Ellen Grace (Williams) Bell (1845 - 1921)

Born 25 Nov 1845 in Hanna, Henry County, Illinois

Ancestors

Wife of George Washington Marshall — married 9 Dec 1858 in Henry County, Illinois

Wife of Gilbert Alexander Bell — married 25 Dec 1866 in Henry County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1921 at age 75 in Derby, Sedgwick County, Kansas

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Biography

Ellen Grace Williams was born in Hanna, Henry County Illinois on November 23, 1843[1] to John T and Sophia H (Paddleford) Williams. The 1850 census shows that she was the middle of three sisters; and that her father was born in Vermont and was working as a carpenter in Illinois, while her mother was born in Maryland.[2] Ellen's mother died when she was 12, and her father the following year. According to one descendant, George Washington Marshall was given custody of Ellen. When Ellen's father died, George was only 18; a little more than two years later (December 9, 1858) he married her.[3]

The 1860 census of Colona, Henry County, Illinois[4] shows Ellen and GW living on a farm between that of GW's mother and father-in-law and that of his sister Lucy Middleham and brother-in-law William Middleham and their family.

The Marshall Family Bible[5] shows the date of birth of their first daughter, Rosa (October 5, 1860), but not their second, Frankie Emma. Perhaps GW left for Nevada and California prior to the birth of Frankie. Henry County marriage license records[6] show that Ellen Marshall married Gilbert Bell on Christmas day, 1866. The 1870 census of Galva, Henry County[7] shows Gilbert and Ellen Bell along with 2-year old E. E. Bell, 9-year old Rosa Marshall and 8-year old “Frank” Marshall. That Frankie Marshall was Ellen and GW’s daughter is verified by a 1929 letter from a son of Rosa’s, George Stanbro, by Frankie’s marriage license, which has the names of her parents, and by census records that show her last name as Marshall.

Gilbert and Ellen had one son, shown as “E. E.” in the 1870 census, “Freddie” in the 1880 census and Ollie E in later census records.[8,9] Based on US and Kansas State census records, Ollie was born in May, 1868 in Henry County, IL. By 1880 the family was living in Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska and Gilbert’s occupation is listed as “teaming”.[8] The 1900 census[10] shows Gilbert and Ellen living in Canton, Kingman, Kansas; the 1910 census in Beaver, Oklahoma[11] and the 1920 census in Sumner County Kansas.[12] Ellen died in Derby, Kansas on April 7, 1921.[13]

Obituary (source unknown)

Death of Aged Woman

Ellen Williams was born November 25, 1943, in Henry County, Illinois, and died April 7, 1921, at the age of 77 years, 4 months and 15 days. She was the daughter of J. T. and Sophia Williams. She was united in marriage to G. W. Marshall in 1858. To this union were born three children, Rosa, who preceded her in death last February, Eddie, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Frankie Cherry of Derby, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Gilbert Bell in 1868. Th this union were born two children, Perlie, who died in infancy, and Ollie E. of Waco, Kansas. In 1884 the family came to Derby, Kansas. Soon after coming here she united with the Presbyterian church, of which she remained a faithful member until death. She leaves to mourn her death her husband, one sister, Mrs. Allie Quillen, of Elk Creek, Nebraska, who attended the funeral and burial, one daughter, one son, 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Thus she was the head of five generations.

She was a kind and loving wife and mother, and always had a word of cheer for every one. Her place can never be filled.

Funeral services were held from the Derby Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by the Rev. A.G. Wallace, former pastor of the church. Interment was in the Derby cemetery. The funeral and burial were attended by a large concourse of friends and neighbors. Appropriate music was furnished by a quartette composed of Mesdames John Brown and Chrester Wake and Messrs. Grant Brownley and Albert Lauber. Miss Ethel Brownley presided at the piano. The pall bearers were T, D. Wardell, Adolph Goldner, Charlie Waugh, Ed Sleat, Seth High and Ed Goodin. --- A Friend.

Notes and references

1. Ellen’s gravestone shows the year of her birth as 1845; US census records of 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920, show 1842, 1840, 1845, 1844, Nov. 1842, 1847 and 1844 respectively. Nearly all trees on RootsWeb and Ancestry show November 23, 1843 as her date of birth.

2. US Census, Henry, Illinois, October 25, 1850

3. Marriage license of GW Marshall and Ellen Williams, Henry County Illinois, Dec. 9, 1858. [Record of license available online at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXG9-7DW. Actual marriage license has signature of the Clerk of the Court on Dec 4, signifying permission to marry, and Dec 9, date of marriage.]

4. US Census, Colona, Henry, Illinois, Sept 1, 1860.

5. Family Bible of Stephen and Lucinda Marshall, likely given to GW Marshall, now in possession of Charles Marshall Barnes.

6. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, online database, http://www2.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html.

7. US Census, Galva, Henry, Illinois, 1870.

8. US Census, Beatrice, Gage, Nebraska, 1880.

9. The 1900 census shows that Ellen had three children, all alive at that time. The three are thus Rosa, Freddie and Ollie E. The 1910 census showing that she had only two children, of which only one is alive, must be in error, as all three were still alive in 1910.

10. US Census, Canton, Kingman, Kansas, 1900.

11. US Census, Beaver, Beaver, Oklahoma, 1910.

12. US Census, Gore, Sumner, Kansas, 1920.

13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14355755/grace-ellen-bell