Bell Family History

Bell Descendants

Origins of the Bell Name

Susan (Moore) and William Bell

Rose (Blair) and George Bell

Mabel (Gromotka) and Leonard Bell

Eunice (Leuer) and Harold Bell

Mary Ann (Bell) and Howard Dahlheimer

Joyce (Klatte) and Donald (Pete) Bell

Bell Descendants

Origins of the Bell Name

The Bell name is Scottish in origin. According to www.clanbell.org/usa/history.php.

The Scottish Bells settled in the southwest of Scotland not later than the early 1100s, more likely the late 1000s, and became typical Borderers (between England and Scotland) in pursuit of their survival. They populated the 40 square mile area now called Middlebie Parish in Dumfriesshire where more than thirty major families and their numerous sub-families have been identified. There is an old Scots saying, "As numerous as the Bells of Middlebie."

The spelling of the name seems to have varied with the recorder of the event as it ranged from Bel, Bellis, Belle, Beall, Beal, Beale and Bale to Bell. We have found many families whose name has been spelled Bell who have changed the spelling to Beall, Beal and Beale.

The name may derive from the French ‘Bel,’ meaning fair or handsome. Since the derivation is descriptive, common ancestry cannot be assumed for all those bearing the surname.

Both the 18th and 19th centuries saw a continuing exodus from the Family lands of Dumfriesshire. Many Bells went to foreign lands where they continued to live in concert with the clan ways they practiced in Scotland. Bells were found living in Germany, Russia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, the Netherlands and what is now the United States.

Susan (Moore) and William Bell

Susan Moore and William Bell were born in Ohio.

They were married in Ashland County, OH on 3 Aug 1854. He was about 29 and she was about 15.

Following is a map from 1860 showing the Midwestern part of the United States:

Source: www.eduplace.com

Following is a modern map of Ohio showing the location of Ashland County:

Source: www.ashlandcounty.org

Susan (Moore) and William Bell had three children, Phoebee, Sarah and John, between 1856 and 1859 in Ohio.

They appear with their three children in the 1860 census in Londonville, Hanover Township, Ashland County, OH.

1860 Census - Londonville, Hanover Township, Ashland County, Ohio:

Bell, William, age 35 (=1825), farming, value of personal estate $100, born OH

..., Susan, wife, age 23 (=1837), born OH

..., Phebe, dau, age 4 (=1856), born OH

..., Sarah, dau, age 3 (=1857), born OH

..., John, son, age 1 (=1859), born OH

Following is a modern map of Ashland County in Ohio, showing Londonville and Hanover Township:

Source: www.ashlandcounty.org

Susan (Moore) and William Bell’s fourth child, George (Leonard’s father), was born between 1861 and 1863, in Ohio (or according to some family members, perhaps in McHenry, Illinois).

William died sometime between 1860 and 1870, as he does not appear with his family in the 1870 census. It is possible, given the time period, that he may have died in the Civil War. Assuming this to be the case, sometime between 1863 and 1870, George’s widow, Susan, and family, moved to Wabasha, MN.

Following is a copy of the 1870 census in Wabasha, MN:

1870 Census - Wabasha, Minnesota:

The following families are living in the same household:

Bell, Susan, age 35 (=1835), born OH, keeping house with Moore family

..., Pheobee, age 14 (=1856), born OH

..., Sarah, age 12 (=1858), born OH

..., John, age 10 (=1860), born OH

..., George, age 7 (=1863), born IL

Moore, John, age 43 (=1825), born OH, Saloon keeper, value of real estate $10, value of personal estate $1000

..., Martha, age 18 (=1852), born Missouri

..., Susan, age 9 (=1861), born Missouri

(According to the 1900 census, Martha was a niece of Susan, so perhaps John Moore is a brother of Susan.)

Susan Bell and family also appear in the 1880 census in Wabasha, MN:

1880 Census - Wabasha, Minnesota:

The following people are listed in the same household:

Moore, John, age 54 (=1826), widower, born IN, parents born IL, Labourer

Moore, Martha J., daughter of John Moore, age 27 (=1853), born Missouri, parents born IN

Bell, Susan, age 35? (should be 45, =1845), sister of John Moore, widow, born OH, parents born IL, keeping house

Weston, Sarah (dau of Susan Bell), niece of John Moore,, widow?, age 21 (=1859), born OH, father born IN, mother born OH

Bell, John, age 20 (=1860), (son of Susan Bell), neph of John Moore, born OH, Labourer, was married (but no spouse listed), father born IN*, mother born OH

Bell, George, age 19 (=1861), (son of Susan Bell), neph of John Moore, born IL, Labourer, father born IN*, mother born OH

Note on IN*: don't believe this is correct based on prior census

Bell, Louise, niece of John Moore (not dau of Susan Bell but perhaps some other relation), born MN, father born England, mother born Ireland

Susan Bell and family also appear in the 1900 census in Wabasha, MN:

1900 Census - Wabasha, Minnesota:

Living on Main Street:

Bell, Susan, head, born Sep 1838, age 62, born OH, father born PA, mother born NY, can read/write/speak English

..., Vebi, dau, born Jul 1860, age 40, born OH, father born PA*, mother born OH, married 16 years (but husband not listed), 6 children, 5 living

Note: is Vebi really Pheobee born in 1856?

