NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On Line Library

Mabel Simmons; Edna M., born July 24, 1886, who is married to Myron H. Decker; Charles, born December 25, 1888, who is married to Maude Cory; Ida A., born December 21, 1890, who died January 2, 1898; and Albert L., born October 27, 1896, who died December 24, 1918.

Mr. Beer has been a resident of Nebraska for fifty years, and has been an undertaker and embalmer for twenty-five years. At the present time he is also in the insurance business.

He is local Red Cross president, is a Mason, and holds membership in the Eastern Star, as well as The Nebraskana Society. Residence: Alexandria.

Orrin Leroy Beeson

Orrin Leroy Beeson, who has been a dentist at Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, for the past 30 years, was born at Marshalltown, Iowa, February 18, 1869. His father, Wilson Bruce Beeson, a farmer, was born at Columbiana, Ohio, August 12, 1841, and died at Marshalltown, August 30, 1923; he was a direct descendant of Edward Beeson who came from England to America in 1682; his father was a member of Company C, 8th Iowa Cavalry, during the Civil War, and was imprisoned for 16 weeks in the Andersonville prison. His mother, whose ancestors were Quakers, was born in Ohio, August 6, 1839, and died at Marshalltown.

Dr. Beeson attended the public school at Marshalltown, and later attended a commercial and music school at Valparaiso, Indiana. He was graduated from Lake Forest University, dental department, where he was a member of Delta Sigma Delta. He has held the following positions: violin instructor at Advent College, Mendota, Illinois, 1892-93; expert machinist for the McCormick Company, 1893-99; and is now a member of the dental department of the Hepperlen Clinic, at Beatrice. With his brother-in-law, he owns and manages a 12,000 acre ranch in Nebraska.

He is a member of the child welfare committee of the Kiwanis Club, is affiliated with the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church at Beatrice, and holds membership in the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a member of the district, state, and national dental societies, is a member of the medical staff at Lutheran Hospital, and holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraskana Society. He has been a member of the local school board for seven years, and has taken an active part in musical affairs in the Methodist Church and Kiwanis Club. His social club is the Beatrice Country Club, while his sports include golfing, fishing, and motoring.

Dr. Beeson is a Mason, is affiliated with the Red Cross, and is a member of the Republican Party. He has lived in Nebraska for the past 38 years and has always been interested in the progress of his community and state.

His marriage to Hannah Floretta Quein was solemnized at Beatrice, September 19, 1899. Mrs. Beeson, who os descended from Queen Victoria, through the maternal side, was born at Zanesville, Ohio, July 8, 1869, the daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Quein. Two children were born to this marriage: Martha, born March 26, 1902; and Ruth, born August 12, 1903. Dr. and Mrs. Beeson have provided a home for three other children. Residence: Beatrice.

Peter Franklin Beghtol

Peter F. Beghtol, who has been engaged in the drug business at Bennet, Lancaster County, Nebraska, since 1883, was born at Industry, McDonough County, Illinois. December 27, 1857. His father, Uram Beghtol, who was a merchant, was born at Louisville, Kentucky, October 20, 1820, and died at Holdrege, Phelps County, Nebraska, December 19, 1906; his ancestry was German. His mother, Martha (Vance) Beghtol, was born at Memphis, Tennesee (sic), February 2, 1823, and died at Holdrege, Phelps County, Nebraska. April 9, 1906.

Mr. Beghtol attended the public schools of Illinois and in 1874 was graduated from the Industry High School. He was a clerk in a drug store for a time and then moved to Bennet, where he now owns his own drug store. A Republican, he was elected state senator from Lancaster County in 1902 and 1904, and has always been interested in civic and political affairs.

His marriage to Ella Lawton Kenyon, was solemnized at Industry, October 2, 1879. Mrs. Beghtol was born at Bloomington, Illinois, January 15, 1857, and died at Bennet, April 9, 1928. Two children were born to their marriage: Scott K., born May 12, 1881, who is now engaged in the grocery business at Portland, Oregon; and Maxwell, Va., born May 25, 1886, who is a lawyer at Lincoln.

