Aged 82 years

Disappointed in Love
Romance of a Miser Whose Body was found in the Hudson River

Peekskill, N.Y. April 1 -- Ashel Bell known as the "Miser of the Hudson" whose body was found floating in the Hudson River several days ago, was 80 years old and unmarried. He was born in Putnam Valley, and at the age of 29 he fell in love with Jessie Brown, of Cold Spring. They became engaged, and a date was set for the wedding . With money that he had saved Bell bought one hundred acres of ground , upon which he built a pretty little cottage and began the erection of farm buildings.

Bell was sitting on the stoop of the country store one evening talking and laughing with some companions when a note from Jessie Brown was handed to him . In it she wrote that she had married a New York man who would give her better clothes than her lover ever could. Bell arose and left the crowd and ever afterward avoided companionship. The rest of his life was devoted to money getting in furthererance of a spoken resolve, when he read the note that he would some day be richer then the New York man.

In later years when his mental powers began to fail , his brother Lewis was appointed as guardian. He could do nothing with Ashel, who dreaded habitation. He lived in caves in Matawan , Peekskill , Storm King, Crow's Nest and other places. He held mortgages on many farms in this place and in Dutchess county. His death enriches three surviving brothers and a sister , who are poor.

New York Times March 31, 1897

Find A Grave contributor Gene Baumwoll CSW
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Coroner's jury rendered the following verdict: That attempting to cross over the ice on the Hudson River, the ice gave way and he drowned between 14 Nov. 1896 and 29 March 1897.------------------Notes taken from the obituary in the Highland Democrat of March 28,1897: "Body of Aschell Bell , found floating off dock. Had $107.26 on person. Interred at Montrose. Born Putnam County, 83 years ago, Peter Bell and Charlotte Denny - was a stonemason. Called "Wandering Willie".-- "By penury, hoarding and investment he accumulated property. Was declared incompetent about 12 years ago. Disappeared before Dec. 14,1896 " and was not seen again until his death." - Lewis Bell "told a Democrat reporter he had been able to get hold of about $15,000 worth of the deceased man's property since he was appointed committee." - 3 brothers and sisters . "he was a familiar sight in Peekskill, Mattewan, Fishkill, Cold Spring." Drowned sometime between Nov.14,1896 and March 29,1897."
- Historian
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BELL, AZIAL — Age 43 years. Enlisted September 10, 1864, at Albany; mustered in as private, Co. L, September 10, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with detachment June 28, 1865, at Petersburg, Va.; also borne as Asahel, Bell.
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6th Heavy Artillery Regiment
Civil War
Anthony Wayne Guard
History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
Mustered in as the 135th regiment of infantry: September 2, 1862.
Designated 6th regiment of heavy artillery: October 3,1862.
Mustered out: August 24, 1865.
Find A Grave contributor Gene Baumwoll CSW
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HERMIT ASCHEL BELL DEAD.
His Body Found in the Hudson River on
Monday An Inquest on Tuesday Eighty-three
Years of Queer Living He Leaves a Snug
Sum of Money.


The name, face and life of Asehel Bell, the hermit and miser, has long been familiar to Peekskill and Peekskillers.

The old gentleman is no more, Some time during the past, winter he sunk beneath the waters of the Hudson.
Whether he was thrown over, fell over, or jumped over into the water is a question which will probably never be solved.
About four o'clock Monday afternoon the. body was discovered by Burnside Sailor and his little son. The former resides at 111 Hudson avenue and is em- ployed at the New York Stove Works. He had gone out from Osborn's float to set a stake when the Nailor boy saw the head of a man above the water. Mr. Nailor rowed to the spot which was about twenty-five feet west of the railroad track and four hundred feet south of the dock. Nailor saw that the body was that of an old man standing upright in the water, so he at once rowed ashore, telephoned Coroner Apgar, and then returning rowed out again to the body and brought it ashore. Coroner Apgar viewed the body and examined the clothes. He found a roll of bank notes in one pocket. That were thoroughly water-soaked and the greater part discolored and black. This he counted while standing with the crowd of people on Driscoll's float. He afterwards found a stocking foot in another pocket containing a couple of dollars and twenty-six cents m coin. The total amount found was $107.26. He also found papers indicating that the body was Bell.He ordered the body be taken to croft's undertaking establishment and drove down to Montrose to notify Asehel's brother, Lewis. The next morning Lewis Bell and another brother came to Peekskill and positively identified the remains by the clothing, a bunch of keys in the pocket and the boots, the soles of which were full of horse shoe nails, partly driven into the leather and then pounded over.
Coroner Apgar held an inquest just before noon Tuesday with the following jurv: C. H. Gardner, foreman: Stephen J. "Stillwell, Charles Carman. Walter Birdsall, Fred W. Horton and George W. Sykes. Only three witnesses were examined, Burnside Naylor, Dr. E DeMotte Lyon and Lewis Bell. The first told the story of the finding of the body. Dr. Lyon testified to an examination of the body.
that there were no marks of violence, that the man had undoubtedly died of
asphyxiation and that the body had
probably been in the water several
months, though it was impossible to say
exactly how long. Lewis Bell, the brother, gave the family history of the deceased, said that
he had last seen the deceased on Nov. 14th. 1898, the history of the court proceedings by which the witness had been appointed committee for the property and person of the deceased, etc.
Then the jury brought in a verdict
that Asehel Bell came to his death by drowning, some time between November 14th, 1886 and March 29th, 1897. In the afternoon the body was taken to Montrose and interred, Rey. James W. A. Dodge officiating at the grave.
Asehel Bell was born in Putnam Valley 88 years ago. He was the son of
Peter Bell and Charlotte Denny, both of
Putnam county. He was a stone mason by trade. He was, however, also a farmer and later a sort of Wandering
Willie. He was a familiar sight in Peekskill. Matteawan, Fishkill and Cold Spring. By penury, hoarding and in- vestment he had accumulated considerable property.
About twelve years ago an unsuccessful effort was made to declare him incompetent. Last fall another attempt was made before Franklin Couch sitting as referee and a sheriff's jury, but this effort proved also futile. After three hearings the jury disagreed. A second
jury was drawn and after three hearings declared Bell incompetent and on December 17th, 18!«», Lewis Bell, a brother, was appointed a committee of the hermit's person and property. But before that time, November 14th, the old hermit had disappeared and Was not again seen until his death.
On Tuesday corener Apgar delivered
the $107.38 to Lewis Bell and took his receipt therefor. Mr. Bell substantially rewarded Mr. Nailor for finding- the body.-.
Mr Bell told a DEMOCRAT reporter that he had been able to get hold of about $15,000 worth of the deceased
man's property since he was appointed committee. The deceased leaves three brothers, a sister and several nieces and nephews.
Highland democrat
April 3,1897

Thanks to Contributor Sarah Bach