Short Bio for Louisa Louisa C. Bell the daughter of Elisha Bell (son of James Bell and Susanna Lewis) and Martha Burge. Married to Elijah Russell (the brother to Samuel James and Andrew Russell ... sons of Samuel Russell and Josephine Jackson), Berry Sooter (son of Asher Fly Sooter and Nancy Elizabeth Emaline Russell), and Wyatt Coffelt (first wife Jane Sligar).Louisa was the daughter of Elisha Bell and Martha Burge. She was born 18 Dec. 1821 in Rutherford Co. Tennessee and died 14 Mar 1920 in Gravette, Benton Co. Arkansas. She is buried in the Cofflet Cemetery, Benton Co. Arkansas next to her third husband Wyatt Coffelt. There has always been a question about Native American ancestry in the Bell line, but I think this photo clears that up!
This is a photo believed to be Louisa C. Bell
She married Elijah Russell born about 1820 in Alabama (Original Samuel/Josephine Russell's son). They moved to Missouri and there had 6 children. By 1863 they had moved to Centerton, Benton Co. Arkansas as had his brother Samuel, Samuel's wife Mary Melvina Polly Bell (aunt to Louisa C. Bell) and it was here, during that "deplorable affair" of 1861-1865 that Elijah was killed. Family history says that Bushwhackers rode up to their place and shot him in the back, right where his suspenders crossed. "Killed him dead". They then burned the house down, and as they were leaving Louisa stood there and yelled "Hurrah for the South". Quite a gutsy lady! The suspenders, with the bullet hole were handed down but are now feared lost. What a great find that would be. 12 years after Elijah died she married Berry Sooter, son of Asher Fly Sooter and Nancy Elizabeth Emaline Russell. Her children were all grown and gone and Berry didn't have any children with her. After he died, she married Wyatt Coffelt and raised his children from his 1st wife. He was a Reverend and spent much of his time in Indian Territory, Oklahoma preaching to Indians. After Wyatt died, Louisa moved in with her daughter, Isabel and Randolph Galyean in Dickson, Benton Co. Arkansas. At age 99, she fell sick and the doctor prescribed some medication. Louisa thought, "If one pill made would make me feel better than the whole bottle would make me well." The over-dose killed her.