My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James Jefferson Bell was born near Camden, Benton County, Tenn., March 6, 1833. He is a son of James W. and Caroline (Harrison) Bell, and grandson of George Bell. Mrs. Caroline Bell was the daughter of Henry Harrison, a farmer and stock dealer of Sumner County, Tenn. In 1843 James W. Bell removed with his family to Cooper County, Mo., and followed agricultural pursuits for three years. He then moved to Washington County, Ark., and at the end of eighteen years returned to Cooper County,Mo., where he passed the remainder of his active life. He died in 1884, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow now lives with her daughter in Cooper County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Bell were the parents of six sons and six daughters. James J., our subject, grew to manhood in Arkansas, and there married Miss Syrena Neal, of Washington County. Ark., and a native of Tennessee, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Blue) Neal, both natives of Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell have been born two sons and two daughters: William (a farmer), Martha (Mrs. Oric M. Hewlett). Jacob Franklin (a farmer) and Mary Maggie (Mrs. John W. West). Mr. and Mrs. Bell and children are members of the Baptist Church. He spent a number of years engaged in farming and stock raising in Missouri, Colorado and Nebraska, and finally settled in this county in 1867. He has 240 acres of well improved land.

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This family biography is one of 220 biographies included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Newton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Newton County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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