James Bell Sr.

BELL, THOMPSON, LESTER, EYLER, RUMFORD, BANKS, DARISLAND, THOMPSON

Posted By: Melody Aldrich (email)
Date: 5/27/2026 at 20:58:09

James Bell, Sr.
On Nov. 16th James Bell, Sr., passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Isanc Thompson, at Sterling, Kan.death resulting from cancer of the stomach. The remains were brought to this place and laid to rest by the side of his good wife, who preceded the husband to the better land eight years ago last February. The funeral services were held at the United Presbyterian church, Monday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. S. Pollock.
James Bell was born in county Down, Ireland, and was eighty years of age at his last birthday. He came to America at the age of twenty-one and located in Oakland county, MichIgan, where on Jan. 11th, 1854, he was united in marriage to Eliza Lester. Two years later Mr. and Mrs. Bell came to Iowa and located in Mahaska county, where they resided for thirty-eight years. Eleven children were born to them, four sons and seven daughters. All survive their parents s except the second daughter, who died when a child.
In 1804 the family removed to a farm near Clarion. Shortly afterward Mr. Bell and wife concluded to come to town and spend their remaining days in ease. They had been residents of Clarlon but a few months when Mrs. Bell was injured by falling upon a defective sidewalk, from which she never recovered.
Mr. Bell was a good christian man, having united with the United Presbyterian church in early boyhood. His everyday life was exemplary of his christian faith and was always consistent with that which he thought to be upright and honorable. Mr. Bell was a man universally respected by his neighbors and friends and held him the highest esteem by all. His PR health began to fall him about five years ago, but not until three weeks ago was he compelled to take to his rbed. He made his home with his 3,children and had been in Kansas just 30 a year when the summons came.
Mrs. John McKaln of Weyburn, Canada, and Joe Bell of Sterling, at Kan., were the only children unable to be present at the funeral. The other children are: Mrs. D. H. Eyler, Mrs. Otto Rumford, William, James and Dave Bell of Clarlon, Mrs. Bert Banks of Woolstock, Mrs. John Darisland of Scranton and Mrs. Isaac Thompson of Sterling, Kan.