Person:Zephaniah Bell (1)

Rev. Zephaniah Bell was born on November 27, 1790- in Sussex County, New Jersey, a son of Robert Bell and Mary Yost. He came to Belmont County, Ohio with his parents where he married Margaret Smith on January 2, 1870. Margaret was born on July 29, 1787 in Pennsylvania. Rev. Zephaniah Bell served in the War of 1812. In 1815, Zephaniah Bell took his family to Richland County, Ohio and settled on a small farm near the village of Bellville. On November 23, 1829, Zephania was given a license to preach as a circuit rider for the Methodist Episcopal Church. He continued this occupation for the next thirteen years, serving in several different circuits. In 1842, he withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church because of its slave holding practices and in January, 1843, united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church. In 1845, Zephaniah sold his farm in Richland County. On September 10, 1845, in the company of sons William and Enoch and their families and daughter Nancy, they departed Richland County. They journeyed by wagon train to Jefferson Township, Whitley County, Indiana, arriving there after a twenty one day trip. Zephaniah purchased one hundred sixty acres of timberland of which he gave fifty acres each to William and Enoch. They spent that winter clearing the land for spring planting. In 1847, Zephaniah resumed his ministerial work and remained in that occupation for the rest of his life. Margaret died on December 29, 1866. Zephaniah then married Anna Morrow on June 7, 1867 in Huntington County, Indiana. Zephaniah died on March 29, 1876 and is buried with wife Margaret in Bethel Evergreen Cemetery in Laud, Whitley County, Indiana. Anna died on February 1, 1883 and is buried in Huntington County, Indiana.