Mr. Beghtol is a Mason, and holds life membership in the Nebraskana Society. Residence: Bennet.

Arnold Behrens

For the past 27 years Arnold Behrens has been actively engaged in farming near Holdrege, Nebraska. He was born at Wichita, Kansas, February 10,. 1878, the son of Henry and Eva (Gise) Behrens. His father, who was a world-wide traveler and explorer, was for many years a diamond and gold miner, and later was a farmer and stockraiser; he was born at Hanover, Germany, December 18, 1831, and died at Clearwater, Kansas, April 29, 1921. His mother was born at Baden, Germany, March 14, 1845, and died at Clearwater, February 1, 1926.

Mr. Behrens served in Company K, 30th Infantry as a corporal in the Spanish American War, and at this time is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He holds membership in William Lewis Camp of the Spanish American Veterans, at Lincoln, Nebraska, and is director of the Phelps County Soldiers Relief Organization. He is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Nebraskana Society.

His marriage to Amanda Olivia Davidson was solemnized at Holdrege, March 31, 1907. Mrs. Behrens, the daughter of Gustaf and Caroline (Carlson) Davidson, was born at Holdrege, February 28, 1878. To this marriage two children were born : Roy Arnold, January 11, 1908; and Everett, May 22, 1912. Residence: Holdrege.

Jesse Francis Bejot

Born at Ainsworth, Nebraska, November 14, 1885, Jesse Francis Bejot is the son of Joseph Cincinnatus and Mary Emma (Sinele) Bejot. His father, who is a land owner and financier, was born of French parents at Chicago, Illinois, January 6, 1859. His mother, a typical pioneer homemaker in Nebraska, was born at Elvaston, Illinois, June 16, 1800, and died at Long Pine, Nebraska, February 9, 1931; she was descended from a former mayor of Paris, France.

Mr. Bejot attended school in Brown County until 1904, when he was graduated from a rural high school there. In 1923, he completed a course in business and banking at Massey Business College, Jasksonville (sic), Florida. He has been a successful farmer for many years and recently has been engaged in the loan and brokerage business at Ainsworth, where he is vice president of the Citizens State Bank. He is a director in the Western Union Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. He is an extensive landowner.

During the World War Mr. Bejot bought war bonds and contributed liberally to Red Cross activities. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, serving as chairman of the trustees of the local lodge, and holds membership in the Rebekah Lodge, and the Nebraskana Society, he is fond of reading and playing checkers.

Mr. Bejot was appointed chairman of the Taxpayers

League Investigating Committee of Brown County, in1932. Politically independent, he takes an active interest in all farm movements. Residence: Ainsworth. (Photograph in Album).

Paul Henry Bek

Paul Henry Bek, county judge of Seward County, born at Seward, August 26, 1894, son of Paul William and Ida Sophia (Wulf) Bek. He attended public school at Seward, was later graduated from Concordia Teachers College, and was a student at the University of Nebraska, 1926-2728.

Mr. Bek is a Republican. He served 20 months with the rank of corporal in the American Expeditionary and served in Siberia for 18 months, participating in engagements with hostile Bolsheviki near Vladivostok in Siberia.

He is a member of the American Legion, the Infantry Officers Reserve Corps (2nd lieutenant), St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Red Cross (chairman Seward County chapter), the Chamber of Commerce (secretary 1922- ), the Rotary Club (charter member), the Nebraskana Society and the Nebraska Alumni Association. His hobby is photography. Residence: Seward.

Carroll Reed Belden

One of Omaha's leading merchants is Carroll R. Belden, who for the past 20 years has been engaged in business in the city. Born in Omaha, August 14, 1888, he is the son of Charles Carroll and Della Viola (Reed) Belden. His father was born at Mesopotamia, Ohio, August 5, 1849, and was a merchant whose Scotch ancestors settled in Connecticut prior to the Revolution. He died at Omaha, November 17, 1925.

Della Viola Belden was born at Farmington, Ohio, October 16, 1860. She is of Scotch-Irish descent, her ancesters having been pre-Revolutionary settlers in Vermont.

Upon his graduation from Omaha High School in 1906, Carroll R. Belden entered Amherst College, from which he received his B. S. in 1911. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi. On December 27, 1913 he was married to Fannie Arnetta. Brown, at Madison, Wisconsin. Mrs. Belden was born at Mason City, Iowa, March 3, 1890, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.

Following in his father's footsteps, Carroll Belden has been active as a merchant since he reached maturity. He is president of Thompson Belden and Company and vice president of Seymour Belden Company. He is a Republican and a member of First Central Congregational Church. His clubs are the Omaha Club and the Omaha Country Club. Residence; Omaha.

David William Bell

David William Bell, physician and surgeon, was born at Arlington, Nebraska, January 12, 1879, son of William A. and Lydia E. (Reid) Bell. His father who was born at Quincy, Illinois, September 23, 1847, was a retired farmer and real estate dealer at the time of his death in Omaha, September 3, 1915. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His wife, Lydia, was born at Omaha, October 28, 1850, and is also of Scotch-Irish descent on one side, and Pennsylvania Dutch on the other.

Dr. Bell attended Papillion schools and received his Ph. G. from the Omaha College of Pharmacy in 1902. He attended the University of Nebraska 1899-1900, and received his M. D. from Creighton Medical College. In 1898 he attended Shenandoah Normal School. He is a member of Phi Rho Sigma, and a member of the faculty of Creighton College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy and College of Dentistry

On December 25, 1902, he was married to Anna Mathilda Zwiebel at Papillion. Mrs. Bell was born at Papillion, March 14, 1880, of French and German descent. There are two children: Beatrice M., born December 5, 1903, and Traber David, born September 13, 1907.

Dr. Bell is a Democrat and during his years of residence has engaged in the practice of pharmacy, medicine and surgery. He was a private in the Students Army Training Corps at Creighton University, and is a member of the Omaha-Douglas County, Nebraska State and American Medical Associations. He is a Methodist, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Nebraskana Society. His hobbies are medical research and reading. Residence: Papillion.

Fred Bell

Fred Bell, a resident of Thayer County, Nebraska, since 1882, was born at Eden, Iowa, August 19, 1869, the son of David and Bessie (Gooden) Bell. His father, who was a farmer and fruit raiser, was born at Bilsby, England, September 16, 1841, and died at Palmwood, Australia; his family had lived at Lincolnshire, England, for many generations. His mother was born at Lincolnshire, May, 1842, and died during Fred Bell's early boyhood.

Mr. Bell received his education in the public schools of Iowa. He has been a farmer near Hebron, Nebraska, for many years and for the past five years has served as county commissioner of Thayer County. He is a Democrat. Mr. Bell holds membership in the Masons and Odd Fellows, is affiliated with the Methodist Church and is a member of The Nebraskana Society. For 11 years he has been a member of the school board of District 51. His sports are baseball and horse racing, and his hobby is good horses.

On October 26, 1904, he was married to Sophia Knapp at Hebron. Mrs. Bell was born of German parentage at Papillion, Nebraska, May 20, 1872. Residence: Hebron.

Jesse Durnell Bell

Jesse Durnell Bell, son of Jesse Durnell Bell, Sr., and Hattie M. (Derby) Bell, was born September 1, 1878, at what is now Bellwood, Nebraska. His father was born at New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, October 22, 1836. He was a merchant in Woodhull, Illinois, and came to Butler County, Nebraska, where he settled and later founded the town of Bellwood. He was also one of the founders of the Methodist Church in Bellwood, of which he was Sunday School superintendent for many years. He died at Bellwood, January 4, 1889.

