The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-03-18
Obituary.

shall June I, 1881, and grew up amidst
the scenes incident to pioneer life in
the clearings in those early days.
His opportunities for education were
limited in his youth, but in his early
manhood he began to see the advan-
tages of education and availed him
self of every avenue of knowledge,
attending subscription schools at Sink
ing Spring, Belfast and later at Mar
shall. BY diligent study and by read
ing extensively the rare periodical
papers of those times, he acquired in
formation sufficient to enable m to
procure a license to teach schools.
He taught in Pike and Adams coun-
ties with such success that several
schools we're rendered him. he re
turned to the enticing farm labor on
the farm, but recently his home, after
each years school term had ended
On May %, 1856 he was united in
marriage to Miss Susanna Garman,
one of his former pupils, daughter of
Peter and Hannah Garner, of near
Locust Grove, Adams county. he
taught school in the "Spargur Dis
trict" after his marriage and was
accustomed to remark that one of
Uncle Sans brightest boys, Senator
Joseph Benson Foraker owed part of
his greatness to his teaching at that
time. Mr.. Bell prided himself on
having been introduced to aon
James G. Blaine, and on having been
given a late portrait of the senior
s. nator by his beloved pupil. Being
fascinated by farm life and love for
his home he eventually gave up
teaching.
He raised family of ten children,
and realizing the great importance of
knowledge he and his faithful wife
toiled necessarily to give each of
them as many opportunities to acquire
an education as the times and condi
tions would permit, Nine of the ten
children became successful school
teachers as the result of their efforts.
All this time he and his faithful wife
we're making regulations as Jealous
and industrious moral citizens, but
they were wise enough to realize NOR
ality was too slender a thread upon
which to hang their eternal destiny.
Hence they availed themselves of the
opportunity of becoming Christians
during a series of revival meeting
conducted by Rev. Bockman in the
latter eighties, and continued to
affiliate with the Presbyterian Church
until the Death Angel peckoned each
to advance.
Time is too short to state many of
the noble traits which endeared this
Christian to his followmen; yet some
ofthem have them have evoked praise,
on every hand. A prominent Judge
recently remarked to the writer that
he doubted If any man in this section
of Ohio had under such adverse con.
ditions succeeded in accomplishing
so much for his children, both educa
tionally and materially.
he alwas was outspokeu for right
and thought like many of our national
statesman that publicity would re-
dress most wongs,
Mr.. Bell was very lienent with such,
always meeting them half way and
preferring to be imposed upon in
preference to securing redress by
law-knowing there is just God who
rules the universe and who will at
some future time right all wrongs.
He has done many things to lessen
the liability of dissention.
During his recent illness he was
often seen with clasped hands and
lips in the attitude of prayer as has
been his custom since his limbs became
stiff from rheumatism. Although
all that medical aid and patient child
rem and friends could do was done
for him, ne was taken hence. Why?
Just now we can not understand, but
If we emulate his good qualities and
do our Christian duties-sometime-
somewhere in the better land we'll
understand. May God help US to
build anew over the ashes of the past.
Faithful to his conjugal VOWS he
remained the counsel, the father and
the companion of son and daughter
who, with him, kept up and consti-
stuffed the home until March 4, almost
twenty years after death had claimed
the loving wife and mother Two
sons and daughter preceded him,
leaving two sons, five daughters, two
sisters, two brothers and large con-
course of other relatives and friends
to mourn his departure, at the ripe
age of n years, 8 months and 27 days.
Although all mortals make mistakes,
and we know he made some as well as
others, we know from over twenty
years observation of his acts and his