Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-04-17
UNCLE: JAS
BELL IS dead
Jasper N. Bell, Long Time
Resident in Bells Mill
Community, is
Dead.
WAS PIONEER SETTLER
Came HereWhen Child With
Parents in Year
NJ. III 1882.
WAS PIONEER SETTLER

known all over Hamilton county a
THE tall hickory of the Boone" dice
a! his home near the old Bells mil
site. some fourteen miles southwest o
this city. at . o'clock Friday morning
His death followed an illness of twt
months. though for about a year pas
lie had been in failing health.
Funeral services were held Sun
day afternoon at ~ 80 from the HON,
and ut , O'Clock from the Christian
church i'm this city. Interment was
in Graceland cemetery. The Rev. w
b. CrewdSon, of Council Bluffs, was
in charge.
Jasper n. Bell was about So years OF
age. When child, he was brought to
Hamilton county by his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Benjamin Bell. in 1852, since
which time-7O years-he had been a
resident of the county. He came of
good old pioneer stock and had been
prominent in the social and political
life of the county for more than fifty
years. He had lived the most of his
life in the home mt the old Bells mill
site and for many years had been
president of the Hamilton County Old
Settlers association. which annually
held picnic in the Bells mill grove
rear the Bell home. Uncle Jas" is
survived by his faithful wife, who
always assisted him in welcoming the
crowds of old settlers and others who
made the annual summer pilgrimage to
BELLS mill upon the occasion of the
cid settlers picnic. Politically, Mr..
most of his active life had been prOmi-
rent in its councils in this county and
district.
In the passing of Mr.. Bell, great
ard widespread regret will he felt all
over Hamilton county. He and his
good wife were loved and respected
wherever known and were of the typi-
nsi hospiable type of pioneer SO rapid
ly passing.
When he Caught Deer.
4 glimpse Of the life OF Mr.. Bell
and Of his character may he found in
the following incident Of his capture
Of a deer, back in the early fifties when
he was hut thirteen years of age. re-
lated in the last history of Hamilton
county:
JAS was thirteen years old at this
time and it was his business. as it is
that Of many boys. even at this day. to
prepare and bring in the kindling with
which to start the morning fire. 1t
was late in the fall and ice had frozen
Tor four or five feet along each side
of Boone river, but the center was
open. Jas had forgotten to get in his
kindling Mt night and was ordered out
ii brl just mt daybreak to supply 1t.
He ran ont to the wood pile without
dressing himself and was clothed only
IN his night clothes. When reaching
the wood pile, he CHANGED to look up
The hill toward the house and saw an
antlered deer. He forgot his undressed
condition and ran back to the house,
calling the grey hound and bull dog.
Returning with them. he pointed out
fhe deer to them. No sooner did the
hound see the deer than she went after
II like a shot. and the deer, to escape.
ran down the hill. The bull dog head
ed il off and it plunged into the river
and swan across, hut was unable 10
land on account of the rim OF ice
frozen there. The bull dog plunged IN,
zoo. and seized the deer by the throat
Under. the wafer they Went, then up
aeaill, and fierce struggle took place,
churning the water into a foam. The
dog held on and gradually worried the
deer out while he towcd him toward
the shore upon which young Jasper
stood shoutin at the top of his voice,
"Sick 'em Bull, hold on Bull When
the dog reached the edge OF the ice.
Jas ran ont and taking him by the
short stubby tail, lifted him up and,
taking hold of his hind legs, tried to
draw him onto the ice. yelling all the
time. Hold him fast Bull" All TINS
noise and racket brought Uncle Bennle
Ia the scene and. as the deer was about
worried out and half drowned ana was
held close to the ice by Uncle Jas.
and the dog. he took it by the horns
End killed it, When it ceased TO struS-
gle. he drew it onto the ice. Then,
looking around and discovering Jas. III
lis unclad condition. said, You'd bet
ter get TO the house, boy, or you IL
freeze. JAS then remembered, Tor
The first time. his lack OF proper raj
ment and of course. scampered OH 10
the house double quick. But he de-
clares to this day that he was not bit
cold, nor were his feet frozen by stand
ing on the ice He thinks in his excite