Re: Dr and Mrs James R. Bell of Fairfield nebraska

It helps to have a person's name and approximate birth year and birth location when searching for a birth and death record - especially their name.

Mrs. Bell was Mabel M Graham born about 1875 in Dallas County, Iowa.

James Bell is James R. Bell born in Darlington,
England, on 28 April, 1872, parents Thomas Bell and Elizabeth Coats of England.

This information comes from 2 SOURCES:

1940 US CENSUS
Fairfield, Clay, Nebraska
James Bell, 67, b about 1873 in England, naturalized citizen, medical doctor, private practice
Mabl M Bell, 65, wife, born about 1875 in Iowa
Residence in 1935: Same House (this was a question on the 1940 census)


Excerpt from History of Hamilton and Clay Counties Nebraska by George L. Burr:

"Dr. James R. Bell of Fairfield, Nebraska, devoting his attention to medicine and surgery, in which fields his ability is pronounced, was born in Darlington, England, on the 28th of April, 1872, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Coats) Bell, both natives of England, in which country the death of the latter occurred in 1874. In 1881 the father came to the United States and located in Iowa, where he followed the stone mason's trade. When he first arrived in Hamilton county, that state, he had with him a family of eight children and finances amounting to but eight dollars. He soon, however, achieved a great amount of success in the line of his chosen work and purchased some fine land in the county. His farm was recently purchased by his youngest son for three hundred and fifty dollars an
acre. Mr. Bell made Iowa his home until his death in 1908 and for many years previous to that event had been financially independent. He was twice married,his first wife being Elizabeth Coats, by whom he had two children: Mrs. Charles Butler of Blue Earth, Minnesota, her husband being a retired farmer; and Dr. James R., whose name initiates this review. His second marriage was to a widow
having two children by a former marriage and they had six children: Mrs. Alice Brogan of Webster City, Iowa; Elizabeth, who is married and lives at Eagle Grove Iowa; Margaret and Ada, principals of schools in Webster City, Iowa; John, a prosperous and well known farmer of Iowa; and Joseph, who recently bought and resides on the homestead of his father. Throughout his life Mr. Bell was a stanch democrat and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church.

James R. Bell is indebted to the schools of Webster City, Iowa, for his early education. In due time he entered the Ellsworth College at Iowa Falls and on completing his course there and deciding upon a medical career, he entered the Ensworth Medical College at St. Joseph, from which institution he received his M.D. degree in 1907. He began the practice of his profession at Stratton, Nebraska,
where he remained for three and one-half years, at the end of which time he removed to Trenton and there continued in practice for a like number of years. In 1914 Dr. Bell located in Eairfield, where he bought out the practice of Dr. Adam R. Ray, a pioneer of Fairfield who had practiced there for twenty-six years. Dr. Bell has an extensive practice and his thorough knowledge of and ability in his
chosen work is indisputable.

In 1898 Dr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Mabel M. Graham, a native of Dallas county, Iowa, and a daughter of John Graham, a pioneer farmer of that county. To Dr. and Mrs. Bell two sons have been born : Leon E., who is principal of the school at Wynot, and a graduate of the State University; and Forrest E.,attending high school.

Dr. Bell gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He was recently elected mayor of Fairfield. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Consistory, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. Although Dr. Bell's practice is mostly general he does some N-Ray work and in connection with his profession is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, the American Medical Association, and the Republican Valley Medical Association. For some time he served the county society as president and while a resident of Stratton and Trenton was secretary of four counties. Dr. Bell has ever been a close student of his profession, always keeping in touch with the trend of modern research and scientific investigation and for five weeks took a post-graduate course in a Chicago medical school. He has risen to his present success solely through his own eiforts and is justly entitled to the proud American title of self-made man. He has bent every energy to the mastery of the principles of medicine and surgery and is now regarded...etc.