Strawberry Farm Speaking Standing Chair
Bell's Strawberry Farm
Family History
There are no victims here, only achievers and survivors.
Many pioneers bearing the name of Bell were in the provinces of New England as early as 1643, in New Jersey before 1680, and in Pennsylvania about 1682. To Virginia several of the name came from Scotland between 1642 and 1720. Most of these emigrants were from Edinburgh , Linlithgow, Jedburg, Paisley and Glasgow in Scotland; some from northern England and Southern Ireland and others from the counties Londonderry and Antrim in Northern Ireland. This a contemporary abridged history of one of these families.
Ora Ethelbert Bell Nellie Gladys (Smart) Bell
(George Bell's parents - Ed Bell's Grandparents - Nellie Bell's Great Grandparents )
Ora Bell was a precision molder at Swain Robison's Foundry in Richmond Indiana. He contracted T. B. in the 1933 at the height of the great depression and died one week before George Bell's tenth birthday in 1935. As with many families, the death of a bread winner during the great depression equaled hard times. Ora's wife Nellie lost her middle class home and moved into an apartment over an tavern. Nellie supported her young son George as a seamstress and ladies tailor. George Bell spent his summers as an "indentured servant" in exchange for room and board on a local dairy farm. The farm had no electricity no tractors. George farmed with draft horses and he learned the value of hard work hard at an early age.
Nellie and Ernie
Nellie Bell remarried in 1940. She married Ernie Hotsenpiller. Ernie and Nellie started a greenhouse business on five acres of ground in Richmond Indiana. They raised flowers, vegetables, and set plants.
George Bell was sixteen years old on December 7th 1941 during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. George like many young men answered the call to defend his nation. On October 1941 Nellie Bell signed the papers that would allowed her seventeen-year-old son to join the United State Navy. George Bell served in the navy in both WWII and the Korean war.
"Through many dangers, toils, and snares, we have already come;
Its grace that brought us safe so far, and grace will lead us home."
After a short time of training George was shipped straight into action in the Pacific theater. Shortly after his enlistment the government pasted a law that established a minimum service age of age 18. The Navy was forced to return young George to the states however during his return passage he had a birthday and he was again returned into combat. He was assigned to the USS Belleau Wood CVL 24. Shortly afterwards the Belleau Wood was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine but she was able to remain with the fleet and participate in several engagements until she could be later repaired at Pearl Harbor. The Belleau Wood fought throughout much of the Pacific campaign. George and the Belleau Wood went through eighteen major battles in thirteen months. The Belleau Wood served with Admiral Bull Haley's Task Force 58 and they liberate the Pacific from Japanese fascist imperialism.
Click Here to read the full history of the USS Belleau Wood
Ed and Nellie Bell pose in front of a TBF torpedo plane at the Dayton International Air Show.
It is the same kind of plane that George Bell flew in during WWII.
Click Here to learn more about the TBF.
Towards the end of WWII George Bell was transferred to the destroyer USS Haraden DD 585. He survived a kamikaze attack on Dec 13, 1944 that hit mid-ship near his general quarters station. The two photos above on the right were taken after the attack. After WWII George spent a year in China as the Haraden helped to clear mines and keep the peace.
Click Here to read the full history of the USS Haraden.
George Bell served on a submarine tender the USS Sperry during the Korean War.
George Bell on the veteran's float in the Hagerstown Jubilee Day's parade
After the wars George worked in law enforcement. He served the City of Richmond Indiana for fourteen years as a peace officer. He walked a beat, directed traffic, drove a patrol car and police ambulance. He delivered two sets of twins and a total of eight babies. Two of the babies he delivered were named after him.
George and Nonalee Bell
After a hard life and self admittedly a "bucket full of both good and bad life choices" George turned his life around through a faith in Christianity. Shortly after marrying Nonalee in 1955, George entered into the ministry. He has served in churches across Indiana for over the past forty years. George and Nonalee worked various jobs both part-time and full-time to support their family and ministries. Their son Ed was born in 1961. Though Ed is Nonalee's only son they were also blessed to continue some relationships with George's other children too. George and Nonalee purchased the present family farm in 1969. The Bells raised grain, livestock and horses. George started a small pig operation in the early 70s. They raised their son Ed to be a farmer, a horseman, an achiever and a survivor.
