogical information, so here we go!
William Charles Bell was my 2nd great grandfather, born about 1821 in Stewart County, TN to George and Dulsanna Jane Bell*. I must admit, I am not 100% confident his name was William Charles. Most of my research has found just Charlie or simply a "C", but there is evidence supporting the name William Charles Bell in census records.
Charlie married Mary Adaline Yates, 17 November 1852 in Benton County, TN. This marriage was solemnized by J.P. Arnold, a Minister of God and to this union was born five children: Missouri E.; Horace Monroe; Queen; Rosella J and William Clark. Charlie died 20 Sep 1884 in Benton County, TN, but his place of burial remains unknown.
Recently I was sifting through some of my Dad's papers and discovered a deed I suppose settling Charlie Bell's estate. It was for 65 acres of land being sold by my great grandfather's siblings to him. I found it interesting, even though Mary Adaline was still alive, her name wasn't mentioned. Was this an example of the lack of rights women had in the 1880's? Yeah, I should know the answer to that and perhaps I do, somewhere buried in the back of my mind, but for now I'll leave it as a question.
Moving along, while reading this deed I began to realize I had numerous unanswered questions about my great grandfather's siblings. Some had moved out of Benton County and I had skipped over them, with the intention of doing more research at a later date. Well, that date was now and other than children's names I have learned some interesting bits of information.
Missouri E. Bell - born August 1853 in Benton County, TN, married John Y. Jordan, son of Jonathan & Rebecca Jordan, 22 October 1873 in Benton County, TN. They had one child, a daughter Minnie A. - born August 1883 in Benton Co., TN, who married William Massey Farrar 3 March 1895, in Benton Co., TN. Missouri died in 1932 and is buried at Eastview Cemetery in Benton Co., TN, along side her husband, who died 3 July 1929.
Horace Monroe Bell - born 23 July 1859. This is my great-grandfather and I will later devote an entire post to him. Please note, the photograph on my home page, the man with two horses is Horace Monroe Bell.
Queen Bell - born 7 October 1861 in Benton County, TN. I have found this to be a little complicated and will address Queen at a later time.
Rosella J Bell - born September 1863 in Benton County, TN, married Marion (Mace) Prince, 12 July 1877 in Benton County, TN, J.F. Presson, a Justice of Peace, officiated. Notice Ella, as she would later be called, had not had her 14th birthday when she married. When I began researching my family history I expected to find girls marrying young to be common; however, at least to this point, it is unusual in my family. Moving along, Ella and Mace Prince had two children, both born in Benton County, TN. Eva was the oldest, born 13 November 1878 and then Charles Orlander, born 11 August 1879. According to the 1880 US Census for Benton County, TN they lived next to Ella's siblings in Benton County. Next, they are found in the 1900 US Census living in Fulton County, KY. Eva is now married to Edward Burns Smith and they are living with her parents. The next census 1910 gets a little complicated. Edward and Eva Smith have moved to Hinds County, MS and both Ella and Charles are now living with them. Ella's marital status is a widow. Seemingly Mace has died and the 1920 US Census for Hinds Co., MS is the same. However, the 1930 US Census for Hinds County, MS offers a new perspective. While Ella is still living with the Smiths and is still designated a widow, Charles also lives in Hinds County, MS and living in his household is Mace Prince, age 74 and he is also widowed. What?? I searched for Marion/Mace Prince in both the 1910 and 1920 US censuses and have not been able to locate him. Where was he? If anyone has any ideas, please share them in the comments section. And . . . what's the deal with BOTH saying they are widowed?? Yeah, I have a couple of ideas, but I'd really like a little proof.
Also, Edward and Eva now have a daughter, Mary Adaline. It appears the child was born about 1921 making Eva 42-43 years old when she had her first child. I thought this strange, but while looking at a family tree on Ancestry.com I found a comment concerning Mary Adaline Smith that certainly intrigued me. It stated this child was found on their (Edward and Eva's) doorstep. That certainly explains Eva's late motherhood, but is this claim valid? I haven't found anything to either confirm or deny this mystery, but will continue searching. Again, anyone with thoughts, ideas and certainly facts to shed light on this, please contact me.
This leaves William Clark Bell, the youngest of Charlie and Mary Adaline Bell's children. Clark as he was called was born in July 1865, never married and after is mother's death, 1 June 1897 he lived with his sister Missouri and her family the rest of his life that ended 27 July 1911.
*Please note, many who have recorded information on Dulsanna Jane state her first name was Bulsanna; however, the actual written census record of 1860 Benton County, Tennessee clearly shows, at least to me with careful examination, that the first letter in her first name is spelled with a "D" and not a "B".
Thanks to all who take the time to visit this blog. Perhaps we have a kinship and can share information, family stories, etc. that will help us get to know our ancestors more than just names and dates.
Until next time have a safe weekend!
T. Bell
24 June 2011
14 June 2011
Getting my genealogy blog legs back
For those of you who have previously visited my blog you will notice I did away with bellblogger and decided to use my real name. It was a little strange, visiting other websites and reading some of the things I have written but not seeing my name attached. Yeah, I suppose my ego played a role in this, even though I have never considered myself to be one of those ego kind of guys. I try to be accurate and thorough in my final analysis and to see another name being given credit for my research, even a name of my invention, an alter ego so to speak troubled me. Weird huh?
