Eli Frank Bell (1850-1938)

BELL, MICHAELSON, JONDAL, JONDAHL, HEGLAND, SANDVEN, SMITH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/2/2024 at 15:04:35

From Story City Herald January 20, 1938 (page 1)

COL. E. F. BELL DIED IN MICHIGAN

Once Famous Roland Man Reached High Age of 86

E. Frank Bell, 87, for many years a farmer and well known resident of northwest Story county, died Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Obed Sandven at Muskegon, Michigan.

Funeral services were held at Muskegon Tuesday and it is thought he will be buried in Roland.

Mr. Bell was a native of Virginia, but came to Iowa and Story county as a young man and was married to Miss Betsey Michaelson*, daughter of a pioneer Howard township family in 1876. They located first in Nevada where Mr. Bell was an instructor in the high school. From there they went to Scranton, where he was for a few years superintendent of the schools.

Returning to Roland they located on the old Michaelson homestead, a mile west and half mile south of Roland, where they made their home and raised a family of four daughters and one son. Following the death of Mrs. Bell in 1919, the home was broken up and Mr. Bell left the community where he had lived so many years and was so well known and respected.

He spent some years traveling thru the south and lecturing, but of more recent years had lived with his daughter in Michigan.

The first daughter, Edith, born while they lived in Nevada, died in early life; the next two daughters, Mrs. E. P. Jondal and Mrs. M. J. Hegland died after marriage and he is survived by the daughter, Mrs. Obed Sandven at Muskegon and another Mrs. Donald Smith and a son Floyd Bell in St. Paul.

During his years in Roland he not only conducted the farm but was an auctioneer of some prominence, was active in politics and public affairs and especially in matters pertaining to the educational work of the community. For several years he conducted a Roland department in the old weekly Representative, known as the Roland Rocket, using the name Hans Hustler.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Eli Frank Bell married Helen "Ellen" Matilda Michaelson on 22 March 1876 in Story County, Iowa. Helen's mother was Betsy (Simons) Michaelson so that's is where the confusion lies.