Aberdeen Sunday American-News Sunday, Jul 29, 1923
Charlotte Bell
Many friends of “Grandma” Bell went to Aberdeen Thursday to attend her funeral. Her remains were brought to Rondell cemetery and laid beside her husband and children. Mrs. Charlotte Bell was born in Scotland, came to America when five years of age, was married to Daniel Bell in 1864. They came to Dakota in 1881 and settled on land five miles south of where Stratford now stands.
Great sorrow came to this home within a year or two after coming here, when that dread disease, diphtheria, came into the family, calling three of their children home, two died one day and one the next. Later twins were born to them, one lived only two days, the other less than three weeks. One son, Angus, grew to manhood and married Miss Fannie Cross, to this union, one daughter was born, Flora, now Mrs. Claude Merrick. In 1896, Angus was taken with typhoid fever and died leaving Mrs. Bell childless. Her great love was now lavished upon her husband and grandchild. In 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Bell moved to Aberdeen.
In March 1898 Mr. Bell came down to the farm, went upon the wind mill to make some repairs and in some way an end of his neckerchief was caught in the gearing and he was choked to death. For a time after this great sorrow, friends feared for her reason, but her great Christian faith brought comfort. She spent two or three winters in California and went forward in her quiet useful life. There are very few who are called upon to go through such sorrows as she and fewer who have led such sweet cheerful, helpful lives. It was a great shock to her many friends when we heard of her tragic death. The sympathy of all go out to the relatives, her granddaughter, Mrs. Merrick and her great-grandson, little Jack. Mrs. Fannie Bell, Lincoln and Jane.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith