Most of the family trees that I've seen for Lewis Bell say that he died in about 1831. Since he doesn't appear in the 1840 census records, at least not that I can find, I agree that he most likely died between 1830 and 1840. I haven't found any evidence of a will or cemetery record for him. I searched the will indexes in the Miami County Probate court records in Troy, OH this past August, and there was no Bell estate in the oldest books there.
The Palmer Chapel Cemetery in Bethel Twp, Miami Co, OH has tombstones with death dates back into the 1830's - even one back to 1819 - so Lewis Bell could have been buried there, but noone recorded it on the cemetery lists that I've seen.
Mary Anderson Bell probably survived him. The 1850 Federal census for Bethel Twp, Miami Co, OH lists Jeremiah Bennett and his wife Nancy (Bell) Bennett. Nancy was Lewis and Mary Bell's daughter. Also listed in this census record are Vincent Bell aged 45 and Mary Bell aged 83, born in Virginia. It seems most likely that this Mary Bell was Nancy's mother and Vincent Bell was Nancy's brother.
I found a record on Family Search that says Mary Anderson Bell died on 18 Feb 1851. Since I can't find her in the 1860 census, this would fit the facts that I have so far. If she died in Bethel Twp, Miami Co, she may have been buried at Palmer Chapel Cemetery, but her name was not listed on any cemetery listings that I've found so far.
Just this week I received an e-mail from a descendant of William Bell, Lewis & Mary Bell's son. He was married to Rebecca Davis, and they lived in Greene Co, Miami Co, and Shelby Co, OH. He had information from another direct descendant who recorded the following notes:
1) Lewis may have served in 111 Reg't (Parkers) Virginia Militia as a private during the war of 1812 - Roll Box 15, Roll Exct 602.
2) King George County VA 21 Nov 1778. Will of Thomas Ficklin mentions daughters, Susannah Sweetnaim, Ann Fewell, Margaret Jenkins, Sarah Swetnam, Elizabeth Ficklin, and Lucy Ficklin; son, John Ficklin; sons-in-law, Wm. Sweetnaim and John Swetnam; brother Benjamin Ficklin; nephew, James Bowen; grandson Lewis Bell. Two other Ficklin women also married Bell's, one went to Ohio, the other to MO.
3) William Bell inherited an interest in a Mill belonging to James Anderson and had to sue Vincent Anderson.
4) Lewis Bell and Rebecca's brother posted the bond for William Bell's marriage to Rebecca Davis.
Note 1 regarding the War of 1812 - Lewis would have been at least 42 years of age in 1812. It seems unlikely that he served, but it is certainly possible, especially in the Militia if it was a "home guard" unit. He was certainly still living in Virginia in 1812.
Note 2 regarding the will - If Bell was mentioned, but his mother (whose maiden name had to be Ficklin) was not, it strongly suggests that he was an orphan, or at least that his mother had died. In 1778, Lewis would have been between 8 and 12 years old. His father wasn't mentioned either, so it's hard to judge, but this could be a reason why our family tree stops at Lewis. Maybe he didn't remember much about his parents. OR, maybe this is a different Lewis Bell. It's certainly something to keep in mind - and another family to research for clues.
Note 3 regarding the mill - It's interesting that James and Vincent Anderson, brothers of Mary Anderson Bell, are both buried at Palmer Chapel Cemetery. Vincent lived to be 81, James only 61. James died in 1842, so the dispute over the mill must have happened in the years following his death.
Note 4 regarding William Bell's marriage - good information to have.
I think that wraps up all the information I've collected about Lewis Bell and Mary Anderson to date. I need to follow-up on the 1812 war record and the Ficklin will when I have time. I also need to double-check my RootsMagic database to see if all the sources are correctly documented for Lewis and Mary.
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