| [Index] |
| Joseph William BELL (1885 - 1948) |
| Compositor, manager "Norther Miner" (1942-48) |
|
|
| b. 31 Mar 1885 at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia |
| m. 15 Jan 1910 Mary Norah Elizabeth Maitland CAIRNEY (1878 - 1957) at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia |
| d. 21 Nov 1948 at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia aged 63 |
| Cause of Death: |
| Uraemia |
| Parents: |
| William BELL (1855 - 1907) |
| Isabella GREY (1859 - 1934) |
| Siblings (4): |
| George Henry BELL (1887 - 1955) |
| Alice Maud BELL (1890 - 1914) |
| Ethel May BELL (1893 - 1980) |
| Edith Isabella BELL (1897 - 1951) |
| Children (3): |
| William Alan BELL (1911 - 1977) |
| Dulcie Honora BELL (1913 - 1983) |
| Marjorie Alice BELL (1916 - ) |
| Grandchildren (4): |
| Events in Joseph William BELL (1885 - 1948)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 31 Mar 1885 | Joseph William BELL was born | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Certificate | ||
| 03 Sep 1907 | 22 | Death of father William BELL (aged 52) | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 1 | |
| 15 Jan 1910 | 24 | Married Mary Norah Elizabeth Maitland CAIRNEY (aged 31) | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 2 | 61 |
| 08 Jan 1911 | 25 | Birth of son William Alan BELL | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | 1911/C006555 | 61 |
| 10 Dec 1913 | 28 | Birth of daughter Dulcie Honora BELL | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | 1913/C007520 | 61 |
| 18 Jan 1916 | 30 | Birth of daughter Marjorie Alice BELL | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | ||
| 1922 | 37 | Residence | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 3 | |
| 1934 | 49 | Residence | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 4 | |
| 12 Aug 1934 | 49 | Death of mother Isabella GREY (aged 75) | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 5 | |
| 21 Nov 1948 | 63 | Joseph William BELL died | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | Note 6 | 61 |
| 22 Nov 1948 | 63 | Burial | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia | ||
| Y | Death of daughter Marjorie Alice BELL | Queensland, Australia | Note 7 | ||
| Personal Notes: |
|
Northern Miner 22 Nov 1948
Obituary Billy Bell Habitues of the Charters Towers racecourse on Saturday must have missed from the press box the unobtrusive but familiar figure of Billy Bell. It was one of the few race meeting 40 years from which he was absent. His lifelong association with printing industry and his real love of the sport fitted him logically into the role of assistant in race reporting, and every pressman associated with the "Northern Miner" over the past four decades has been grateful for the help he regularly gave them on the racecourse. He was absent on Saturday because he was critically ill. He was removed to hospital that day and passed away early yesterday morning. The late Mr. Bell was manager of the "Northern Miner", whose staff, as did all who knew him, held him in affectionate esteem. Five weeks ago he suffered a breakdown in health. Few of his friends, however, realized that his condition was so serious, and to them the shock of his demise is severe and saddening. Inclined to shyness and consequently taking little part in public affairs, Joseph William Bell led an unspectacular but useful life. He was a Charters Towers native and his only absence from the city in his lifetime of 63 years were brief holidays. He started work in 1898 as an apprentice in the printing trade to the late “Jimmy” Bryce who conducted a job printery between the Excelsior Hotel and Theatre Royal. In 1917 Bill Bell came the “Northern Miner” and took control of the jobbing department from his brother George, who went to, and still remains with, the “Townsville Bulletin”. As foreman printer, the late Mr. Bell was mentor to many lads in their apprenticeship, and turned out some really good tradesmen compositors. During the difficult years of the last world war he assumed the management of the “Northern Miner”. His active association with the Foresters’ Lodge represented practically his only interest outside his work and home. He occupied every office in the Lodge, and was treasurer at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs T Billam of Innisfail and Mrs F Stanger of Charters Towers, one son Alan, who resides in Mackay, a step-son, Mr Tas. Maitland of Brisbane, two sisters, the Misses Edith of Sydney and Ethyl of Charters Towers and his brother George. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from St Paul’s Church of England, members of the “Northern Miner” staff acting as pall-bearers. Notes Resided Hodgkinson St then School St, Charters Towers Known as JWB. In his youth he worked in Brice's Printing works and then at the 'Northern Miner'. He managed this during the war years of 1942-48. He was a compositor and also ran his own rubber stamp business from School Street. He was a writer of humorous poems. Too old for soldiering, he was an air-raid warden during the war, going out after dark with his tin hat, torch and gas mask. There were some hilarious and sometimes worrying nights and he had numerous humerous tales about this. |
| Source References: |
| 61. Type: Vital Record, Abbr: Australian BDM Record Index, Title: Australia Birth, Death, Marriage Record Index |
| - Reference = Qld Death 1948/C4715 (Death) |
| - Notes: copy of certificate by M Stanger, 1948/004715
Lynd Hwy, sect 8, plot 613, No 10790, Anglican, beside 12254 (Mary Maud Elizabeth) |
| - Reference = Qld Marriage 1910/C1653 (Marriage) |
| - Notes: 1910/001653, witnesswed by Joseph's brother George Henry Bell |