..., John, son, born May 1862, age 36, born OH, father born PA*, mother born OH, married 20 years (but wife not listed)

*Note on PA: not sure this is correct based on prior census records

Moore, Martha, niece, born Apr 1855, age 45, single, born MN, parents born OH

Rose (Blair) and George Bell

Leonard’s father, George, son of William and Susan Bell, was born between 1861 and 1863, in either Ohio or Illinois.

Rose Blair (George Bell’s wife) was born in 1873 in Minnesota. Her parents Mary (Croteau) and John Blair were born in French Canada. The Blair name originates from Scotland, but many Scots immigrated to England, Ireland, Canada and the US. The Croteau name is French.

In July 1890, George and Rose were married in Buffalo County, WI. He was about 27 and she was about 17.

George and Rose Blair – in their later years

Following is a modern map of Wisconsin showing the location of Buffalo County, WI:

Source: www.google.com

Between 1891 and 1900 George and Rose had four children, William, Marie, Sarah (Sadie) and Rose (Anne). All were born in Minnesota.

no photo

William Marie Sarah (Sadie) Rose (Anne)

George, Rose and their four children appear in the 1900 census in Wabasha, MN.

1900 Census - Wabasha, Minnesota:

Living on Fourth Street South:

Bell, George, head, born Jul 1862, age 37, born OH, parents born OH, day laborer, could not read or write, renting home

Bell, Rosa M, wife, born Apr 1873, age 27, born MN, parents born Canada, could read and write

Bell, William G, son, born Oct 1891, age 8, born MN

Bell, Marie E, dau, born Feb 1893, age 7, born MN

Bell, Sara E., dau, born Nov 1894, age 5, born MN

Bell, Rosa A, dau, born Aug 1898, age 1, born MN

Following is a modern map of Minnesota showing the location of Wabasha County, Minnesota and its relation to Buffalo and Pepin Counties in Wisconsin.

Source: www.google.com

Sometime between 1900 and 1902, George, Rose and family appear to have moved to nearby Pepin, WI. Their daughter, Rosella (Babe), was born in Pepin in 1902.

Between 1904 and 1906, they appeared to have lived in Buffalo County, WI. Their son, Leonard, was born in 1904, and daughter, Eunice, in 1906, in Buffalo County, WI.

Rosella (Babe) Leonard, about 1930 Eunice

Between 1906 and 1910, George, Rose and family appear to have moved back to Pepin, WI. The family appears in the 1910 census in Pepin, WI.

1910 Census - Pepin, Wisconsin:

Bell, George W., head, age 48 (=1862), married 20 years, he and parents born in Ohio

Bell, Rose M, wife, age 36 (=1874), 7 children, born MN, parents born in French Canada

Bell, Mora A (=Marie), dau, age 17 (=1893), born MN

Bell, Sara A, dau, age 15 (=1895), born MN

Bell, Anna V (=Rose?), dau, age 12 (=1898), born MN

Bell, Madelina R (=Rosella), dau, age 8 (=1902), born WI

Bell, Lenard F, son, age 5 (=1905), born WI

Bell, Verice? (=Eunice), age 4 (=1906), born WI

The family then appears in the 1920 census in Hiland Township in Hand County, SD.

1920 Census – Hiland Township, Hand County, South Dakota:

Bell, George, age 53 (=1867), born Ilinois, father born US, mother born US, farmer

Bell, Rose, age 43 (=1877), born MN, father and mother born in Canada

**Note: ages and places don't match with previous census birth data

Bell, Leonard, age 15 (=1905), born WI

Bell, Bernice (?=Eunice), age 13 (=1907), born Iowa

**Note: Eunice born in WI in prior census

Following is a modern map of South Dakota showing the location of Hand County:

Source: www.google.com

The family then appears in the 1930 census in Minnetonka, MN.

1930 Census - Minnetonka, Minnesota:

Bell, George W., rents home for value of $20, age 63 (=1867), born MN, parents born in WI, working as a caretaker for a private family

Bell, Rose M., wife, age 62 (=1868), born WI, parents born Canada (French)

(married about 1891)

Thompson, Rose M, grandaughter, age 12, born MN, parents born WI

Rose and George Bell lived in St. Paul (Marshall Street) and in Hopkins.

In 1949, George Bell died in Ramsey County, MN.

Soon after George’s death, his wife Rose moved to California to be near her two youngest daughters, Babe and Eunice.

