Family: William Cleveland Bell, Sr. / Maude Evelyn Mathews (F12503)

• Father | Male William Cleveland Bell, Sr.

  
  

  Born	2 Dec 1892	Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas
  Died	16 Jul 1975	Houston, Harris County, Texas
  Buried		Brookeland Cemetery, Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas
  Married	Abt 1914  [1]
  Father	Luther Sidney Bell | F10972 Group Sheet
  Mother	Rebecca "Becky" Angeline McGee | F10972 Group Sheet

  
  

  Mother | Female Maude Evelyn Mathews

  
  

  Born	13 Feb 1893	Texas
  Died	19 Apr 1982	Houston, Harris County, Texas
  Buried		Brookeland Cemetery, Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas
  Father	Henry Jackson Mathews | F13154 Group Sheet
  Mother	Amanda "Mandy" L. Smith | F13154 Group Sheet

  
  

  Child 1 | Female Mildred Bell

  
  

  Born	Abt 1917	Sabine County, Texas
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Buried

  
  

  Child 2 | Male William Cleveland "W. C." Bell, Jr.

  
  

  Born	Abt 1921	Sabine County, Texas
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Buried

  
  

• Notes

  Married: Old Timers of Sabine County, Texas Virgie Speights October 22, 1964 The Golden Wedding Anniversary reception honoring Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Bell, at the First Baptist Church in Hemphill on Sunday afternoon, October 11, 1964, was a happy occasion. It was the means of reuniting friends and relatives, some of whom had not seen each other for more than a quarter of a centurty. In 1914, William Cleveland Bell, the son of Rebecca Magee, of Magee Bend, and L. S. Bell, of Brookeland, took as his bride, Maude Matthews, daughter of Amanda Smith and H. J. Matthews, of San Augustine. He was a young business man of Hemphill. She was teaching first grade in Hemphill School. They were married in the beautiful old Toole home. To this couple was born a son, W. C. Jr., now of Center, and a daughter, Mildred, now Mrs. W. V. MORRIS, of Houston. There are give grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Guests at the reception were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Bell, Jr., Mrs. and Mrs. W. V. Morris, of Houston, Mrs. H. Raymond Hagan, Houston, and Mrs. Madeleine H. Smith of Center. Patty and Sandra Bell, granddaughters of the honored couple, presided at the guest register and pinned on favors which were minature rice bags of gold tulle tied with gold satin ribbon and lillies of the valley. These contained a dainty roll of parchment inscribed: We than you friends and neighbors, And relatives so dear, For all the joy you've wished us, And for your presence here, Now when this day is over, And our gifts are put away, The memory of this joyous time Will ever with us stay Thank you, Maude and Cleve Young Bill Bell directed the guests, after they had greeted the honorees, to the tea table, where Mrs. Nelda Harris Bridges poured punch and served the wedding cake. Mrs. H. Raymond Hagan showed gifts and alternated at the punch bowl. Telegrams, letters, cards and gifts came from friends throughout the state. Guests from Hemphill, San Augustine, Woodville, Beaumont, Center and Houston called to pay their respects to wish Mr. and Mrs. Bell many more happy anniversaries. Now retired, the Bells are still very active. They enjoy operating their ranch near Brookeland. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, November 2012)

  
  

• Sources

  [S374] Speights, Virgie "Old Timers of Sabine County, Texas Vignettes of Pioneer Families" (S. Malone, c. 1983), p. 71 (Reliability: 3).