William Robert Bell 1844-1939

BELL, ENNIS, MCBRIDGE, MARLOE, FINIGAN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 12/30/2012 at 16:01:56

Creston News Advertiser
March 23, 1939

W.R. Bell, Civil War Vet, Dies

Funeral Arrangements are Not Completed.

William Robert Bell, 94 one of the three remaining Civil War Veterans in Union County died
at 1:15 o’clock this morning at the veteran’s hospital in Des Moines after an illness of about two months.

The body was returned to the Roland funeral home this afternoon. Completion of funeral
arrangements is pending word from relatives.

Mr. Bell was born Oct. 19, 1844, at Burlington, New Jersey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bell. He married Lavina L. Ennis. He went into service for the Civil war at Davenport on Jan. 2, 1863 and was discharged by that city on Aug. 8, 1865. He served as a private in Company K, 14th Iowa Infantry. Mr. Bell was also a charter member of the T.J. Potter post of the G.A.R. and a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge.)

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Charles H. McBride of Massena, Mrs. C.E. Marloe of
Massena, Mrs. Edna L. Finigan of Ocean Beach, CA. and William R. Bell, Jr. of Chicago.

Mr. Bell was a member of the ME church in Creston and the Odd Fellows lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Bell came to Creston 67 years ago and engaged in a retail harness business.

Mr. Bell died without realizing one of the greatest ambitions of later years, to live to be 100 years old and that year to make by hand his last set of harness, according to Gerald and Ernest Smith in whom the harness shop he worked for a number of years.

He opened the first harness shop in Creston after bringing his equipment overland from
Fontanelle. His original location was on the south side and in those days, the Smiths say, the harness maker’s trade was as important as that of the automobile mechanic today.

For about 15 years Mr. Bell worked for their father, B.F. Smith, the business he started in
1875 after …they still operate the Smith Brothers say. For six years during and following the
World War, Mr. Bell again spent his winters in the Smith Brothers Shop.

“We always called him “Captain” Gerald Smith says. Fishing was his main hobby and he was
very religious, never swearing, smoking or drinking. When exasperated his favorite expression was “my patience.” He would work steady all day and would allow no one to disturb him. He was a real character.”

In his later years Mr. Bell made more than 30 trips to California, sometimes going two or three times during the same winter. He would make the journey by train, traveling alone, and frequently returned to Creston after but a short stay. Even when all his relatives had left this community he insisted on spending most of his time here.

[buried Graceland cemetery]