There is so much out there that is not accurate and this troubles me as I have previously noted. It is distrubing to spend hours, days, weeks, months or even years sifting through records and documents to find a name or date and then go to someone's family tree and see misinformation. Who among us, who actually puts the time, energy and effort into genealogy wants to discover our ancestor with a wife or husband they did not have? One of my family lines has a fella who, by most anyone's account, is the absolute most knowledgable person anywhere on this family. A few years ago, I came upon a sampling of his work and quickly realized he was mistaken in one of his lines, my line. I contacted him, not to correct him but to ask where he had found the information. He promised he would send me copies of the documents he had used, but the information never arrived nor did he answer my emails.
I truly want to be accurate. Finding factual, documented information is extremely difficult at times and at other times I honestly believe it is impossible. It took me more than thirty years to find my 4th great grandfather Bell, but I found him! Yes, that day I felt like I had won the lottery. Well maybe not one of those huge lotteries, but you know what I mean. A side note: I really would like to know how it feels to win one of those huge lotteries, so anyone with advice on winning, I'm listening.
One final thought to anyone who is just starting the journey of finding your ancestors. Document ALL of your information! Make notes where anything and everything you find comes from, talk to older relatives immediately and record or write ALL of their tales, stories and all they will tell you. Their information may be the most valuable of any information you find. I did not do this and regret it tremendously, but that is for another time.
Hope you enjoyed my words, please visit often and tell others! As always I encourage your comments good and bad. Next time I will actually include genealogical information!
T Bell
There is so much out there that is not accurate and this troubles me as I have previously noted. It is distrubing to spend hours, days, weeks, months or even years sifting through records and documents to find a name or date and then go to someone's family tree and see misinformation. Who among us, who actually puts the time, energy and effort into genealogy wants to discover our ancestor with a wife or husband they did not have? One of my family lines has a fella who, by most anyone's account, is the absolute most knowledgable person anywhere on this family. A few years ago, I came upon a sampling of his work and quickly realized he was mistaken in one of his lines, my line. I contacted him, not to correct him but to ask where he had found the information. He promised he would send me copies of the documents he had used, but the information never arrived nor did he answer my emails.
I truly want to be accurate. Finding factual, documented information is extremely difficult at times and at other times I honestly believe it is impossible. It took me more than thirty years to find my 4th great grandfather Bell, but I found him! Yes, that day I felt like I had won the lottery. Well maybe not one of those huge lotteries, but you know what I mean. A side note: I really would like to know how it feels to win one of those huge lotteries, so anyone with advice on winning, I'm listening.
One final thought to anyone who is just starting the journey of finding your ancestors. Document ALL of your information! Make notes where anything and everything you find comes from, talk to older relatives immediately and record or write ALL of their tales, stories and all they will tell you. Their information may be the most valuable of any information you find. I did not do this and regret it tremendously, but that is for another time.
Hope you enjoyed my words, please visit often and tell others! As always I encourage your comments good and bad. Next time I will actually include genealogical information!
T Bell
13 June 2011
I'm BACK!!!
Wow! Has it really been nine months since I last posted on this blog? As age creeps up on me I have discovered, the passing of time is about the only thing that is faster now than it was 20+ years ago. Sorry, I can't believe I even suggested age is creeping up on me. Heck aging is a runaway train, a space ship traveling at Mach 100! Next month I will turn sixty and that just can't be. It seems like it was just last year I was fifty!
And genealogy, I'm not so sure it's healthy! Researching ancestors means finding dates of death, burial sites, etc. and frankly it's a bit morbid. And then I fnd myself reading obituaries, looking for a recently deceased relative to add to my family tree and yes, that too is morbid. For me it's not easy growing old and those who say it is better than the alternative, huh? Perhaps it is better than the alternative, but such a statement is akin to preferring to be a little sick versus being a lot sick. No one in their right mind wants to be sick period! And while life seems to be better than death, why settle? Why see the world as it is better to be alive than to be dead? Live life to the fullest and make everyday an adventure, not a chore! I stumbled upon this quote a while back and would like to share it.
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a cloud of dust, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Holy Sh*t! What a Ride!"
I plan to be more in touch and will try and add something to this blog at least once a week. Should ANYONE have ANYTHING they would like to contribute, please use the comment portion.
Have a GREAT week,
T Bell
And genealogy, I'm not so sure it's healthy! Researching ancestors means finding dates of death, burial sites, etc. and frankly it's a bit morbid. And then I fnd myself reading obituaries, looking for a recently deceased relative to add to my family tree and yes, that too is morbid. For me it's not easy growing old and those who say it is better than the alternative, huh? Perhaps it is better than the alternative, but such a statement is akin to preferring to be a little sick versus being a lot sick. No one in their right mind wants to be sick period! And while life seems to be better than death, why settle? Why see the world as it is better to be alive than to be dead? Live life to the fullest and make everyday an adventure, not a chore! I stumbled upon this quote a while back and would like to share it.
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a cloud of dust, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Holy Sh*t! What a Ride!"
I plan to be more in touch and will try and add something to this blog at least once a week. Should ANYONE have ANYTHING they would like to contribute, please use the comment portion.
Have a GREAT week,
T Bell
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