MRS. REID DIES AT NEARLY 98

Mother of Dr. Bell Formerly of Blair. Old Settler of County

Lydia Elizabeth Reid was born October 28, 1850 at Fort Wayne, Indiana and passed away October 17, 1948 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Del Newton, at the age of 97 years, 11 months and 19 days in San Antonio, Texas. Following the Civil War she moved with her family to Bell Creek, now Arlington, in Washington county, Nebraska.

She was united in marriage with William A. Bell at Fort Calhoun, Nebraska March 9, 1869, where they lived on a farm until 1884 when they moved to Sarpy County. In 1889 they retired from the farm and moved to Omaha. Her husband preceded her in death in 1915.

Seven children were born to this union, six of whom still survive. There are two daughters, Mrs. Cora Pflug of Papillion, Nebraska; and Mrs. Laura Newton of San Antonio, Texas; and four sons, Fred and Edwin Bell of Papillion; Dr. Dave Bell of Lincoln; and Albert Bell of Monterey, California. One son, James, passed away in 1902. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren.

Mrs. Bell was an aunt of Mrs. Alice Long of Herman. She was the oldest child in the family of Mr. Claud Reid and the last one to pass away. Her family will be remembered by many old settlers of Washington County.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #60660832