Another story from former editor Charles E. Bunnell (Charlie to his friends) recently compiled Bonnells & Bunnells of Note (And a few Burnells & Burrells for Good Measure). The complete work is available on Internet Archive at this link: Charlie Bunnell's Bonnells & Bunnells of Note This story is not reprinted verbatim from Charlie's book. Some of his internet links don't work any more. When possible they've been replaced with active links.
Nell Bunnell-Smith was a prominent and popular American Chautauqua singer. The University of Iowa Libraries, Special Collections Department is the go to resource for information on Chautaqua performers and the Chautauqua Circuit and much is available online at: Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century
At the time of this blog post the digital collection includes two items relating to Nell Bunnell/Nell Bunnell-Smith. This one is in the public domain:
The rights of the other brochure are restricted: Educational use only, no other permissions given. U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this digital image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
It is a 3-page Redpath brochure promoting the concert trio of Nell Bunnell, Helen Crowe and Ethel Freeman. "A company of exceptional artists giving a versatile, artistic and popular entertainment," according to the brochure's cover.
Charlie's transcription is permissable, however: “Ms. Bunnell might be called the ‘vocalist of the heart.’ She sings the songs that are dear to the people; songs that have been employed to express their joys and their griefs, their hopes and fears. Her personality is most winsome, her repertoire is universally popular and not the least of the charm of her work is the fact that one distinctly understands every word she sings.”
The rest is verbatim from Charlie's book, and shows the meticulous research he and his correspondents conducted to complete and correct Claude Bonnell's database.
In the first issue of the Newsletter that published, March 2003 (Vol. 17, No. 1), on pages 10 and 11 we had a short article on Miss Nell Bunnell who was an Unattached Branch. She was a soprano singer who toured with the Chautauqua shows. And from one short piece I had learned that she did marry and, ahead of her time, used a hyphenated last name: Nell Bunnell-Smith. Recently I decided to reopen the search for her ancestry believing that so much data had been added to the internet in the last 8 years that I should be able to learn more. And I was right. I found more than 40 pages from newspapers and magazines that have her name on them. And along the way I had some help from subscribers.
He learned from the Stonghurst, IL Stronghurst Graphic, September 4, 1913
(Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1913) that Ms. Bunnell appeared there at a Chautauqua on the preceding Sunday, August 31st: “Miss Nell Bunnell proved she still possesses complete mastery over a soprano voice, "…”
Then on Jan 12, 1928 in the Anadarko, Oklahoma Tribune (NewspaperArchive.com) a Nell Bunnell is again mentioned, but nothing indicates that this is the same Nell cited above: “MRS. NELL BUNNELL and JANE ARLENE of Chickasha are here this week while her sister, Mrs. IDA WRIGHT, is convalescing from an attack of tonsilitis.” (Blog editor's note: at the time this article was originally published in the newsletter, Charlie's reference was to a transcription: Caddo Co. OK Newspaper - Anadarko Tribune Submitted By Sandy Miller
Trying to track down Nell Bunnell to see where she lived and worked and when and whom she married was one of the first challenges. I was able to find the following printed sources through Ancestry.com and when read in the order they appeared, there begins to appear an outline of much of her life. In part, this exercise serves as a good example of how much information can be gleaned from sources other than court house records.
S1: Hamilton Daily News, Hamilton Oho
S2: Hamilton Journal & Hamilton Evening Journal, Hamilton, Ohio
S3: Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach, FL
S4: The Lyceumite & Talent, published by The Lyceum Magazine, Chicago, IL
S5: The Lyceum Magazine, Chicago, IL
S6: Visitor’s Guide and Municipal Band Program, Greater Palm Beach, #1469
S7: Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001
S8: The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach, FL.
S9: Florida Death Index
S10: Ohio Department of Health Death Index
1908 - “Song and Story. Miss Nell Bunnell of Middletown, and Miss Bertha Johns give an evening of sound and story tonight at West Elkton, this being the third number on the lecture course there.” S2, 18 Dec 1908, pg. 6.
