Bell, Amanda Payne Morgan

The following data is extracted from Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma.

     The life history of Amanda Payne Morgan Bell, who formerly, served as County Superintendent of schools, will prove of interest to her many friends and acquaintances. She was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, her parents being Gideon and Mary L. (Payne) Morgan, the former born near Nashville, Tennessee, and of Cherokee Indian descent, while the mother's birth occurred in Arkansas. In early life the father removed to Arkansas and eventually to Oklahoma, the train on which he was riding being the first to stop at Gibson Station, this state. Here he became a large planter and took a very active part in the early political history of Indian Territory. He was chairman of the first joint statehood convention and has served in the legislature for three terms from Mayes County. He now owns and manages the Morgan Inn, a well known summer resort located on Grand River, Oklahoma. At this resort many distinguished visitors are to be found, General Goethals being one of their guests during the past year. Mr. Morgan is an own cousin to Senator John T. Morgan of Alabama, who has passed away and -who served with distinction for thirty-three years in the senate, making a most notable record. Mr. Morgan is living at the venerable age of seventy years and is still a most active man. His father, George Washington Morgan, was killed while in action during the Civil war Mrs. Morgan is also living.
     After completing her preliminary education, Amanda Payne Morgan Bell became a student in the National Female Seminary at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, from which she was graduated in 1904. She then took up the profession of teaching, which she followed successfully until 1909, when she was appointed County Superintendent of schools. In this capacity she rendered most valuable service to the people of her community and while thus occupied she was in charge of the voting of the school and in laying out the school boundaries.
     In 1914 Amanda Payne Morgan became the wife of Frank R. Bell, who is Superintendent of the Lanyon Sarr Smelting Company. He is a metallurgist and a graduate of the University of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have become the parents of twin boys: Frank Sherman and Gideon Morgan, who are four years of age. They were born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday February 12, 1917. His son Gideon Morgan Bell is of the fifth generation to bear the name of Gideon in this family.
     Mrs. Bell is chairman of the women's County Democratic organization and during the World war she was also chairman of the last liberty loan drive. She is a very brilliant woman and has recently written what is termed "Early Historical Sketches of Oklahoma." She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is very proud of the Indian blood in her veins. Mr. and Mrs. Bell now make their home at No. 316 Chickasaw, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where they have a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance.

Source: Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma

  Go Back