Judy, Jerry, Bud, and Ed (Some of George's kids)
Ed Bell demonstrates his early appreciation for horses.
Ed Bell - kindergarten picture, age 5, 1966
Ed and Miss Bobby in a walk and trot class.
Horses and farming were Ed's primary interest throughout his school years.
Wearing his blue corduroy jacket Ed poses for a picture with the Hagerstown High School FFA.
Ed Bell - Hagerstown High School, class of 1979
The last photograph in the 1979 high school year book is of Ed Bell "outstanding in his field.
Ed Bell meets Debbie Hollifield in 1981.
These photographs were taken of Ed just a couple months before his injury.
"We have passed tests that we did not ask for and achievements shared by all" George W. Bush 2004
On September 5th of 1982 Ed Bell survived a violent criminal attack. A man tried to kill both Ed and Debbie. Ed was shot both in the leg and neck with a 44 cal. hollow point bullet while defending Debbie. Debbie was not injured but their attacker was. The criminal was sent to jail after he was release from the hospital. Ed nearly lost his life but this strong farm boy persevered thanks to much prayer. Ed's life was changed forever by his assailant's bullet. Ed was left permanently paralyzed just below his collar bones and was a total quadriplegic for several months right after his injury. After many months of intensive therapy and with God's grace Ed was able to slowly regain most of the use of his hands and arms. The community rallied to help out. Neighbors and family harvested the crops and maintained the livestock operation. Friends helped in many ways including a local church that built a new side walk and wheelchair ramp onto the old farm house. The local Chevy dealer sold the Bell's a new van at his cost while others in the community helped to raise some of the funds.
December 12th, 1982 George Bell helps his son Ed return to their Indiana family farm.
After physical therapy Ed learned to rebuild his life, redefine success, and create new dreams. With the help from his family and friends, Ed modified his tractors and changed his farming operation. Ed stopped raising pigs and started growing produce and truck crops. In the early 80's Ed grew many acres of sweet corn, green beans and assorted vegetables which he sold retail out of an old barn on his farm.
On October 8th of 1983 Ed and Debbie are married.
Ed and Debbie started raising strawberries in 1985. In 1987 Ed and Debbie purchase the family farm from Ed's parents. In 1988 Indiana experienced the worst drought in 100 years of history. The Bells once again survived hardship and learned from life's lessons. In 1988 the Bells installed an irrigation system.
Nonalee and George hold Nellie Bell in her first photo
The doctors did not think that children would be a possibility for Ed because of his disability but once again God proved to have a sense of humor. In 1992, after waiting nine years Ed and Debbie were blessed with their daughter, Nellie Bell.
Some favorite photos of Nellie
Nellie Bell with her first home-made pie
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Trial by fire
Adversity has been no stranger to the Bell family
In October of 1995 adversity once again visited the Bell's when their old (pre 1822) log farm house caught fire. It was early evening. Ed had been out on the tractor all day and had retired to bed early. Debbie was busy doing several household chores, while three-year-old Nellie sat in a living room chair watching , (Of all things) "Barney's Fire Safety" video. The fire started due to an electrical short in a cloths drier. The fire spread quickly and gutted the porch, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The Bell's were able to escape through an old unused door even though it was not accessible to Ed's wheelchair. The fire department arrived in time to save much of the Bell's possessions yet the old house itself was considered a loss. Friends family and neighbors once again assisted in a time of need. The Bell's smoky possessions and furnishings were cleaned and scrubbed by many caring hands.
Click here to learn more about the fire and emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
Ed, Debbie and Nellie lived with Ed's parents until their new home could be built. Our new home is very comfortable and fully wheelchair accessible. It sets atop the same location where the original old farm house stood.
