Bell family papers

The Bell family lived and farmed in South Lunenberg, Vermont. Franklin Bell (1828-1913) married Mary Nye Chandler (1837-1920). Their children were William Rufus Bell (1859-1930), Annette Bell (1861-1936), James Franklin Bell (1864-1946), Adino Nye Bell (1866-1956), Julian Chandler Bell (1868-1926), Myrtle Bell (1872-1886), and John Wingate Bell (1882-1900). Franklin Bell was the postmaster and a merchant in Lunenberg, Vt., as well as a dairy and sheep farmer. William Rufus Bell was a ferryman and farmer. James Franklin Bell farmed with his father. Adino N. Bell was the proprietor of Bell's Store in South Lunenberg, having assumed management of the business from his father. He served as postmaster and represented the town in the Vermont State Legislature (Democrat) in 1910, 1941, 1944, 1951, and 1953.

William Franklin Bell (1894-1980) was the son of William Rufus Bell and Emily Jane Clark Bell. He was a private in the Army during World War I, specifically the 3rd Co., 1st ?, 151st Depot Brigade, Camp Devens, Mass. He enlisted June 14, 1917, in Portland, Me., and appears to have served in France. He was also a farmer.

Also included in this collection is a folder regarding the estate of Leander Dole (1892-1945) of Sebago Lake (Standish), Me., who was married to Mary Dresser Dole (1896-1980) until his death in 1945 from a hunting accident. Leander and Mary married in 1919 and had five children together. She then married William Franklin Bell in 1953. Leander's name appears in William Franklin Bell's France booklet so it appears they must have known each other since at least World War I.