Confusion is one element that can be expected in any attempt to research family history. 

The following is an account of my great grand aunt . . . sister to my paternal great grandfather . . . Horace Monroe Bell.

It is my plan to devote more time and energy into learning more about this individual and her family; however, if anyone can assist in my search . . . please let me know.

Q.F.F. Bell first appears in the 1870 U.S. Census of Benton County, TN, living in the household of C. Bell and Mary A. Bell in the 10th Civil District of said county

M.E. Bell - Female, age 17, born in TN

R.J. Bell - Female, age 15, born in TN

H.M. Bell - Male, age 12, born in TN

Q.F.F. Bell - Female, age 9, born in TN

W.C. Bell - Male, age 6, born in TN

Jane Bell - Female, age 75, born in NC

On 23 February 1879, V.A. Bell and Leander C. Roberson were married in Benton Co., TN, by J.P. Lashlee a Justice of Peace.  However, there is no record of a V.A. Bell prior to this, but in the 1880 U.S. Census of Benton Co., TN, taken 17 June 1880, Leander C. Roberson, age 19; wife Valony M.A., age 15 and a son with no name, age 2/12 (2 months) are family number 250 in the 10th Civil District of Benton Co., TN.  Their neighbors include, Marion A. Prince and wife Rose E. (Bell), family # 252; Charles and Mary A. Bell, family #253; John Jordan and wife Missouri E. (Bell), family #254.  But, there is no record of Q.F.F. Bell??

Of course the 1890 U.S. Census was mainly destroyed in a fire and the fragments that remain are not for this area, so the next census is 1900, 20 years and a generation later and the confusion surrounding Q.F.F. Bell has a new twist.

The 1900 U.S. Census of Fulton Co., KY, taken 9 June 1900 gives the following:

Name                          Date of Birth              Age      Yrs.Md       PoB

Leander Robinson    M         June 1860      39        22               TN

Queen Robinson        F          Oct 1863        36        22               TN

Birtie Robinson         M         April 1881     19                           TN

Stella Robinson         F          Feb 1886        14                           KY

Pearl Robinson          F          Nov 1887       12                           KY

(This census also notes, Queen had given birth to 5 children, 4 still living)

Also, the occupation of both Leander and Birtie is Liveryman, except for Queen all can read and write and they rent their residence.

At this point there is no clear evidence of this being the same Leander that married V.A. Bell, especially considering the last name on the marriage certificate and the 1880 census was Roberson and this is Robinson.  And there is certainly no evidence this Queen Robinson could possibly be the "missing" Q.F.F. Bell; however, to fast forward to a Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1941 Certificate of Death, #7004 for Queen Roberson, it shows her father to be Charlie Bell, born in TN and her mother to be Adaline Yates, birthplace TN. 

Now back to the 1910 U.S. Census of Fulton Co., KY.

Name              Sex      Est.DoB           Age      PoB

Leander Roberson    M        1860   50        TN

Queenie Roberson    F         1862   48        TN      

Pearl Roberson          F          1888   22        KY

Note- Their residence was Leitchfield, Fulton Co., KY and shows Queenie gave birth to 4 children and all are alive.

Before going to the 1920 census it should be noted Commonwealth of Kentucky, Certificate of Death #6940, dated 2 March 1918 and signed by Registrar J.F. Royster is for Leander C. Robertson.  Notice a "t" is added to his surname, the informant is L.M. Robertson of Fulton, KY (probably a son and the "L' represents Landon).  The certificate gives Leander's date of birth as 25 June 1860, his date of death as 1 March 1918 and has his age at time of death to be 57 years 8 months and 4 days.  His birthplace is given as Benton Co., TN, father Jim Robertson, birthplace SC and occupation Special Agent for SC Railroad.  His mother's name is listed as unknown, but her place of birth is given as SC.

The 1920 U.S. Census of Fulton Co., KY adds to the confusion surrounding Queen Bell Roberson.  First, her name is given as L.G. Roberson, age 54 years, with an estimated birth date of 1866.  It shows she is a widowed, white female, born in TN,  owns her home and indicates she can read and write, a contradiction to the 1900 census.  Of course she could have easily learned in 20 years.

Also in this household is Morton Williams, age 31, her son-in-law; Pearl Williams, age 32, her daughter and Evelyn Williams, age 7, her granddaughter.

Bell Name Meaning

Scottish and northern English: from Middle English belle ‘bell’, in various applications; most probably a metonymic occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker, or a topographic name for someone living ‘at the bell’ (as attested by 14th-century forms such as John atte Belle). This indicates either residence by an actual bell (e.g. a town’s bell in a bell tower, centrally placed to summon meetings, sound the alarm, etc.) or ‘at the sign of the bell’, i.e. a house or inn sign (although surnames derived from house and inn signs are rare in Scots and English).Scottish and northern English: from the medieval personal name Bel. As a man’s name this is from Old French beu, bel ‘handsome’, which was also used as a nickname. As a female name it represents a short form of Isobel, a form of Elizabeth.Scottish: Americanized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhaoil ‘son of the servant of the devotee’ (see Mullen 1).Jewish (Ashkenazic): Americanized form of one or more like-sounding Jewish surnames.Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in western Norway named Bell, the origin of which is unexplained.Scandinavian: of English or German origin; in German as a habitational name for someone from Bell in Rhineland, Germany, or possibly from Belle in Westphalia.Americanized spelling of German Böhl or Böll (see Boehle, Boll).