Josephine Lowe Bell

Jackson County, Kansas

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Josephine Lowe Bell

Josephine Lowe Bell was born at Independence, Mo. On July 13, 1850. At the age of five years her parents, A. N. Lowe and Samatha Yearout Lowe who had come to Missouri from Knoxville, Tenn. bought her to Kansas.

Her first Kansas experience that she remembers was crossing the river at Kansas City, sitting on the floor of the flat boat. A man passing by to use the oars, step ped on her foot frightening her dreadfully.

Taking an old Indian path across the prairie, they drove their horses and oxen to a place near Leavenworth Road where they were neighbors to Chris Bakers’ father. Living there until the land act had passed and the territory opened for settlement. They homesteaded the farm north of Potter now owned by August Lohman.

She attended her first school in an old log school house near the “T” bridge, one mile east of what is now the Town of Potter. The school house had no floor. Split logs with pegs driven in were the seats with no backs. long slanting bench along one side of the school house was used for books and classes "went to it for their writing lessons. The teacher was Miss Rebecca
Baldwin, later Mrs. D. C. Relsinger, mother of Mrs. Sam Beauchamp of Atchison, and Otis Reisinger Cummings. Little Josie was given a beautiful blue book, The Old Definer, and ran all the way home to show it.

Joe Mercer lived near them in what is now Mercer bottom. His “dugout” was lined stuffed animals and the ceiling hung with stuffed birds. A wonderful place to a little girl.

The Lowe family moved to the town of Mt. Pleasant and started a grocery store. The second store in the place, the first one being started by Thomas Fortune. Mr. Fortune was the inventor of the "Steam Wagon”.

Soon Mr. Lowe started a hotel. The Lowe home was a home for the pioneer preachers, Mr. and Mrs. Lowe being staunch Presbyterians. One preacher, Rev. Hummer, came from Lawrence to preach. His story of the Quantril Raid is still very vivid Mrs. Bell. Rev. Miller and Rev. Williams, Baptists, and Uncle Johnny Beard, Presbyterian, (Grandfather of Frank Beard) were other pioneer preachers.

One of the most thrilling experiences of her girl hood days was a robbery that took place across the street from the hotel. Josie, then a girl about 12 years old, had gone across the street to stay all night with the twp little step-daughters of Dr. A. J. Larey, one of the first Doctors there. She was sleeping between the two girls when she was wakened by talking. Looking out she saw Dr. Larey across the room near a trunk and a man' holding a pistol at his head.

It vas a beautiful fall night with the moon almost as light as day and through the window could be seen a big crown of men. The little girl was afraid to make a noise but she pinched and pulled the girls to waken them, which she could not do. After going through the house and taking his watch and the valuables that they wanted, they ordered the Doctor to put on his boots and come with them. Mrs. Larey cried and begged them to spare the Doctor but he Has taken away. All of his horses were taken too. Think ing that the mob had hanged the Doctor, the next hours were torture. As soon as the mob left the yard, the girls went across to the hotel to tell the trouble and about Mr. Lowe and his valuables. The Doctor was taken out a few miles, threatened and turned loose to arrive home hours later to a very thankful family.

Josephine Lowe was married to William H. Bell on January 11, 1871. The marriage was performed by P. W. Hull, a blacksmith preacher. They went to housekeeping on the Bell farm, where all of their children were born. The nine children were:- Oscar, Ernest; Guy; Monte, Gladys; Harry; Tibbie, Beulah; and Glenn. The farm was sold in 1910 to Matt Ernzen and Mrs. Bell
and the younger children moved to town.

Mrs. Bell says she was satisfied with the manners and customs of her day but is glad she has lived to see the progress and enjoy the comforts of today. She takes a keen interest in church and public affairs and keeps up with the questions of the day.

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BY Ethel GREGORY BELL

The above is an interview done for the Atchison Globe in a series on the pioneers in 1925. I am not sure that this one was ever published for I have taken this from the copy of the rough notes.

Thought that it might be interesting for the present day generation to read about the real pioneers who were their own near ancestors. As I remember Grandmother telling about the robbery I always had the impression that it was the James boys and their gang but guess the ages were wrong for that particular bunch. Anyway it was a real exciting time in which to live.