General Notes

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Married late in life and had no children.

The Later Years of Glen Bell as told by James Collier 3/99

Glen Bell had been an alcoholic for many years.  So much so that he let his home slowly disintegrate to the point of being unlivable.  So Glen moved into East Council Grove into a little apartment.  One night late James Collier received a call from the Council Grove Police to come down to the Police Station where they were holding Glen.  Apparently for no apparent reason , Glen had decided to run around the streets of Council Grove in the nude.  It was suggested by the Police that Glen be committed to the State Hospital for proper care.  James and one of his Uncles went to Glen's apartment to see if they could find clothes or money for him. They searched every inch of his apartment and found Glen to be totally broke - not even a dime in the place.

Since family had to commit individuals in those days, the Police asked Ada May Bell Allen to sign the papers to have Glen committed - something Glen never forgave her for in his later years.

James Collier began working Glen's land and deposited a percentage of the earnings into an account for Glen so that if he got out of the hospital he would at least have some money.

While in the hospital, however, Glen met Anna.  They apparently fell in love and one day while having one of their day excursions they escaped and ran off and got married.  Since the nearest of kin has to sign the papers to keep you committed, and since Glen and Anna were now then nearest of kin to each other, they signed themselves out of the hospital.

Some time later, Glen decided to sell his property.  His alcoholic ways had not changed.  The person who was buying the property tried to get it for a song, so James Collier took him to court to try and get fair market value for Glen.  The courts ruled in James favor and gave Glen fair market value.  All in all by this time Glen was worth about $80,000.00.  Unfortunately, Glen was furious with James for interfering and decided to cut all his relatives out of his will.

He and Anna went down and had a new will made up that left all of his money to her bastard son in the Netherlands.

After Glen's death, the family urged James to go to court to contest the will for they felt he was due a good share since he had made it all possible for Glen.  Although the family did w n, what they received only paid the attorney's fees and gave them about $20.00 each.