Eunice, Rose, Babe (Rosella)

Later, Rosa Anne (Bell) Roussin, another daughter of Rose and George, also moved to California, as did Rosa Anne’s only daughter, Rosemary.

In 1952, Rose Bell (George’s wife), died in Los Angeles, CA.

Mabel (Gromotka) and Leonard Bell

Leonard Bell was born in 1904 in Buffalo County, WI.

Leonard’s wife, Mabel Gromotka, was born in 1907 in North Dakota, possibly in or near Williston, Williams County, ND.

Mabel’s parents, Theresa (Gritz) and John Gromotka were both born in Minnesota, and both sets of her grandparents were born in German Poland. For more information on this family, click here.

Leonard and Mabel were married 18 Oct 1926 in the Basilica in Minneapolis, MN. Following is a photo taken in about 1928.

In 1928, their first child, a son, Harold, was born in Anoka, MN.

Leonard, Mabel and Harold appear in the 1930 census in Waverly, MN:

1930 US Census - Waverly, Minnesota:

Bell, Leonard F., head, age 24 (=1906), renting home value of $15, married at age 21, born in WI, parents born in MN, working as a chauffeur for an Express Company

Bell, Mable T., Wife, age 22 (=1908), married at age 19, born ND, parents born MN

Bell, Harold, L., son, age 1 9/12 (=1928), born MN

In 1931, their second child and only daughter, Mary Ann, was born in Waverly, Hennepin County, MN.

In 1934, their third and last child and second son, Donald was born in Waverly, Hennepin County, MN.

Following is a family photo taken about 1936:

Back- Leonard, Mabel with son Don (Pete)

Front- Mary Ann and Harold

During the depression years of the 1930’s, the family moved around a lot in order for Leonard to find work. He worked a variety of jobs (truck driver, gas station attendant, farm hand, Grand View Lodge) and the family lived in a number of different places, including: Cedar, Constance, Nisswa, a farm in Mound, Dray Line in Buffalo, upstairs above a store in Waverly, a house in Nolan, at St Boni on the Chladeck Farm, at Mrs. Barth’s farm, in Hinckley on a farm, at a gas station in Navarre, Saga Hill, Lake Independence in Maple Plain, Larsan Farm in Maple Plain, and Scheer Farm.

Eventually they found a permanent home in 1941-1942. Leonard purchased a farm now located at 52 Horseshoe Trail (originally was part of Hamel but is now located in Corcoran, MN). Following is a photo of the farmhouse:

Following are maps showing the location of the farm:

Leonard and Mabel’s children, Harold, Mary Ann and Donald (Pete) attended school in a one room school house just down the road near the farm.

Leonard died on 9 Sep 1972 and was buried at St. Anne’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Hamel, MN.

Mabel lived on the farm on Horseshow Trail until 1976 and then moved to a small house at 36 Hamel Road in the city of Hamel. She lived there until her death on 14 Feb 1992, and was then buried at St. Anne’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Hamel, MN.

Mabel Bell

Eunice (Leuer) and Harold Bell

Leonard and Mabel’s first son, Harold, married Eunice Leuer. They had four boys: David, Douglas, Rodney and William. Following is a photo of the family taken in 1987 on the 80^th Birthday of Harold’s mother, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell.

Front: girlfriend of David, David Bell, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell, Harold Bell, William Bell with Rodney’s son, Matthew

Back: Mary (wife of Rodney), Eunice (Leuer) Bell, Rodney Bell

(Douglas Bell not pictured)

Mary Ann (Bell) and Howard Dahlheimer

Leonard and Mabels daughter, Mary Ann, married Howard Dahlheimer. They had three girls: Lynn, Jane and Kay. Following is a photo of the family taken in 1987 on the 80^th Birthday of Mary Ann’s mother, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell.

Front: Jane (Dahlheimer) Heinrich, Howard Dahlheimer, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell, Mary Ann (Bell) Dahlheimer, Melissa Schroeder, Kay Dahlheimer

Back: Joe Heinrich, Lynn (Dahlheimer) Schroeder, Derrick Schroeder, Dan Schroeder

For brief life stories of Mary Ann and Howard, click here:

http://dahlheimer-bebeau.com/Bell/DahlheimerHowardMaryAnn.htm

Joyce (Klatte) and Donald (Pete) Bell

Leonard and Mabel’s son, Donald (Pete), married Joyce Klatte. They had three boys: Nicholas (Nick), Peter and Eric. Following is a photo of the family taken in 1987 on the 80^th Birthday of Pete’s mother, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell.

Front: Joyce (Klatte) Bell, Mabel (Gromotka) Bell, Donald (Pete) Bell

Back: Eric Bell, Peter Bell, Nick Bell

For more photos of Joyce and Pete and their family, click here:

http://www.dahlheimer-bebeau.com/Photowebsites/BellPeteJoyce/