Families of Peter Berner Bell
PETER BERNER BELL was born November 28, 1808 in Kentucky,456 and died August 14, 1876 in Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa.456, 3856 He is buried in Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis, Des Moines, Iowa.456, 3856
He married (1) HARRIET HOUSTON on August 23, 1832 in Morgan County, Illinois,456, 4635 daughter of ELIZABETH PURDY and CALEB HOUSTON. She was born May 4, 1816,456 and died April 27, 1846.456 She is buried in Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis, Des Moines, Iowa.456
He married (2) ZERVIAH HOUSTON on March 21, 1848 in Lee County, Iowa,3434 daughter of ZERVIAH FIELDS and JOHN HOUSTON. She was born July 13, 1821 in New Hampshire,33 and died May 31, 1874.1505 She is buried in Denmark Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa.1505, 456
Children of HARRIET HOUSTON and PETER BERNER BELL:
- SARAH LOUISE BELL, b. 1838, Illinois; m. JOSEPH F. HOUSTON on June 30, 1858 in Yellow Springs Township, Des Moines, Iowa3404, 1853; d. October 3, 1899, Watertown, Codington, South Dakota.8568
Personal Information
- Peter Berner Bell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kossuth, Iowa.3856
Work History
Obituaries
Burlington Hawk-Eye, June 11, 18741505
DIED.
BELL—On the 30th of May, 1874, after an illness of several years, with unwonted pains and sufferings, Mrs. Zerviah H. Bell, of Kossuth, Iowa, wife of Mr. Peter Bell, aged 53 years.
Mrs. Bell was a daughter of the late Deacon John Houston, of Denmark, was born in Lyndeborough, N. H., and moved to Iowa in 1843, with her parents and family.
Mrs. Bell was a professor of religion from her youth, was a Christian of strong faith and bright hope, of pure and exemplary life, and was a kind and faithful wife. To know her well was to love her dearly. In all her long and painful illness, she was cheerful and resigned to her Heavenly Father's will, and was willing to stay and suffer, or go, as He might elect.
Her remains were taken to Denmark and now repose beside those of her parents. The memory of her is sweet.
Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, August 24, 18763856
IN MEMORIAM.
The death of Peter B. Bell, Esq., which occurred at Mt. Pleasant, on the 14th inst., has removed from among us one of the early and honored citizens of this county. Born in 1808, in Kentucky, he left his native state at the age of eighteen to seek his fortunes in Illinois, where he settled in Beardstown and engaged in milling. In 1837 he removed to the territory of Iowa, and entered a valuable tract of land in what is now Yellow Springs township of this county. In 1845 he removed to this city where, for ten years, he was the faithful and successful superintendent of the Sunderland mills, and gained the reputation of being one of the best millers in the state. But his close application made it necessary for him to retire from business in 1855, greatly to the regret of all concerned. On the farm health was restored, and he engaged with more than usual success in raising and feeding stock, often making the characteristic remark that he knew no easier way of shipping his crops. A good prophet of the times and a close observer of the eastern markets, he was never in a hurry to sell, nor frightened by the stories of stock dealers, and he seldom failed to get the best figures of the season.
Politically, Mr. Bell was a whig, and afterwards a republican, believing these to be the best exponents of our government and the promoters of all true reforms. Though a Kentuckian by birth, he was a strong anti-slavery man and an ardent supporter of the administration during the late war, often saying that he had seen enough in early life of the evils of slavery. In the midst of an active business life he did not forget the higher claims of Christ and the church. Especially was this seen in his later years, and his relations with the Presbyterian church of Kossuth, of which he was during all his residence there a prominent member, and, for several years, the beloved superintendent of the Sunday school. Aspiring to no honors, but rather shrinking from publicity, and depreciating his own gifts he, however, fulfilled all his duties with general satisfaction. Preserving to the last a keen sympathy and love for the young, and winning theirs in return, he was enabled to exert a saving influence upon many, and often spoke with heartfelt pleasure of the humble part he had taken in revival seasons. "Perhaps I have been the means of leading some to the Savior," he has said more than once.
In the autumn of 1875, he received injuries which compelled him to relinquish his active habits, and he sank into deep depression of spirits. The Turkish baths, in Milwaukee, were resorted to with temporary benefit, but soon after his return he relapsed into melancholy, and it was thought best to remove him to Mr. Pleasant Insane Retreat, as the surest means of recovery. While there he won universal love and esteem, and hopes were entertained of his entire restoration.
On the 11th inst., the Hon. William Harper, an old friend and neighbor, paid him a visit, and found his mind clear. He felt happy, and said he had every possible comfort, and talked over all his business with perfect accuracy. He had had slight chills and complained of a pain about the heart, but no serious fears were awakened. On the evening of the 14th the physician visited his room and found him in usual health, but in a few minutes he was seized with apoplexy of the heart and "was not, for God took him." So in the good providence of God came "light at the evening time" to one, who, during a long life had learned to look at "those things which are unseen and eternal."
The remains were brought to this city to await the arrival of a son recently returned from Asia and a daughter from Kansas, and on Saturday last were carried to Kossuth for interment, where appropriate services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. A. Scott, from Philippians 1:21. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." A large concourse was in attendance and participated in the last office of respect to one who had been known only to be loved.
Census Records
| Date | Location | Enumerated Names |
|---|---|---|
| November 5, 18501704 | Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa |
|
| June 12, 18601703 | Yellow Springs Township, Des Moines, Iowa |
|
| July 22, 18701705 | Yellow Springs Township, Des Moines, Iowa |
|
