Obituary of Capt. Frank Bell, 1928 - Wythe Co. VA


CAPT FRANK BELL DIED CHRISTMAS MORNING
 
The people of Farmington and St. Francois County generally were shocked and grieved to learn of 
the death of Capt. Frank Bell which occurred at his home in Farmington at ten o’clock Christmas 
morning. He had been in his usual health up until Monday evening and he and Mrs. Bell had 
driven to DeSoto and spent that afternoon with friends. That evening he felt somewhat 
indisposed, but soon became better and slept soundly throughout night. The next morning while 
planning a drive for the day, he suddenly became ill with a pain in the chest. Mrs. Bell 
summoned neighbors and also called a physician. The end came shortly after the latter arrived. 
Neuralgia of the heart was the cause of death. He had been affected with high blood pressure 
for some time, but no one except the family and his physician knew of this ailment.

Funeral services were held at the Bonne Terre (MO.) M. E. Church yesterday afternoon by his 
pastor, Rev. Wm. Stewart. Interment was in the Bonne Terre cemetery.

The deceased was born in Austinville, Wythe County, Virginia on Dec. 16, 1855, being 73 years 
and nine days of age at the time of his death. His mother died when he was two weeks old and he 
was taken to the home of an aunt who reared him as her very own. In 1880 he came to Missouri 
and located at Bonne Terre where he obtained employment in the mines of St. Joseph Lead Co., 
with which Company he remained continuously until his death, a period of 48 years. Next to F. 
P. Lesser in the mining division, and F. J. Thomure in the railway division, Capt. Bell was the 
oldest employee in terms of years of service of the St. Joseph Lead Co. and its allied 
companies. He had worked at mining in Virginia since he was a mere lad. He began at Bonne Terre 
as a shoveler and worked his way up gradually to that of mining captain. He moved to Flat River 
(MO.) in 1893 where he put down Shaft No. 8 known as Crawley Mine, and he was in charge of this 
mine until it was abandoned in 1912 at which time he moved back to Bonne Terre where he 
continued as a mining captain for some time. At the time of his death he was general yard 
foreman at the Bonne Terre plant. Although he put down two shafts at Crawley and operated this 
mine for 19 years, there was never a serious accident due to falling rock, so careful and 
thorough was he in the supervision of work there. He was always on the job and was greatly 
beloved and trusted by all employees working with and under him.

In 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss. Sarah Gray, daughter of Capt. Geo. W. and Sarah C. 
Gray of Wythe County, Va. To this union six children were born, three of whom died in infancy. 
The wife and mother passed away on Aug. 2, 1917. On April 26, 1919, he was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Elizabeth Highley, who survives him, together with the following children by his former 
marriage: John E. Bell, of Desloge; Reed Bell of St. Louis, and Edith (Mrs. A. J.) Sylvester, 
of New York City. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Frank Sylvester, of New York City,
and Frank Fleming Bell, of Desloge, and one brother, Stephen Bell, of Loughboro, all of whom 
were here for the funeral services.

Capt. Bell many years ago joined the Methodist Church at Flat River. When he moved back to 
Bonne Terre he transferred his membership there and did not change it when he came to 
Farmington to live a few years ago. He was also a member of the A. F. & A.M., I. O. O. F. and 
M. W. A. lodges. The Masons had charges of the services at the cemetery. 

Capt. Bell was not only widely known through out the county, but had an unusually wide circle 
of friends. In fact his acquaintances were practically without exception his warm friends. He 
was always very active in all movements for the betterment of the communities in which he lived.
He took and active interest in political questions and was always active in the support of the 
Republican party with which he affiliated .

The News joins the entire county in mourning the passing of a splendid citizen and a true 
friend. To the bereaved family we extend deepest sympathy 

From the Farmington (MO.) News, dated Dec. 28, 1928

NOTE: Stephen Bell was not actually Frank’s brother, although they may have been related 
otherwise. 


Submitted by H. Edgar Bell, Jr. <edbell@htcomp.net> 

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