William Stephenson Bell (1805-1879)

William Stephenson Bell (1805-1879)

Bell Homestead Mitchell Road, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Shenango U. P. Church Cemetery Neshannock Township Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

D1 William Stephenson Bell, born 12/05/1805 in West Pennsboro Twp, Cumberland County, PA., died 09/27/1879 in Shenango township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania; married 01/18/1827 Margaret Irwin of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, born ca. 1804, died January 26, 1873. Five children.

The home pictured below right is thought to be the original Bell homestead on Mitchell Road, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

William Stephenson Bell

On September 27th, 1879, at his residence in Shenango Township, Mercer County, Pa., William Stephenson Bell, aged 73 years.

It is with no ordinary sense of loss and bereavement that we are called to record the departure of this man of God to the higher life. His long life, spent in this community, had won him a place in the respect and confidence of all who knew him, while in the circle of his most intimate friends he had enthroned himself in their affectionate regard. Naturally quiet and retiring, and unusually modest in the assertion of his religious experience and hopes, he united in a most striking way, in his life, and illustrated therein, the power of undoubted confidence in God and gentleness of personal character. His life as it now stands written, viewed in the light neither of partiality or injustice, but in faithfulness to its history, is a precious inheritance to his family, his community and his church.

For more than forty years he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Neshannock. The confidence of the Christian was his in his last days, and in the hope of a glorious resurrection he departed to be with Jesus, "which is far better".

He left one son and two daughters to mourn his loss, which they must find severe, but in which they are not alone, for the Father is with them.

We feel that we not saying too much, - although conscious of a love and veneration that might swerve us, - when we add that the grace of God has added to the revenue of His glory by the life of Christian stability which He enabled His servant to live and the confidence which it gave him in his last hours.

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the Old Men's Class, of which he was a member.

IN MEMORIAM.

Whereas, It has seemed good to an Allwise Providence, to remove by death from among us Mr. William S. Bell, who was one of the first five who organized this class, twenty-five years ago, and who has been a constant and consistent member, therefore,
     Resolved, That in his death this class has lost a faithful, liberal and Christian member, and one who truly loved the house of God.
     Resolved, That we humbly bow to the will of God, recognizing his warning voice, calling those of us who remain to more earnestness and zeal in the Master's work.
     Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the beloved family and friends, prayerfully commending them to the covenant-keeping God.  J.M.M.

Children of William Stephenson Bell and Margaret Irwin:

E1 William Steven Bell, born 10/9/1827 Mercer County, Pennsylvania; died 02/01/1872. Buried Unity Presbyterian Cemetery, Greenfield, Pennsylvania; married Rebecca Love, born 02/16/1832 Ohio, Died 05/12/1908. Buried Unity Presbyterian Cemetery, Greenfield, PA.

E2 Esther Bell (Guthrie), born 1829, died 12/29/1878.

E3 Eliza Jane Bell, born 1831; married October 23, 1851 Benjamin Love, born February 13, 1825, died October 29, 1861.

E4 John Calvin Bell, born 01/29/1843, died 02/27/1912; married 01/16/1866 Susan Thompson.

F1 Robert T. Bell, born ca. 1869; Lived in Shenango, Mercer, PA per 1880 Federal Census.

F1 William S. Bell, born ca. 1874 Lived in Shenango, Mercer, PA per 1880 Federal Census.

F1 Rebecca M. Bell, born ca. 1874 Lived in Shenango, Mercer, PA per 1880 Federal Census.

E5 Caroline Steen Bell, born 1850, died 03/07/1910; married William H. Gilkey sometime before 1879.