Bell - Brown Families - Family Histories

      Henry Eugene (Gene) Bell would never have considered himself as a pioneer, but he was a person who worked hard in the community and Coleman County. He helped develop it into what it is today. Some of his family came to the county in the 1860's. He was the son of Leonard E. and Irena A. (Brown) Bell, and was born in the Liberty Community, near Santa Anna, October 20, 1894. He resided in Coleman County for 88 years, passing away June 20, 1983. His father, a prominent farmer in the Santa Anna area, cleared and developed three farms in the Fisk and Brown Ranch area of Coleman County. They had five other children; Evan, Amanda, Ruby, Conrad and Mellie, and attended Brown Ranch School after it was organized in 1902.

     Gene married Eva R. Cheshire, daughter of J. L. and Dora Cheshire, February 7, 1915. It was a double wedding ceremony, including his sister, Ruby Bell and William Winslett (see Winslett). They met with the preacher, in two buggies, in a lane near our farm at Fisk. Gene and Eva had two children; Cecil E. of Hereford, and Nelline (Bell) Bowden who recently returned to Coleman. Eva Bell passed away January 23, 1980. Gene was a veteran of World War I and farmed several years in the Fisk area. In 1927, he opened a General Mercantile Store at Fisk, which he operated until 1948. He served on the School Board of Brown Ranch School and worked for the organization of the Mozelle School District. He was a member of the first Board of Directors for Rural Electric Administration of Coleman. In 1948, he sold his business and moved to the farm at Fisk.

     Gene's grandfather, Tom Bell, was Sheriff of Waller County for several years, and was killed on duty at Hempstead, shot by a horse thief in 1874. Tom Bell left four orphan children. Gene Bell's father, Leonard, being the elder, at 14 raised his younger brothers and sister. Leonard moved his brothers and sister to Coleman County in the early 1880's, while driving cattle to the area. He went to work for Owen Brown, and later married his daughter, Irena.

     Owen Brown, born in 1823, lived in Johnson County several years. He served as Sheriff, and twice served in the State of Texas Legislature, prior to moving to Coleman County, in 1885. He settled in the Liberty Community, where he had extensive land holdings. Owen had been preceded by his brother, Earl Y., who moved to Coleman County in 1865. E. Y. Brown was County Commissioner in January 7, 1867 (see Earl Y. Brown). He ran cattle on Home Creek and on the Brown Ranch. His brand "YB' was recorded in the Coleman County brands January 8, 1867. The country was described then, as not being a fence from Brownwood to the E. Y. Brown Ranch on Home Creek. Henry Brown, brother of Irena, moved to Coleman County in 1879 to what was referred to then as "The Gap," which is now Santa Anna. He operated a store there. He had one room and "Lean-to" on the back for living quarters. Then, there were only four houses at "The Gap." In 1886, rumors were the railway was coming. Henry was authorized to lay out a town, which is now Santa Anna. A quarter of a section of land was divided into 9 acre plots to form a village.

pictures to be added

Gene Bell Grocery-Fisk-pictured is Ralph W. Davis of Dayton, Kentucky, a visitor

Leonard E. Bell, age 15

Seated: Mellie B. Freeman, Dora Cheshire, Irena Brown Bell, Henry (Gene) Bell. Standing: Gene Smith, Nelline Bell Bowden, Cecil Bell, Eva C. Bell, Leonard Bell, J. I. Cheshire