IOWA STATE BYSTANDER, Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, February 12, 1915, Vol. XXI, No. 32, Front Page, Column 6
OBITUARY
MR. BELL DEAD
Peter Bell was born October 17, 1830, and died February 5, 1915, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 20 days. He was born in Florence, Alabama, and moved to Mississippi in early life and joined the union army at that place. After serving his enlistment he came to Redfield, Iowa, on the 29th day of June, where he joined his family, who had preceded him in February of that year. He has lived in Iowa on a farm ever since except the last twelve years he has been a resident of Des Moines.
He was married at Corinth, Miss., in the year 1847 to Elizabeth Bell, who survives him, the wedded life having been a period of more than sixty-eight years. There was born to them seventeen children, of whom eleven are living to mourn his loss, as follows: Atty T. W. Bell of Leavenworth, Kansas, Atty. A. L. Bell of Sheridan, Wyo., Mrs. N. D. Valentine, Los Angeles, Cal., Theo. Bell, Des Moines, Miss Mayre Bell, Des Moines, Hayes Bell, Des Moines, Josephine Bell, Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. J. W. Bowles, Ft. Madison, Iowa, Mrs. Leon Harris, High Point, N. C., Mrs. J. G. Davis, Des Moines, eight of whom were present at his bedside at the time of his death; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren and other relatives and friends. He was resigned to go and professed a full satisfaction in Christ and his heavenly home.
The funeral was conducted at the home by Rev. T. L. Griffith, assisted by Rev. S. Bates and Rev. E. J. Jackson. The pall bearers were Atty. S. Joe Brown, Atty. J. B. Rush, E. R. Hall, Will Buckner, Harrison Gould and Alex Coleman. Interment was in the receiving vault at Woodland cemetery.
(**** Reinterred at a later date, probably 1927-1929, at West Linn Cemetery, Linn Township, Dallas County, Iowa near Linden, Iowa.)

THE CASEY VINDICATOR, Casey, Iowa, 19 February 1915 p.1 c4
Death of Peter BELL
Peter Bell, the aged Negro corn cure street vender, familiar to hundreds of people in Des Moines, died Saturday night at his home at 1340 Jefferson street. He was 84 years old.
Probably no character in Des Moines was so well known as "Doc" Bell, as he was familiarly called. He wore a silk hat, carried a boot black outfit on his back, which he used as foot support if one wanted his aching corn attended to in some nearby shining parlor, and always had an oilcloth sign suspended from a cane. The sign announced his occupation. He was always respectful in his manner, but many people will remember the mumbled coution {sp}. "You had better have those corns attended to."
His warning always created a laugh and none had an ill word for "Doc" Bell engaged is the seriousness of soliciting customers. The corn cure was prepared by his wife. "Doc" Bell prided himself upon his ability as a chiropodist.
"Doc" Bell was one of the few Negro farmers in Iowa. Following the war he came north and thirty-five years ago located upon a farm in Dallas county. He became interested in chiropody and moved to Des Moines to sell corn salve which his wife prepared from a special recipe.
He was the father of seventeen children, eleven of whom are living. -- Des Moines Tribune.