Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-10-13
Deaths During the Week
MAJOR H. NJ. BELL.

! MAJOR H. NJ. BELL.
| Major Henderson N. Bell died a
$3.50 o'clock last Monday afternoon q
his home in this city, corner of Fred
erick and Lewis streets. after an Hines
dating from July. 1896. The funers
took place from Trinity Episcopa
church Wednesday afternoon, the ser
vices being conducted by the rector
Rev. w. Q. Hullihen. in the presenc
of large cOncourss of friends AIT
relatives. The following well known
gentlemen offlciated as pallbearers
Active-Edward Echols, H. NJ. Nc
Iihany. W. P. Tams. Lyman Chalkley
Arista Hoge, J. Mason Miller. il.
Henry w. Holt and Rev. DR.. Georg
W. Finley, the last named representing
Stonewall Jackson Camp.
Honorary-A. F. Kinney, T. G. Ed
er, Benz. Blackford and P. H. Trout
representing the vestry of Trinity Epis
cOpal church; William A. Burke, Will
liam L. Lushbau2h, J. N. Mcfarland
and ]. Howard Wayt, representing
the Masonic fraternity.
Major Bell was born in this, Angus
ia county, in July, 1926, and was
therefore 70 years of age. He was the
the son of James Bell, high sheriff Of
the county. His great grand father,
VIM. Bell, came to this country in
1873 from ireland. Deceased was edu
Gated at Washington and Lee Univer-
sity, then Washington College, where
he graduated in 1847. He studied law
under Judge L. P. Thompson and later
formed partnership with w. A.
Hartman, which was only severed by
death. In the civil war Major Bell
was commissioned as quartermaster
and placed on duty in this city. In
1869 be was commissioned major.
At the close of the war Major Bell
again began the practice of bis profess
sion forming partnership with Gen
eral John Echols and r. H. Catlett,
the firm name being Echols, Bell &
Catlett. This was strong team and
Major Bell is the last of the three, Gen.
Echols having died in the spring of
1886, and Mr.. Catlett in the spring of
1898. In 1869 Major Bell was elected
to the Legislature serving in the house
with Major Marshall Hanger and was
in the Capitol building when it gave
way sustaining broken arm and re-
ceiving cut on his head.
He was an enthusiastic Mason and
q consistent member of Trinity
church.
In 1852 he married Miss Anne M.
Together they lived happily
until 1885 when death separated them
leaving husband, two sons and one
viz: Richard P. Bell, Hen
1erson M. Bell, Jr., and Mrs. Gilpin
Wilson.
A year or so after the death of his
irst wife Major Bell married Mr..
Martha V. Timberlake, of Charles
Town, W. Va, who survives him. He
s also survived by one sister, Mrs.
Margaret y. Young.
The deceased lived busy and sue
;essful life and was always alive to the
Of doing something for
stanton. In everything be undertook
le brought forth success. His death
will be mourned by a score OF acquain-
;ances both at home and abroad. Peace
% his ashes.
MRS S. L. VAN METER.
The sad intelligence has been receiv-
I'd here of the death of Mrs. s. L. Van
Meter which occurred last Saturday at
she home of her bus band in Lexington,
KY, aged 81 years. Deceased was a
native of this county, being a daugh-
Ter of Geo. w. Swoope. She was a
graduate of the Mary Baldwin Semi
nary and was a lady Of many charm
ing qualities. Her illness must have
been of short duration, as it has been
but brief time since The SPECTATOR
received an interesting letter from her
in which she left the impression that
she was in good health and enjoying
life. She has numerous friends in Au-
xusta, whose hearts will be saddened
by the announcement of her death. A
loving husband and four children sur
vive her. The interment was in Lex
ington on Sunday last.
MISS M. J. WAYT.
Miss Margaret J. Wayt died last
Sunday morning at the home of her
brother, DR.. N. Wayt on East Main
street, aged ~ years. The funeral took
place Monday morning from DR..
Wayt's residence, Rev. DR.. A. M.
Fraser, of the First Presbyterian
conducting the services. The
were: w. P. Tams, Arista
Hoge, Robert NJ. Guy, P. E. Wilson,
Chas. A. Holt, J. N. Mcfarland. DR..
F. M. Hanger and W. G. Marshall.
Deceased was born in Waynesboro and
was the eldest member of her family,
j. Howard Wayt, another brother, also
survives together with other near rela-
tives. The interment was in Thorn
rose cemetery.
D.~,.~