Here is the information that I have on my Kell line.

According to family legend, three Kell brothers & two Kell sisters (John, Mathew, James, Jannett & Ann) came from County Antrim Ireland to South Carolina in 1772. All three brothers fought in the American Revolution. They served in the Continental Army (The Partisans) under Francis Marion, "The Swamp Fox." (My GG Grandfather, Francis Marion Kell was named after him). Their military records are in the South Carolina State Archives. They received land in lieu of payment for military service. The family members were strict "Scottish Presbyterians." One brother (Mathew, I think) was killed in battle and the other one (James, I think) married his dead brother's widow, Martha (in 1787), the "beautiful red-headed girl" who was the cause of their leaving Ireland. I believe that James Kell (b. 1790? Chester District, SC) was James & Martha's son. He married Elizabeth Fields (b. 1792? Cobbs Farm VA; raised near Louiville, KY) on March 7, 1815 in Gibson County, Indiana.. They had the following children:.

**Permelia 12-1-1816

**Archibald 12-25-1817

**Joseph 2-12-1820

**Syntha 6-29-1820 (either Joseph's or Syntha's date doesn't sound right but that's what I have)

**Mathew 11-22-1826

**Abraham "Abe" 4-4-1829

**Francis Marion (my grandmother's grandfather, b. 4-21-1832)

**Scott McDonald 9-27-1834

**Levis Steward 9-20-1837

**Josephine ?

All were born six miles up the river from Terre Haute, Indiana on the Wabash in Warren County, Indiana


According to my information, James & Elizabeth Kell moved their family to Texas in 1838, and settled in Cedar Creek Community prior to the organization of the county in 1850. James Kell was appointed the first Justice of the Peace of Cedar Creek Community, Bell County, in 1842.


He owned land on the tributary of the Leon River called the Cow House - a branch of that stream is called Kell Creek.

Both James and Elizabeth Fields Kell are buried in upper Bell County - now Bosque County.

(I'm still not sure when or how James Kell got to Indiana.)

Their son, Archibald "Arch", brother of Francis Marion Kell, was the first man in Bell County, TX to record a cattle brand - the Arch Kell brand. He later lived in Bosque County.

Francis Marian Kell (my GG Grandfather) married Sarah Lucinda Potter at Columbia Anna Community Church on September 1st, 1852. (Sarah Lucinda Potter, b. Spartanburg District, SC, Septemeber 22, 1832, moved to TX with her parents in the 1840s. She was the niece of Robert Potter, the Secretary of the Navy in the first cabinet of the Republic of Texas under Sam Houston. Robert Potter was also a Congressman for North Carolina for several terms. Sarah Lucinda Potter Kell died August 28, 1871 in Clifton, TX).

Francis Marion Kell & Sarah Lucinda Potter Kell's children:

** Martha, m. Jess Thomas

** Archibald (died of typhoid fever in his early 20s)

** Frank m. Lula Kemp

**John Bell m. Susan Rebecca (SueBeck) McSpadden in Clifton, TX. He b. Bell County, TX early 1860s; d. January, 1933 Cheyenne, OK. (Was my Grandmother's father). Had 5 children: Florence, Clyde, Josie, Gladys (my Grandmother, b. Clifton, TX May 19, 1901; m.

Kenneth A. White August 5, 1919 in Raton, NM), & Maide.

**Mary Ellen "Molly" m. Jefferson G. Gibbs

**Sarah "Sally" m. Dr. R. C. Smith

**JoAnna m. John Gallagher (twin)

**Josephine m Martin Luther Thompson (twin)

**Emma m. Reuben Gray Mixon

**Lucy Kell (died in infancy) (twin)

**F.M. Kell, Jr. "Mann" m. Pick Hyer (twin)

Francis Marion Kell's 2nd wife was Emma Riffle - children: Leslie m. Mary Partlow; Addie m. Rebel L. Bewlay; Lula m. Thomas Hughes; William and Maggie (both of whom died in infancy)

Francis Marion Kell became a citizen of the Republic of Texas in 1838 in Anderson County.

During the Civil War, Francis Marion Kell fought in the Frontier Guard and, in the latter part of the war, under the command of Captain S.S. Trotter. He also engaged in numerous battles with hostile Indians.

He became a successful cattle stockman in Bosque County, where he moved in 1852. He acquired a tract of land where Clifton is now located and also a considerable portion of Bosque River Valley lands immediately around Clifton.

For a number of years, from 1883, he maintained a public house for local boarders and travelers. He was one of the organizers of Bosque County. He was also one of the organizers of the Masonic Lodge in Clifton, TX and remained a member throughout his life.

He was a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, organized in 1861. He donated the land on which the first church was constructed. This group became the present First Presbyterian Church in Clifton, which is recognized as the church with the longest continuous service in Bosque County.

Francis Marion Kell died January 22 (or 23), 1918 in Wichita Falls, TX and is buried at the Clifton, TX Cemetery, in the center of which stands a full size bronze statue of Francis Marion Kell with his bearded face gazing at the heavens, a Bible in his left hand, and his right hand extended skyward. On the base of the statue is written "He Will Not Forsake Thee"


Source: C. Rust