By Staff
An interested reader responds to Bell material
I started the Bell family genealogy last week and was happy to receive an email from someone who was interested. B.J. Johnson wrote, "I was very excited to read your Bell column and looking forward to the next one. My g, grandfather was Jackson B Bell b 1848. His father was Burrel.
Oral history tells me a charming story about a family tradition. It was the custom for a new grandchild to receive a cow thus starting a future and also to provide nourishment."
The writer also is interested in the Knowles, Emmons, Baggett and Hammac families of Escambia County.
Martha Jane Bell, the daughter of Jackson Bell and Rebecca Nowling, and David L. Carter were the parents of Mae Carter (1877), Herbert Carter (1881), Herschel Carter and Lena Carter (1888).
David Franklin Bell and Mattie Esther Avent (4 June 1861-27 June 1902) were the parents of ten children, but two died as infants. The other children were Fletcher Talmadge Bell (26 Nov 1881-28 Nov. 1956) who married Clara Mae Hollis, Recho Avent Bell (29 Dec. 1883-3 July 1971) who married Carrie Hinote, Ruel Bascom Bell (14 Feb. 1886-1 March 1961) who married Sarah Ethel Stewart, Addie Lee Bell (29 Jan. 1888-2 Jan. 1949) who married Roland Oscar Burgess, Minnie Ethel Bell (8 Oct. 1889-28 Feb. 1929) who married Charles Wesley Weaver, Hattie Stella Bell (twin-24 May 1892), Mattie Della Bell (twin-24 May 1892), two infant sons and Annie Lou Bell (22 April 1902).
David Franklin Bell and Lucinda Mayo (21 April 1872-28 May 1910) were the parents of Hallie Glenn Bell (19 Sept. 1903-31 Oct. 1956) who married George Dewey Cooper, David Carson (or Coleman) Bell (22 Sept. 1905) who married Thelma Lou Barnes, Herbert Rankin Bell (3 Aug. 1908-27 Dec. 1971) who married Tommie Elaine Hamilton and Clara Mason Bell (5 May 1910-20 July 1910).
David Franklin Bell was also married to Kate Durden (1879-16 Aug. 1955) and Olive V. Hollis. He had no children with them.
Mary Rebecca Bell and Sumpter O'Guynn were the parents of three children, Edward O'Guynn (10 May 1882-25 Aug. 1903), Sumpter O'Guynn (twin-2 March 1885-19 Sept 1907) and Mamie Rebecca O'Guynn (twin-2 March 1885-30 Sept. 1969) who married John Duncan Weaver.
Sarah Eunice Bell and and her first husband, Francis Marcus Evans (1858-1888) were the parents of four children. They were Minnie Viola Evans (16 June 1883-12 Nov. 1932) who married Arthur Mark Williamson, Jessie Eula Evans (2 March 1885-22 July 1957) who married William Washington Weaver Jr., Linton Howard Evans Sr. (16 May 1886-3 Nov. 1941) who married Mayce Lee Fraze and Beulah Bell Evans (4 July 1888-2 Oct. 1956) who married James Oliver Burgess.
Sarah Eunice Bell and Ellie Deer had one daughter, Sally Cecil Deer (19 July 1896-25 Oct. 1967) who married Alex Hundley Schad.
The Bell family has been a big part of the the development and establishment of both Conecuh and Escambia Counties. The number of their descendants is large throughout the counties and many have gone on to other parts of the country.
Happy hunting!