His mother was born at Lockport, New York, June 26, 1849, the daughter of Lydia (Pinkney) Derby and Benjamin Derby, who was a Civil War veteran. Hattie Bell Lloyd died at Long Beach, California, November 5, 1919. Mrs. Derby was educated musically and in 1878 brought the first piano into the Platte Valley country.

Jesse Bell attended the Bellwood elementary schools and received his high school work at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He then studied a general course, and agriculture, for three years at the University of Nebraska, and in 1902, graduated from the Iowa State College at Ames, where he received a degree, Bachelor of Agricultural Science.

Ada Belle McFall became his wife, January 21, 1903, at Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born in Listwell, Ontario, Canada, April 21, 1878, the daughter of William G. McFall, a pioneer merchant of Lincoln, and Mary McFall. The latter died in 1918. Mrs. Bell taught in the kindergarten before her marriage. To this union five children were born: Dorothy C., November 23, 1903, who is married to Aubrey Becker, Jesse Donald, June 14, 1905, Robert McFaIl, January 7, 1907; Richard Wilton, April 5, 1909, and Patricia, September 5, 1916, who died March 10, 1918, at Long Beach, California. The children have

all attended Bellwood schools, Long Beach High School and the University of Nebraska.

Mr. Bell has lived on his farm in Nebraska for fifty-two years, is a member of the Republican party, has served on the Bellwood school board twenty years, was on township board twelve years, and has been a steward and trustee on the Methodist Church board for twenty-five years. In 1902 he was elected cashier of the Bellwood Bank and served until 1917, when he was elected president of the bank. In 1920, he retired from business and now supervises the work on his farms.

During the war, Mr. Bell was local registrar for men entering the service. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Nebraskana Society, and is a member of the State Historical Society. He holds membership in the Masonic Lodge at David City, Nebraska. Reading and touring are Mr. Bell's favorite recreations. Residence: Bellwood.

John Ernest Bell

John Ernest Bell, stockman and farmer near Superior, Nebraska, was born at New Matamoras, Ohio, October 3, 1893, and since 1906 has been a resident of this state. His father, John D. Bell, who was a farmer, was born at New Matamoras, March 23, 1844, and died at Superior, April 7, 1921. His mother, Hulda (Riggs) Bell, was born at New Matamoras, August 22, 1866.

Mr. Bell attended school at New Matamoras, and in 1913 was graduated from the high school at Hardy, Nebraska. He was awarded the B. S. degree at Nebraska University in 1917 where he was active in athletics, being a member of the basketball -team.

He served as instructor of agriculture and athletics at Harris, Iowa, 1917-18, was instructor in a camp school of the United States Army from 1918 to 1919, and acted as athletic coach at Hardy High School in 1919. He had an undefeated basketball team for one year and was unusually successful in managing the various athletic teams with which he was connected. Mr. Bell is now manager of the Superior Stock Farm where he maintains one of the largest herds of pure bred Hampshire hogs in Nebraska. He owns a farm of 500 acres of which 100 acres are under irrigation, and all of which is highly productive.

Mr. Bell is a member of the Nebraskana Society, is affiliated with the Methodist Church, and holds membership in the American Legion. He is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association of the University of Nebraska. He served as a corporal during the World War and was stationed at Camp Dodge where he acted as instructor. His hobby is basketball.

His marriage to Lucy Stout Keifer was solemnized at Bostwick, Nebraska, June 12, 1923. Mrs. Bell, who was a high school teacher before her marriage, was born at Bostwick, August 8, 1889. Among her distinguished ancestors were: General J. Warren Keifer of Ohio; Major General Keifer, who served in the Civil and Spanish American wars, and who was speaker of the house of representatives at Washington; and J. Warren Keifer, Jr., her father, who served in the Nebraska Legislature in 1907. Their three children are: John Ernest, Jr., born December 21, 1925; Warren James, born September 6, 1928; Julia Evaline, born September 17, 1931. Residence: Superior. (Photograph in Album).