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Critters
Admiral Bull and Halsey with one of their many puppies
The Bell's have raised Doberman Pinchers for many year.
Nellie age 3 with Old Bull Nellie says goodbye to an old friend
Growing up on a farm affords the opportunity for a youngster to learn many of life's experiences at an early age. Farm kids learn young that adversity is part of life and life is not always fair. "Not every baby chick and kitten gets to grow up". The present generation of Doberman's names are Admiral Pride and Belleau Wood (Rear Admiral Pride commanded George Bell's aircraft carrier the USS Belleau Wood) Rest assured our dogs will give you a gentle and friendly greeting when we are home and they are trained not too when we aren't.
Our Family's present pets
Admiral Pride
A big brown dog with a great big heart.
Nellie and Pride take home a trophy from a 4H dog show.
Belleau Wood
Playful and curious. The world is her chew toy.
Click here to learn more about Bell's Dobermans
Killer
A true Doberman trapped in a Fox Terrier's body. Though he is fearless and knows no fear, he is a Mommy's boy when it comes to Debbie's attention.
G. Gordon Liddy
One of Nellie's many 4H rabbits
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Welcome to Bell’s Strawberry Farm.
Our farm has been in our family since 1969. Presently the farm is owned by Ed, Debbie and Nellie Bell. We have been raising strawberries since 1985.
Ed has lived on this farm since he was seven years old. Ed is a graduate of Hagerstown High School, and Purdue University’s Agricultural Short course. Ed manages and operates all of the farming enterprises. Ed uses a standing wheelchair and an electric scooter because of a spinal cord injury which he received in 1982. Ed also works part time as a professional public speaker and as a consultant for the Standing Wheelchair Company.
Debbie was raised as a city girl in Indianapolis. Debbie married Ed in 1983 and moved onto the farm. Debbie is involved a great deal with the farming operation, primarily with sales. In addition to being a mother and farm wife, Debbie is a part time emergency room RN at a hospital in Indianapolis.
Nellie is a full time farm kid. She enjoys exploring God’s creation, helping out with chores. Nellie is home shooled and she enjoys, 4H cake decorating, showing dogs, and playing piano. Additionally, Nellie is active in church and FFA.
The farmhouse that we live in was built in 1996. We call our home “Beracha” which is a Hebrew word for “praise” from a Bible story located in 1st Chronicles chapter 20. The original family farmhouse burnt in 1995 and was located on the same sight. The old house was built in the 1820s. It was a two-story log cabin. Ask the Bells to show you some of the salvaged hand hewed logs.
Our family has been no stranger to hardships. It is our belief that adversity and a trust in God, is what makes agricultural people like us so strong. It is also our belief that we are just God’s stewards of this farm and the land; consequently the strawberries that our family raises for your family are just part of our mission. As stewards we feel it is our duty to grow the best tasting, highest quality affordable, strawberries the safest way we know how for your family, all while providing a sustainable income for our own family.
Our farm is 72 acres in size. We raise several acres of strawberries in addition to asparagus, and black raspberries. Depending on the time of your visit we may have a litter or two of AKC Doberman puppies too. The strawberries that we raise are grown in a well-drained clay loam soil. They are irrigated from well water that lies trapped in a gravel aquifer forty feet below the surface. We plant our strawberries a year before they are harvested. The first year we pick off each and every bloom by hand to assure that the next year’s crop will be of good quality and quantity. All of our cultivation is safely practiced because in addition to eating our own berries, our family also lives on the same soil and drinks the same water as the strawberries.
We hope that you enjoy our strawberries as much as we enjoy providing them for you. If you have any questions or comments about our strawberries or our farm please take the time to ask Ed, Debbie or Nellie. It is our policy that it is “people over program”.
We would like to thank you for “Picking” our farm to raise your strawberries.
Ed, Debbie and Nellie Bell
16447 St. Rd. 38
Hagerstown, IN 47346
765-489-5753
765-489-6136 Fax
Relay 711
www.EatMoreStrawberries.com
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