Allan Grafton Bell was the second of ten known children of Barclay Townsend Bell Sr. (1850-1930) and Lilian Grafton Alsworth (1855-1953), who married 05 May 1874 at Scotts Bluff, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.
Allan married Lena Rivers Daniel (1880-1975) on 10 Sep 1903 at Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas. Other records show marriage date of 10 Dec 1903, which is correct?
Allan and Lena were the parents of six known children, namely:
1. Daniel Grafton Bell (1904-2002)
2. Carrol Laird Bell (1907-1908)
3. Evelyn Wright Bell 1908-1996)
4. Robert Allan Bell (1913-1964)
5. James Hall Bell III (1917-1991)
6. Charles ("Tiger") Austin Bell (1919-???)
Links to Allan's parents, wife, five of his six known children and five of his nine known siblings are included below.
~
BELL, ALLAN G.
MANY VIVID MEMORIES
Although Allan G. Bell moved to Deaf Smith County in 1901, he had come to Castro County in 1894. His description of the big prairie fire of 1894-which swept Deaf Smith County, too-is vivid and typical of the big prairie fires recalled by every pioneer who witnessed one. Among them are the big fire of 1906, as recalled by Mrs. Ida Vaughn., and the last big fire of 1925 as recalled by Mrs. Arlie Dean.
Writing for the local paper in 1939, Bell said: "I shall never forget that night, for the scene is pictured permanently on my mind. Countless roaring head fires had swept the country on their wild eastward journey. People were dazed as to what had happened.
"This fire extended from near Vega in Oldham County and to Spring Lake in Lamb County. It swept in from the west on a front 75 miles wide-an irregular front, of course. It was like a giant cross-cut saw with teeth 20 miles long and five miles apart. The head fire represents the points of the saw teeth. To the north or south are countless lines of side fires, long slender lines plainly visible in the darkness. Line after Line has been painted with an artistic touch as far as the eye can see-blended into the distance on a background of flaming horizon. The world was literally on fire that night.
"I know of no organized effort to fight this fire; it was too big and covered too much country, but every person worked for day's in some section or other.
"The big fire burned east into Palo Duro Canyon, where we could plainly see the red glare for several nights following. Stories of all kinds came in from over the Panhandle during days which followed.
"One man lost his whole freight outfit; teams, wagons and all. Several narrow escapes were reported by individuals, and the loss of livestock was appalling, including, 1,800 head of sheep in Crosby County alone. Each locality had its own experience."
Bell recounted that in ensuing years he learned that the fire of 1894 originated on a ranch east of Roswell, N.M. It was swept north by a south wind then east when a strong west wind sprang up.
He recalled the heroism of men and women in fighting the common enemy. It was an unwritten law that anyone detecting the thin line of white smoke on the horizon and in the path of the flame should try to stop its progress by back-firing. This was accomplished by setting fire to grass between the on-coming blaze and an old road or other natural barrier. A cowboy used a half filled bucket of kerosene and short rope soaked in the oil dragging it behind him to set the blaze as rapidly as possible.
Pioneer women hauled water in barrels to fire fighters who wet gunney sacks, brooms, anything available to snuff out the side fires. Always in a big fire the men killed a cow, split it down the middle, and used it as a very effective drag.
Perhaps young Allan Bell's lasting impression of the fire's terrible toll was heightened by memories of his trip from Amarillo to the Dimmitt ranch only a few days before the fire.
"I was very much impressed by the boundless expanse of prairie. Everywhere the same level, grass covered plain. I remember well how we talked about how short grass would burn.Little did we think then that within 30 days, all of that expanse of level prairie was to be swept clean by a terrible fire. Countless thousands of antelope were in sight of us almost continuouslyCoyotes too, were very numerousWild ducks seemed to be everywhere. Lakes were covered with themThis must be hunters paradise, I thought."
Mrs. V, T. Bell, Allan Bell's mother came with five smaller children, Grayson, Hester, James, Albert and Emily, by train to Amarillo soon after the big fire of 1894. The usual dust storm was blowing when they alighted in Amarillo, She reminisced:
"Mr. Bell met us with a team and covered wagon and we started on an endless trip over the fire-swept plains to the OYO Ranch, near Dimmitt, where we lived two years. That trip will always remain in my mind as the very peak of desolation: no trees, no grass, no nothing, except the endless sweep of burnt prairie."
