Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

J. E. Bell For the Alabama Baptist
Montgomery, Ala., April 26, 1894
Rev. J. E. Bell was a native Alabamian, born near the line of Butler and Lowndes in 1830. His father was an excellent old Baptist, who died at his son's house in Georgiana two or three years ago, at the age of eighty five. This fact, with bodily vigor and general good health of Bro. J. E. Bell, led us all to think that he too, would reach a good old age. Through his mother he was related to the Burts of Ft. Deposit, an excellent Baptist household.
He joined the church quite young, was at an early age called to the work of the ministry, entered Howard College, was one of its first graduates, and was one among a very small number of young Baptist ministers. He was in great demand, preaching to the Mt. Moriah, Antioch, Forest, Bolling, Greenville, Starlington, Georgiana, Peaglerville, where Prof. J. M. Thigpen was baptized by him, and some other churches in Butler, Ft. Deposit, Mt. Willing and others in Lowndes, Pine Apple in Wilcox, Evergreen and Beulah, in Conecuh, Brewton and Elim, in Escambia and Prattville, in Autauga where his son Joseph, a noble speciman of real manhood, resides. His last pastorates were with the last mentioned church and Georgiana where he resided with much enjoyment among people who loved, trusted and honored him. His abode there was seventeen years. He served that church for many years, with interims by himself proposed. He served Brewton church for fourteen years and Elim for eleven, and disconnected with both of these by his own request.
Bro. Bell was a man much beloved by his churches and all others and even where some occasionally would, for variety, prefer to hear another preach, they would cling to him with the fondness of love for what he was and did. There were many tears shed for him in all of his old fields when he was called away. If there was any love of display about him, he had a perfect way of concealing it. He seemed to me to more underestimate his real abilities than any man I ever knew--almost to the extent of weakening his power over his own churches. He was a fine scholar, well read, conversed fluently and instructively on all subjects, was sound in doctrine, yet rarely ever took issue with men in whose judgment and integrity he confided. Just as he underestimated himself, he would overestimate, I thought, sometimes, the qualities and abilities of others. He has often made the writer of these lines almost blush when he would, after the most rapt attention to his sermon, with unstudied ingenuousness and earnest sincerity, speak afterwards of how he was transported by it. If he had a fault, it was in his charity toward all men. If he rebuked, it was so wrapped up in the drapery of tenderness as almost to lose its point. If churches owed him money for services faithfully rendered, he would suffer and wait and economise. His affability would always win by - and - by, but not until it had cost him much. I knew his inwardness, having been a co-laborer with him for just thirty years in protracted meetings and in social circle, and I am sure he was as Christlike in spirit as any man I ever knew: and his blunders were of the head and not of the heart. He has left a record of which his family may well be proud. He needs no polished shaft at his grave (though he will have one) to tell his family and friends who and what he was. His life and character are a monument in their memories, which no change of circumstances nor waste of time can ever wear away.
He was buried at Georgiana by a host of friends from the adjoining neighborhoods, even from Brewton and Greenville, the writer officiating. It was a sad occasion, yet his loved ones wept not "as those who have no hope" for they know that when Christ comes, he will " God bring with him." He went on to join a watching and waiting wife and other children who have already "crossed over the river." He was devoted to his wife; had been a widower for about sixteen years, and thoughts of her were a green spot in his history. She died as he did suddenly and in health.
He has left an excellent family of affectionate children. They loved him and each other. It is composed of Joseph Bell, residing in Prattville, and Dr. Walter Bell, at Mt. Vernon, New York;Mrs. R. N. Burt, Ladonia, Texas, Mrs. W. H. Crenshaw, Sumpterville, Fla.,and Mrs. H. H. Stotesbury, Stockton, Ga., Mrs. Alice Lovelace, Lovelaceville, Ala., Mrs Tom Binion, Georgiana, Ala., and dear baby girl Lizzie Bell, now with Mrs Lovelace.
The denomination has sustained a heavy loss, and Southern Alabama an irreparable loss. Brewton and Elim held memorial services of him, their old pastor, and when I referred to him here and at Elim, all eyes were filled with tears.
I will miss him. I thought he would have stood at my grave, though ten years younger than he, but " God's ways are not as our ways." Fare thee well, my brother; rest until the times of " the restitution of all things," and we shall meet in our resurrection robes to dwell forever with our blessed Christ, of whom we so often spoke, and in whose second appearance we had such confidence.
Brewton. B. H. Crumpton
Eld. J. E. Bell was born July 17, 1830, and was called to his reward in the 64th year of his age. He confessed Christ and united with the church in Aug. 1851. Entered Howard College the same year and graduated with highest honors in 1854. In1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Bennett (Georgiana), of New Orleans. Bro. Bell began his pastoral work with the churches at Fort Deposit, Lowndes Co., and Damascus and Union, Butler County. Just 40 years this faithful servant of God was actively engaged in ministerial work. On Sabbath morning and evening before he was called home on Tuesday evening, he preached two sermons of unusual sweetness and power.
For more than 20 years the writer has been most intimately and constantly associated with our departed brother, and it affords me pleasure to repeat since his death what I have often said of him while he was alive, viz., I have never known a more pure and perfect man than Bro. Bell. He lived as he preached --peace and good will to all men. He was never heard to judge or speak harshly of any one. Modest and retiring in his disposition, he came to the front only when called by duty--hence he was not so generally known as many other men who were his inferiors in many respects.
Bro. Bell was in full enjoyment of his usual good health to within a few minutes of his death. Fire caught in some stubble near his house, and became somewhat unmanagable; he became overheated trying to subdue the fire, took a draught of cold water, was seized with congestion, and died in a few minutes. Bro. B. leaves eight children and a number of grand children, together with numberless friends to mourn his loss.
Georgiana. A.T.Sims.

J. E. Bell's assets and debts and it was written by J. B. Bell.
A transcription follows.
J. B. Bell
In a/c Est J. E. Bell
Debit
To Cash Sale of Place 1050.
" " Interest 15.09
" " Mule 50.00
" " from Mrs. J. T. Binion 46.50
" " from Mrs. J. T. Binion 35.00
" " Nate Ox 6.50 $1203.09
Credit
By Cash Paid Fire Insurance 2.75
" " Casket 70.00
" " ? 2.50
" " Geo. P. Nornd for Lizzie 12.66
" " D. T. Cott for Mary 4.75
" " J. H. Viuson for Lizzie 8.53
" " U. C. Viuson " " 10.
" " Tax on Place 15.51
" " Chas. Aumau for Lizzie 3.60
" " Town Tax 3.07
" " Lizzie 25.00
The following due by J. E. Bell
at time of his death.
By Cash Paid Viuson Howles 2.85
" " " Geo. P. Neord 6.50
" " " Siris Bros. 10.70
" " " Z. Sheppard 5.20
" " " A. H. Flagin .40
" " " J. W. Christopher 2.60
" " " T. J. Viuson 38.65
" " " Reserved for Cemetery 200.00
" " " Reserved for Mary 200.00 $ 641.27
Amt. Forward 561.82
Credit
Cash Paid Mrs. R. N. Burt 80.26
" " " W. H. Crenshaw 80.26
" " " J. D. Binion 80.26
" " " H. H. Stotenbury 80.26
" " " A. V. Lovelace 80.26
" " " Lizzie Williams 80.26
" " " W. J. Bell 80.26 561.82

It does not list what J. B. Bell got as the executor.
The obituaries and estate information were transcribed by Paula Weiss and provided by Mike Auran (e-mail, 8 Nov 2004, 1:09 AM).