My maternal grandparents, Leslie and Mary Eloise Agee, lived all their lives in Crockett County, TN with most of that time in Bells. We visited them often at their home on Christian Av. We knew we were close when we could see the Bells water tower which was about 300 yards out their backyard.
    I have fond memories of going fishing in grandpa's Red Truck, white Christmases, cramped quarters (a one-bathroom house and EVERYONE came over), walks to town, Grandmother's coconut cakes and best of all listening to the train go by in the back room while taking a nap.
    My grandparents knew everyone in town and everyone knew them. They attended the Bells Church of Christ where Leslie was an elder. Leslie worked at many jobs in his life: grocery store owner, banking, utility company. But the one I grew up remembering was his work at the cotton gin in Maury City. He was an accountant ... which didn't interest me much. I loved going to work with him so I could watch the big machinery of the gin. My grandmother was the ultimate cook and homemaker. Here oven was huge (two sided, 6 burners) and could pump out huge breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Those were good times. I'll treasure them fondly.
    I found the following history of Bells on a Crockett County map ... you know, the ones with a map in the center and advertisements all around it ... and thought I'd make a page in tribute to my grandparents and Bells.

Michael Menninger

SHORT HISTORY OF BELLS, TENNESSEE

    In 1827 John and William Bell purchased 1,000 acres of land on which Bells now stand. This land was purchased for one dollar an acre.

    Bells Depot, then in an area called Haywood County, was founded in 1855 and was named in honor of William Bell who built the first dwelling in town.

    In the early eighteen fifties, before the Civil War, stage coaches were running between Brownsville and Trenton with a stop in Bells Depot.

    The first merchant in Bells Depot was C. C. Clay, who began selling goods in 1859. During the Civil War years no business was transacted at Bells Depot as all the stores were closed.

    A full company of soldiers was organized at Bells Depot at the start of the Civil War. It was known as Company G, 27th Regiment of Tennessee Infantry and it saw action in the Battle of Shiloh, the Battle of Franklin and many others. Only three men out of the 170 survived.

    Bells Depot was incorporated in 1868 with Hardy L. Windburn as the first mayor. Newspaper service began in 1874 when the "Bellville Enterprise" was established.

    Then in 1880, by an act of government, the word "Depot" was eliminated from the name of the city and Bells was made a part of Crockett County instead of Haywood County. In 1887, the population of Bells was about 600 people. It was the largest and most important town in the county. Land was worth $9.72 an acre. At this time Bell was one of the leading cotton markets and trading centers in West Tennessee. Also the first bank was founded this year.

    Utilities came into being in Bells in 1898 when telephone service was furnished inhabitants. Then in 1910 railroad service came into Bells. The Fire Department was organized in 1913. This was followed closely in 1915 by the formation of the Bells Light and Water Company. The electric power was turned on at dark and off at midnight.

    Bells is the home of the West Tennessee Okra Festival. The festival includes a horse show, beauty pageant, street carnival and other activities and shows. The Festival is always held during August, the peak of the okra season.

From the Crockett County Map
 by Southern Engineering, Glenn, MS, 1988
This info added to Wikipedia on August 4, 2006

Map of Bells, TN from Google.com

Last Edited on 04/21/2008