Ortha Constantine Bell

Ortha C. Bell, a resident of Nebraska for the past 59 years, has been a leader in the political and civic life of Lincoln for many years. He was born on a farm in Cass County, Indiana, April 30, 1847, the son of George William and Marrietta (Thomas) Bell. His father, who was born at Georgetown, Cass County, Indiana, April 30, 1824, first enlisted as a musician in the Regimental Band of Indiana in the Civil War: later he re-enlisted in the cavalry and was discharged at the close of the war a captain. He was the son of Major Daniel Bell of Maryland. He died at Hagerman, Idaho, March 10, 1899. Marrietta Bell, mother of Ortha, was born in Susquehannah. Pennsylvania, and died at Farm Ridge, LaSalle County, Illinois, November 29, 1869.

Mr. Bell has had an interesting and varied career a soldier, public official, and a business man. He enlisted for service in the Union army early in the Civil War as bugle boy, and served in the battles of Nashville, Franklin, Pulaski, and Sulphur Trestle. He had previously studied in the log school house in the early 50's, and had attended an academy at Princeton, Indiana. Upon the completion of his war service he entered a printing office as an apprentice; a little later he studied to be a telegraph operator and became the first operator at Havana, Illinois. In 1870 he moved to Texas, where he became a cowboy; he found work on a ranch where he became later a private secretary and bookkeeper for the owner.

In 1872 he moved to Lincoln, and became connected with the Conover & Druse Shoe Shop. Two years later he became a salesman for a time, and in 1880, he was appointed deputy county clerk of Lancaster County. Since that time he has been in state and county service continuously. He has held the following positions: deputy county clerk, 1880-1886; county clerk, 1886-1890; deputy secretary of state, 1890-1891; deputy county register of deeds, 1910-1915; county assessor, 1916-1921; deputy county assessor, 1921-25; and county assessor, 1925-1931. He is a Republican.

From 1897 to 1900 Mr. Bell was receiver for the First National Bank at Red Cloud, Nebraska. From 1900 to 1905 he was manager of the Capitol Hotel at Lincoln. He was editor of the Galveston News in 1876. He is now assistant assessor of Lancaster County. An article published in the Lincoln Star, January 4, 1931, tells time story of his life and is a sincere tribute to him from the people of Lincoln.

His marriage to Minnie DeEtte Polley was solemnized at Lincoln, December 10, 1874. Mrs. Bell was born in Herkimer County, New York, October 25, 1854. She is the granddaughter of William D. Polley. Two children were born to this union: Jane B., born March 9, 1877, who married Frank S. Ringer; Hazel B., born in 1888, who married E. Boyd Smith.

Mr. Bell is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic; was appointed chief bugler for the department of Nebraska in 1885; and was made department commander in 1924. He is a life member of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce; has been president of the Nebraska County Assessors Association for the past 14 years, and is active in all welfare societies. He is a member of the Odd Fellows. He holds membership in the Nebraska Pioneer's Association and the Nebraskana Society. For the past 45 years he has been a member of the First Christian Church of Lincoln.

He is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. He has been a deacon in his church for the last forty years and has been a member of the choir there for several years. He is a musician and singer of some note and has been a member of the G. A. R. Quartette for a long time. Mr. Bell was not a candidate for re-election to public office in 1931 because he feels that younger men should carry on the state and county affairs. Residence; Lincoln.

Truman Thaddeus Bell

One of Howard County's outstanding lawyers, Truman Thaddeus Bell was born in Crawford County, Indiana, September 2, 1859, and came to Nebraska in 1874, at the age of fifteen. His father, James Madison Bell, who was a farmer of early American ancestry, died in 1897. His mother, Mary Esther Conrad, died in 1921.

Truman T. Bell attended public school and was grad-

© 2005 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller