Harrison Bell & Judah Slagle - Part 1

Lewis Bell's son Harrison Bell is my direct ancestor in the next generation of the Bell family.

Harrison Bell came to Ohio with his parents and siblings in the 1820's. The first document that I can find in Harrison's name is the 1830 Federal Census for Wayne Twp, Montgomery Co, Ohio. At first I wondered why Harrison lived in Montgomery County when his parents were living in Miami County? But in looking at a township map I realized that Bethel Twp, Miami County and Wayne Twp, Miami County were adjacent to one another and so they could have been almost next door neighbors. On a current map of Ohio, what used to be Wayne Township is now fully incorporated into the city of Huber Heights. He may have already started his career as a blacksmith - there is no occupation listed on census records until 1850.

1830 Federal Census Record - Wayne Twp, Montgomery, OH

Head of household: Harrison Bell

1 male aged 20-29 (Harrison)
1 female aged 20-29 (Sarah, see next paragraph)

1830 Marriage License - Montgomery, OH

The next record that I found regarding Harrison Bell was a marriage license in Montgomery County dated 22 Jan 1830. The bride's name was Sarah Slagle. The comment says "H.B. sworn." There were no other witnesses mentioned. A marriage return says "Married on the 4th Feb 1830 Harrison Bell and Sarah Slagle by me John F. Aughe J.P."

In the 1830 census, on the next line down from Harrison Bell is John Slagle. This is quite likely Sarah Slagle's father, but I have not found any other documents to corroborate this theory.

1834 Marriage License - Montgomery, OH

The next record that I found for Harrison Bell was a marriage return in Montgomery County dated 31 Oct 1834. He married Judia Slagal (misspelling of Judah Slagle). I have found several sources that tell me Judah Slagle was the daughter of John Slagle and Ann Methany.

eg, Bourbon County Marriage Bonds - "SLAGLE, John and Anne Metheny, Bond Date: 4 June 1792; Bondsman: Thomas Metheny"

and Family Search IGI "John Slagle and Ann Metheny family group sheet .... Judith Slagle, Female, Birth: 1805, Bourbon, Kentucky" but no mention of Sarah Slagle, so she may have been a cousin to Judith, not a sister.

From these facts I draw the conclusion that Harrison married Sarah Slagle in 1830 and that between the 1830 census and Oct 1834, Sarah Slagle died. She could have died in childbirth or from a disease or in an accident. There's no record of her death that I've found about her in any of my searches.

1836 Deed of Trust - Bethel Twp, Miami Co, OH  Book 13, pg 681

In 1836 Harrison Bell bought property in Bethel Twp, Miami Co, OH. The sellers were James Anderson and his wife, Ann. If these are James and Ann Anderson buried at Palmer's Chaple cemetery in Bethel Twp, they were Harrison's uncle and aunt. James was his mother's brother. One of the witnesses on the deed was John Slagle, his father-in-law.

The 1840 Federal Census reflects this change in residence.

1840 Federal Census Record - Bethel Twp, Miami, OH

Head of household: Harrison Bell

1 male aged less than 5 (William H)
1 male aged 5-10 (James Bennett)
1 male aged 30-39 (Harrison)
1 female aged less than 5 (unknown - must have died in childhood)
1 female aged 30-39 (Judah)

Listed on the three lines above Harrison in this census record are:

John Slagle, James Anderson and Charles Slagle
John and James were younger than Harrison (aged 20-29) and Charles Slagle was in the same age bracket as Harrison Bell (30-39).

More to follow....