By Staff
Bell family roots in Escambia Co.
By LYDIA GRIMES – Features Writer
A story is told of several Bell brothers who came to Alabama and settled the old town of Belleville. Jackson Bell (5 Nov. 1821-27 Oct. 1881) was one of those brothers and his parents may have been David Bell and Mary Gregg. He and his descendants have played an important role in the history of Escambia and Conecuh Counties.
Jackson Bell married Rebecca A. Nowling (20 Oct. 1820-9 Nov. 1901) sometime before 1843 when their oldest child was born. Jackson is buried at Brushy Creek Cemetery in Conecuh County and Rebecca is buried at May Creek Cemetery in Escambia County. They were the parents of at least eight children, Joel Webster Bell (29 Mar. 1843-18 Nov. 1883) who married Jane Lucretia Tippins, Charlie Bell (27 May 1845) who married Fannie Gaines (or perhaps Eunice Patton), George Washington Bell (24 June 1847-8 Sept. 1917) who married Esther M. Tippins, Martha Jane Bell (16 Sept. 1849-27 July 1919) who married David L. Carter, Burrell Bell (15 March 1852-5 Dec. 1921) who married Mahala Susan Green, David Franklin Bell (6 Oct. 1855-22 Nov. 1935) who married Mattie Esther Avent, Martha Lucinda Mayo, Olive V. Hollis and Kate Durden (don't know what order), Mary Rebecca Bell (16 June 1857-4 Sept. 1920) who married first, Sumpter O'Guynn and second, John D. Kennedy and Sarah Eunice Bell (14 Nov. 1859-7 Jan. 1937) who married first, Francis Marcus Evans and second, Ellie Deer. I do have a record that says there was another child, Thomas J. Bell (10 April 1862), but I have no information on him.
Joel Webster Bell and Jane Lucretia Tippins (23 May 1850-11 Nov. 1901) were the parents of at least seven children, Daniel Webster Bell (21 Feb. 1873-1936) who married Jewette Conner, Elizabeth Ann Bell (30 April 1875-1841), Florence Rebecca Bell (1877-1962) who married John Richard Parker, Margaret Eunice Bell (1880-1953) who married Theodore Franklin May, Esther Martha Bell (1880-1925) who married George Lee Bryant, and Joel Webster Bell Jr. (1884-1945).
George Washington Bell and Esther M. Tippins (13 March1848-16 Dec.1936) were the parents of six children, Calvin Augustus Bell who married Sally Estelle Lee, David Jackson Bell (27 April 1876-4 June 1925) who married Margaret Elizabeth Williams,John Bell, Marvin Bell who married Ruby Franklin, George Washington Bell Jr. who married Lillian Parker, and Leila Herbert Bell who married David Hume Finlay.
I have some more on this family but space is short this week. I will continue with the Bell family next week and tell you some of their other family connections.
Happy hunting!
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