John Clifford Bell

BELL, SCOVILLE

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/23/2018 at 03:55:58

Columbus Gazette, August 8, page 1

John Clifford Bell, 91, father of John Edward Bell, butcher at the local Benteco store, died at 4 a.m. Saturday at the home of a son, Clifford Bell, six miles northwest of Columbus Junction. He had been in ill health for the past eight weeks.

Mr. Bell was born December 29, 1843, in Harrison County, Ohio, the son of SJohn and Margaret Clifford Bell. In 1863 he moved to Mercer county, Ill., where he farmed and studied the carpenter trade, moving to Missouri later. In 1872 he moved to Torrington, Conn. where he became a contractor and builder.

While a resident of Illinois, Mr. Bell became a first degree Mason and took second and third degree works at Torrington. He became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1876 in Litchfield Conn. He became affiliated with the Royal Arch Masons in 1878 and has been active as a member of the organization ever since.

He married Charlotte A. Scoville in Connecticut on December 24, 1877, and the couple lived in the east until 1882 when they moved to Aledo, Ill. In 1890 they moved to Columbus Junction, settling on a farm five miles northwest of the city and later moving to the city. Mrs. Bell preceded her husband in death in 1933, and the latter resided since with children at Columbus Junction.

Surviving are three sons, John Edward and Clifford of Columbus Junction, and Arthur S. Bell of Buffalo, Iowa, and nine grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Howard Bell home at Columbus Junction, with members of the Masonic order assisting. The Rev. V. A. Bloomquist was in charge. Burial was at the Columbus City cemetery.