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Bell Cemetery

Also known as Bell-Youree Cemetery
or Youree Cemetery
or William Bell Cemetery


It is VERY grown up and in need of cleaning.
The Historical Commission reports the Historical Marker is in danger of falling over.

Historical Marker

Photo of Bell CemeteryWilliam W. Bell (1794 -1845) immigrated to the United States from his native England in 1820. By 1836 he had come to Texas, where he en-listed in the Republic of Texas army in February 1837. He later served in a company of Texas Rangers and was granted a contract by the Republic of Texas to carry mail from Independence to Nashville. Bell was married to the former Elizabeth Weaver, and they were the parents of eight sons and one daughter. This cemetery traces its beginings to 1845, when William W. Bell died and was buried here by his family. Also interred in the graveyard are Elizabeth Weaver Bell (1804 -1894) and five of the Bells' nine children: daughter Texana Bell Henry (1837 - 1859); sons Stephen (1823 - 1900), D. J. (1825 - 1899), Albert H. (1830- 1880), and A. Jessie (1834 -1856). There are five other marked graves of family members, as well as several unmarked burials. Family tradition states some of the unmarked graves may be those of slaves. The William W. Bell Cemetery Association, formed by Bell descendants in 1985, maintains the historic graveyard.

Bell Cemetery


There are two burial records of this cemetery posted here. This first one is the one posted for several years and contains added information from sumbissions by researchers and from Susan Hawkins own extensive knowledge of the area. The second transcription, done by June Jaynes in March 2007, is a strict recording of the stones she found. There are enough differences to make them worth checking.

Name Born Died Notes
Bell, A. H.11 Aug 183028 Sep 1880(Albert) son of W. W. & E.
Bell, A. J. (Jessie)18341856
Bell, D. J.10 Jan 182513 June 1899son of W.W. & E.
Bell, E. S.15 Jun 18345 Jan 1897wife of A.H.
Bell, Elizabeth Weaver30 Jul 180420 Feb 1894
Bell, Mary15 Mar 183029 Nov 1901wife of Stephen
Bell, Sallie Margaret Sivells18351925Wife of D. J. Bell
Bell, Stephen22 Feb 18237 Nov 1900son of W.W. & E.
Bell, William W.17941845Republic of Texas Veteran
Bush, B. S.18161857
Denton, Charley    26 Oct 1880        2 Apr 1894    son of S.M. & Texanna Denton
Duncan, James S.22 Sep 185725 Aug 1871son of J.E.Duncan
Henry, Hugh A.20 Aug 182831 Jan 1903
Henry, Rebecca I.[ca 1821]4 Jun 1903age 82; wife of H. A. died
Henry, Texanna Bell[ca 1837]23 Nov 1859age 22; wife of H.A.
Holland, Blake B.30 Dec 185430 Aug 1856
Holland, Edward J.20 Jan 181928 Oct 1869
Holland, Elizabeth14 Apr 182729 Dec 1887
Holland, Walker19 Feb xxxx14 Feb 1866
McKinnis, Albert22 Oct 1866Sep 1869
McKinnis, G.C.14 Nov 184317 Jul 1869
Noah, Elizabeth D. Gilliam3 May 183015 Mar 1859wife of John Noah
Sivells, Martha Jane Youree23 Apr 184412 Aug 1859d/o A.B. & Athelia Youree
Smith, Sophronia Gilliam4 Sep 1837Mar 1858wife of John P. Smith
Smoot, T. B.17931874
Stroup, Charlie Denton26 Oct 18802 Apr 1894
Youree, Andrew15 Dec 18166 Sep 1867h/o Athyliah Youree
Youree, Athyliah27 Mar 18131 Feb 1868wife of Andrew
Youree, Eulian B.19 Dec 18663 Sep 1880

graphic of cemetery fence as divider

Photo of Bell CemeteryThis next inventory was done by June Jaynes in March of 2007. Thanks, June!

There is at least one stone listed which not shown on the first transcription. In addtion, I've noticed some complete dates where the earlier transcript only supplied years. June was also careful to note the grouping of stones to best note possible relationships. We appreciate that extra effort, June.

And, to Ron Cook, Thanks for the great photos of the cemetery! They certainly reinforce our descripton that the cemetery is overgrown.

Bell Cemetery [Transcription 2]


Name Born Died Notes
Bell, A. H.11 Aug 183028 Sep 1880Note: wife is E. S.
Bell, A. J.8 Jan 1834Feb 1856no day
Bell, D. J.10 Jan 182513 Jun 1899He was a Mason
Bell, Elizabeth30 Jul 180420 Feb 1894Note; wife of William W.
Bell, E. S.15 Jun 18345 Jan 1897husband A. H.
Bell, Mary15 Mar 183029 Nov 1901husband Steven
Bell, Steven22 Feb 18237 Nov 1900wife Mary
Bell, W. W.14 Feb 17949 Feb 1845Note: oldest burial; William W. Bell
Bush, L. S.4 Feb 181313 Feb 1857
Duncan, J. S.22 Sep 185725 Aug 1871son of J. & E. Duncan Gilliam
Noah, Elizabeth D. Gilliam3 May 183015 Mar 1859Also have separate stones
Smith, Sophronia Gilliam4 Sep 1837Mar 1858Also have separate stones
Henry, Texanna[ca 1837]23 Nov 1859aged 22 yrs; Left side of marker
Henry, Hugh A.20 Aug 182831 Jan 1903Mason; Front of marker
Henry, Rebecca18214 Jun 1903Aged 82 years;Right side of marker
Holland, Edward3 Jun 18504 Jun 867s/w Walker & Blake B.
Holland, Walker L.19 Feb 186514 Feb 1866s/w Edward and Blake B.
Holland, Blake B.30 Dec 185430 Aug 1856s/w Edward and Walker L.
Holland, Edward J.20 Jan 181928 Oct 1869Mason; s/w Elisabeth
Holland, Elisabeth14 Apr 182729 Dec 1888s/w Edward J.; Note s not z
McKinnis, G. C.15 Nov 184317 Jul 1869plot fenced at one time
McKinnis, Albert S.Oct 22, 1866Sep 1869no day; son of G. C. & E. A. McKinnis
Noah, Elizabeth D.3 May 183030 Mar 1859w/o John; see Gilliam above
Smith, Sophronia Gilliam4 Sep 1837Mar -- 1858w/o John P. Smith; see Gilliam above
Smoot, T. B.A. D. 1793A. D. 1874   Smool?; no Smool found in census records
Stroup, Charlie Denton26 Oct 18802 Apr 1894s/o S. M. & Texanna
Woodfin, Thomas E.11 Jan 18192 Apr 1900
Youree, Andrew B.15 Dec 18166 Sep 1867together in fenced area
Youree, Athelia27 Mar 18131 Feb 1868w/o Andrew B.; together in fenced area
Youree, Eolian B.19 Dec18663 Sep 1880together in fenced area
Youree, Martha A.16 Oct 18646 Mar 1872together in fenced area
Youree, Martha Jane Sivell   23 Apr 1844   12 Aug 1859together in fenced area
Youree, W. A. P.27 Nov 184130 May 1862