Allan G, Bell was born July 24, 1876, in Williamson County Tex., and was married to Lena Daniel at Hereford on Sept. 10, 1902. She was born in Era, Tex., near Gainsville on Dec. 16, 1880. They lived in Hereford while their children were in school then moved to a ranch in the north-west part of this county in 1933. Like his father, Bell was a sheep rancher. He died in a car accident in this county on Aug. 3, 1941.
Their children are: Daniel, who married Bernie Warren, Scotsdale, Ariz.: Carol Laird Bell, 1906-1908; Robert (Irene Elkins)m Dallas; James (Helen Frisbe), Santa Clara, Calif.; Lt. Col. Charles Bell Betty Krug), Montgomery, Ala.; and one daughter, Evelyn, who lives with her mother in Hereford. (A History of Deaf Smith County, by Bessie Patterson, 1964 Texas Genealogy Trails.
Allan married Lena Rivers Daniel (1880-1975) on 10 Sep 1903 at Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas. Other records show marriage date of 10 Dec 1903, which is correct?
Allan and Lena were the parents of six known children, namely:
1. Daniel Grafton Bell (1904-2002)
2. Carrol Laird Bell (1907-1908)
3. Evelyn Wright Bell 1908-1996)
4. Robert Allan Bell (1913-1964)
5. James Hall Bell III (1917-1991)
6. Charles ("Tiger") Austin Bell (1919-???)
Links to Allan's parents, wife, five of his six known children and five of his nine known siblings are included below.
~
BELL, ALLAN G.
MANY VIVID MEMORIES
Although Allan G. Bell moved to Deaf Smith County in 1901, he had come to Castro County in 1894. His description of the big prairie fire of 1894-which swept Deaf Smith County, too-is vivid and typical of the big prairie fires recalled by every pioneer who witnessed one. Among them are the big fire of 1906, as recalled by Mrs. Ida Vaughn., and the last big fire of 1925 as recalled by Mrs. Arlie Dean.
Writing for the local paper in 1939, Bell said: "I shall never forget that night, for the scene is pictured permanently on my mind. Countless roaring head fires had swept the country on their wild eastward journey. People were dazed as to what had happened.
"This fire extended from near Vega in Oldham County and to Spring Lake in Lamb County. It swept in from the west on a front 75 miles wide-an irregular front, of course. It was like a giant cross-cut saw with teeth 20 miles long and five miles apart. The head fire represents the points of the saw teeth. To the north or south are countless lines of side fires, long slender lines plainly visible in the darkness. Line after Line has been painted with an artistic touch as far as the eye can see-blended into the distance on a background of flaming horizon. The world was literally on fire that night.
"I know of no organized effort to fight this fire; it was too big and covered too much country, but every person worked for day's in some section or other.
"The big fire burned east into Palo Duro Canyon, where we could plainly see the red glare for several nights following. Stories of all kinds came in from over the Panhandle during days which followed.
"One man lost his whole freight outfit; teams, wagons and all. Several narrow escapes were reported by individuals, and the loss of livestock was appalling, including, 1,800 head of sheep in Crosby County alone. Each locality had its own experience."
Bell recounted that in ensuing years he learned that the fire of 1894 originated on a ranch east of Roswell, N.M. It was swept north by a south wind then east when a strong west wind sprang up.
He recalled the heroism of men and women in fighting the common enemy. It was an unwritten law that anyone detecting the thin line of white smoke on the horizon and in the path of the flame should try to stop its progress by back-firing. This was accomplished by setting fire to grass between the on-coming blaze and an old road or other natural barrier. A cowboy used a half filled bucket of kerosene and short rope soaked in the oil dragging it behind him to set the blaze as rapidly as possible.
Pioneer women hauled water in barrels to fire fighters who wet gunney sacks, brooms, anything available to snuff out the side fires. Always in a big fire the men killed a cow, split it down the middle, and used it as a very effective drag.
Perhaps young Allan Bell's lasting impression of the fire's terrible toll was heightened by memories of his trip from Amarillo to the Dimmitt ranch only a few days before the fire.
"I was very much impressed by the boundless expanse of prairie. Everywhere the same level, grass covered plain. I remember well how we talked about how short grass would burn.Little did we think then that within 30 days, all of that expanse of level prairie was to be swept clean by a terrible fire. Countless thousands of antelope were in sight of us almost continuouslyCoyotes too, were very numerousWild ducks seemed to be everywhere. Lakes were covered with themThis must be hunters paradise, I thought."
Mrs. V, T. Bell, Allan Bell's mother came with five smaller children, Grayson, Hester, James, Albert and Emily, by train to Amarillo soon after the big fire of 1894. The usual dust storm was blowing when they alighted in Amarillo, She reminisced:
"Mr. Bell met us with a team and covered wagon and we started on an endless trip over the fire-swept plains to the OYO Ranch, near Dimmitt, where we lived two years. That trip will always remain in my mind as the very peak of desolation: no trees, no grass, no nothing, except the endless sweep of burnt prairie."
Allan G, Bell was born July 24, 1876, in Williamson County Tex., and was married to Lena Daniel at Hereford on Sept. 10, 1902. She was born in Era, Tex., near Gainsville on Dec. 16, 1880. They lived in Hereford while their children were in school then moved to a ranch in the north-west part of this county in 1933. Like his father, Bell was a sheep rancher. He died in a car accident in this county on Aug. 3, 1941.
Their children are: Daniel, who married Bernie Warren, Scotsdale, Ariz.: Carol Laird Bell, 1906-1908; Robert (Irene Elkins)m Dallas; James (Helen Frisbe), Santa Clara, Calif.; Lt. Col. Charles Bell Betty Krug), Montgomery, Ala.; and one daughter, Evelyn, who lives with her mother in Hereford. (A History of Deaf Smith County, by Bessie Patterson, 1964 Texas Genealogy Trails.
Allan Grafton Bell was the second of ten known children of Barclay Townsend Bell Sr. (1850-1930) and Lilian Grafton Alsworth (1855-1953), who married 05 May 1874 at Scotts Bluff, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.
Allan married Lena Rivers Daniel (1880-1975) on 10 Sep 1903 at Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas. Other records show marriage date of 10 Dec 1903, which is correct?
Allan and Lena were the parents of six known children, namely:
1. Daniel Grafton Bell (1904-2002)
2. Carrol Laird Bell (1907-1908)
3. Evelyn Wright Bell 1908-1996)
4. Robert Allan Bell (1913-1964)
5. James Hall Bell III (1917-1991)
6. Charles ("Tiger") Austin Bell (1919-???)
Links to Allan's parents, wife, five of his six known children and five of his nine known siblings are included below.
~
BELL, ALLAN G.
MANY VIVID MEMORIES
Although Allan G. Bell moved to Deaf Smith County in 1901, he had come to Castro County in 1894. His description of the big prairie fire of 1894-which swept Deaf Smith County, too-is vivid and typical of the big prairie fires recalled by every pioneer who witnessed one. Among them are the big fire of 1906, as recalled by Mrs. Ida Vaughn., and the last big fire of 1925 as recalled by Mrs. Arlie Dean.
Writing for the local paper in 1939, Bell said: "I shall never forget that night, for the scene is pictured permanently on my mind. Countless roaring head fires had swept the country on their wild eastward journey. People were dazed as to what had happened.
"This fire extended from near Vega in Oldham County and to Spring Lake in Lamb County. It swept in from the west on a front 75 miles wide-an irregular front, of course. It was like a giant cross-cut saw with teeth 20 miles long and five miles apart. The head fire represents the points of the saw teeth. To the north or south are countless lines of side fires, long slender lines plainly visible in the darkness. Line after Line has been painted with an artistic touch as far as the eye can see-blended into the distance on a background of flaming horizon. The world was literally on fire that night.
"I know of no organized effort to fight this fire; it was too big and covered too much country, but every person worked for day's in some section or other.
"The big fire burned east into Palo Duro Canyon, where we could plainly see the red glare for several nights following. Stories of all kinds came in from over the Panhandle during days which followed.
"One man lost his whole freight outfit; teams, wagons and all. Several narrow escapes were reported by individuals, and the loss of livestock was appalling, including, 1,800 head of sheep in Crosby County alone. Each locality had its own experience."
Bell recounted that in ensuing years he learned that the fire of 1894 originated on a ranch east of Roswell, N.M. It was swept north by a south wind then east when a strong west wind sprang up.
He recalled the heroism of men and women in fighting the common enemy. It was an unwritten law that anyone detecting the thin line of white smoke on the horizon and in the path of the flame should try to stop its progress by back-firing. This was accomplished by setting fire to grass between the on-coming blaze and an old road or other natural barrier. A cowboy used a half filled bucket of kerosene and short rope soaked in the oil dragging it behind him to set the blaze as rapidly as possible.
Pioneer women hauled water in barrels to fire fighters who wet gunney sacks, brooms, anything available to snuff out the side fires. Always in a big fire the men killed a cow, split it down the middle, and used it as a very effective drag.
Perhaps young Allan Bell's lasting impression of the fire's terrible toll was heightened by memories of his trip from Amarillo to the Dimmitt ranch only a few days before the fire.
"I was very much impressed by the boundless expanse of prairie. Everywhere the same level, grass covered plain. I remember well how we talked about how short grass would burn.Little did we think then that within 30 days, all of that expanse of level prairie was to be swept clean by a terrible fire. Countless thousands of antelope were in sight of us almost continuouslyCoyotes too, were very numerousWild ducks seemed to be everywhere. Lakes were covered with themThis must be hunters paradise, I thought."
Mrs. V, T. Bell, Allan Bell's mother came with five smaller children, Grayson, Hester, James, Albert and Emily, by train to Amarillo soon after the big fire of 1894. The usual dust storm was blowing when they alighted in Amarillo, She reminisced:
"Mr. Bell met us with a team and covered wagon and we started on an endless trip over the fire-swept plains to the OYO Ranch, near Dimmitt, where we lived two years. That trip will always remain in my mind as the very peak of desolation: no trees, no grass, no nothing, except the endless sweep of burnt prairie."
Allan G, Bell was born July 24, 1876, in Williamson County Tex., and was married to Lena Daniel at Hereford on Sept. 10, 1902. She was born in Era, Tex., near Gainsville on Dec. 16, 1880. They lived in Hereford while their children were in school then moved to a ranch in the north-west part of this county in 1933. Like his father, Bell was a sheep rancher. He died in a car accident in this county on Aug. 3, 1941.
Their children are: Daniel, who married Bernie Warren, Scotsdale, Ariz.: Carol Laird Bell, 1906-1908; Robert (Irene Elkins)m Dallas; James (Helen Frisbe), Santa Clara, Calif.; Lt. Col. Charles Bell Betty Krug), Montgomery, Ala.; and one daughter, Evelyn, who lives with her mother in Hereford. (A History of Deaf Smith County, by Bessie Patterson, 1964 Texas Genealogy Trails.
Allan married Lena Rivers Daniel (1880-1975) on 10 Sep 1903 at Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas. Other records show marriage date of 10 Dec 1903, which is correct?
Allan and Lena were the parents of six known children, namely:
1. Daniel Grafton Bell (1904-2002)
2. Carrol Laird Bell (1907-1908)
3. Evelyn Wright Bell 1908-1996)
4. Robert Allan Bell (1913-1964)
5. James Hall Bell III (1917-1991)
6. Charles ("Tiger") Austin Bell (1919-???)
Links to Allan's parents, wife, five of his six known children and five of his nine known siblings are included below.
~
BELL, ALLAN G.
MANY VIVID MEMORIES
Although Allan G. Bell moved to Deaf Smith County in 1901, he had come to Castro County in 1894. His description of the big prairie fire of 1894-which swept Deaf Smith County, too-is vivid and typical of the big prairie fires recalled by every pioneer who witnessed one. Among them are the big fire of 1906, as recalled by Mrs. Ida Vaughn., and the last big fire of 1925 as recalled by Mrs. Arlie Dean.
Writing for the local paper in 1939, Bell said: "I shall never forget that night, for the scene is pictured permanently on my mind. Countless roaring head fires had swept the country on their wild eastward journey. People were dazed as to what had happened.
"This fire extended from near Vega in Oldham County and to Spring Lake in Lamb County. It swept in from the west on a front 75 miles wide-an irregular front, of course. It was like a giant cross-cut saw with teeth 20 miles long and five miles apart. The head fire represents the points of the saw teeth. To the north or south are countless lines of side fires, long slender lines plainly visible in the darkness. Line after Line has been painted with an artistic touch as far as the eye can see-blended into the distance on a background of flaming horizon. The world was literally on fire that night.
"I know of no organized effort to fight this fire; it was too big and covered too much country, but every person worked for day's in some section or other.
"The big fire burned east into Palo Duro Canyon, where we could plainly see the red glare for several nights following. Stories of all kinds came in from over the Panhandle during days which followed.
"One man lost his whole freight outfit; teams, wagons and all. Several narrow escapes were reported by individuals, and the loss of livestock was appalling, including, 1,800 head of sheep in Crosby County alone. Each locality had its own experience."
Bell recounted that in ensuing years he learned that the fire of 1894 originated on a ranch east of Roswell, N.M. It was swept north by a south wind then east when a strong west wind sprang up.
He recalled the heroism of men and women in fighting the common enemy. It was an unwritten law that anyone detecting the thin line of white smoke on the horizon and in the path of the flame should try to stop its progress by back-firing. This was accomplished by setting fire to grass between the on-coming blaze and an old road or other natural barrier. A cowboy used a half filled bucket of kerosene and short rope soaked in the oil dragging it behind him to set the blaze as rapidly as possible.
Pioneer women hauled water in barrels to fire fighters who wet gunney sacks, brooms, anything available to snuff out the side fires. Always in a big fire the men killed a cow, split it down the middle, and used it as a very effective drag.
Perhaps young Allan Bell's lasting impression of the fire's terrible toll was heightened by memories of his trip from Amarillo to the Dimmitt ranch only a few days before the fire.
"I was very much impressed by the boundless expanse of prairie. Everywhere the same level, grass covered plain. I remember well how we talked about how short grass would burn.Little did we think then that within 30 days, all of that expanse of level prairie was to be swept clean by a terrible fire. Countless thousands of antelope were in sight of us almost continuouslyCoyotes too, were very numerousWild ducks seemed to be everywhere. Lakes were covered with themThis must be hunters paradise, I thought."
Mrs. V, T. Bell, Allan Bell's mother came with five smaller children, Grayson, Hester, James, Albert and Emily, by train to Amarillo soon after the big fire of 1894. The usual dust storm was blowing when they alighted in Amarillo, She reminisced:
"Mr. Bell met us with a team and covered wagon and we started on an endless trip over the fire-swept plains to the OYO Ranch, near Dimmitt, where we lived two years. That trip will always remain in my mind as the very peak of desolation: no trees, no grass, no nothing, except the endless sweep of burnt prairie."
Allan G, Bell was born July 24, 1876, in Williamson County Tex., and was married to Lena Daniel at Hereford on Sept. 10, 1902. She was born in Era, Tex., near Gainsville on Dec. 16, 1880. They lived in Hereford while their children were in school then moved to a ranch in the north-west part of this county in 1933. Like his father, Bell was a sheep rancher. He died in a car accident in this county on Aug. 3, 1941.
Their children are: Daniel, who married Bernie Warren, Scotsdale, Ariz.: Carol Laird Bell, 1906-1908; Robert (Irene Elkins)m Dallas; James (Helen Frisbe), Santa Clara, Calif.; Lt. Col. Charles Bell Betty Krug), Montgomery, Ala.; and one daughter, Evelyn, who lives with her mother in Hereford. (A History of Deaf Smith County, by Bessie Patterson, 1964 Texas Genealogy Trails.
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