1910 - “The Redpath Concert Trio for 1910-1911 will include Nell Bunnell, Middletown, Ohio, soprano; …” S4, Feb 1910, pg. 54
1910 - Soloist at the Georgia Chautauqua, Albany, GA, April 17-23, 1910. S4, Apr 1910, pg. 58
1911 - Recovering from throat trouble and “will head the ‘Nell Bunnell Concert Company’ …” S4, Apr 1911, pg. 50
1911 - Appeared at a Chautauqua in Dothan, AL in early 1911. S4, Jul 1911, pg. 23
1911 - “Dr. W. L. Davidson corrects a statement in a recent issue to the effect that Miss Nell Bunnell of Hamilton, O., has been compelled to give up her platform work thru ill health. He says Miss Bunnell has finished her tour of his Chautauquas in splendid form and never did better work in her life.” S4, Jul 1911, pg. 43
1911 - “The attractions appearing for the Alkahest assemblies are William Jennings Bryan, Evelyn Bargelt, Nell Bunnell, …” S4, Sep 1911, pg. 24
1911 - On Sept. 18, 1911, the “Nell Bunnell Concert Co.,” appeared at the Millionaire’s Club, Copper Hill, TN. S4, Oct 1911, pg. 44
1911 - “Miss Nell Bunnell was taken sick at Micanopy, Florida, and compelled to return to her home in Middletown, Ohio. She is at the head of her own company.” S4, Dec 1911, pg. 45
1912 - “Miss Nell Bunnell, who is at the head of her own company this season, and who suffered from a severe case of malaria fever contracted during her tour in Florida in the early fall, rejoined her company the first of December and is doing better work than ever. She lost several pounds of flesh during her illness, but none of her voice. …” S4, Jan 1912, pg. 44.
1912 - Through the spring and early summer she appeared in Florala, AL; Bonliay, Lakeland, Orlando, and Gainesville, FL; Atlanta, GA. S4, multiple issues. S4 & S5, multiple issues.
1913 - She again covered the southern circuit, performing at Waycross, GA; Defuniak Springs, FL at a minimum. S4 & S5, multiple issues.
1913 - “Nell Bunnell, the lyceum singer, is to be married.” S5, Jul 1913, pg. 38.
1920 – “Administratrix named for H. H. Smith Estate. Judge R. S. Woodruff in probate court Thursday appointed Nell B. Smith of Middletown, to be administratrix of the $12,500 estate of Harvey H. Smith, late of Lemon township.” S1, 3 Dec 1920, pg. 20 [That estate would equate to about $135,000 today]
1923 – “Entertain Vets. … Mrs. Nell Bunnell Smith and other prominent entertainers from Middletown also appeared on the program.” S1, 10 Apr 1923, pg. 15.
1925 – “Nancy and Jacob Smith, children of Mrs. Nell Bunnell Smith are seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia at their residence on Coles road.” S1, 24 Feb 1925, pg. 9.
1925 – “Mrs. Edward Bunnell of Coles Road, is very ill at her home. Her friends are wishing for her speedy recovery.” S1, 4 Mar 1925, pg. 7. [This may be Nell’s mother.]
1925 – “Nell Bunnell-Smith Appointed Guardian. Nell Bunnell-Smith made application and was appointed guardian of Nancy Jane Smith and Jacob E. Smith, minors, in probate court Thursday. The estate consists of $900 in cash and real estate in Florida and Canada worth $200. She gave $2,500 bond with S. E. Bunnell and W. H. Johnson as sureties.” S1, 23 Jul 1925, pg. 16. [S. E. Bunnell may be Nell’s father.]
1925-1926 – Winter season, Nell Bunnell Roser performed vocal solos at the Municipal Band performance at West Palm Beach, on 28 Feb., 3 Mar., 4 Mar., and 6 Mar. S6, 1925-1926. [Nell has remarried]
1926 – “Lad is Injured. Jacob Smith, son of Mrs. Nell Bunnell Smith-Roser, Miami, Fla., visiting relatives in this city [Middletown] was injured when at play near his home today, and underwent an operation at Middletown hospital.” S1, 16 Jun. 1926, pg. 7.
1926 – “Complimenting her sister, Mrs. Nell Bunnell Roser, of Miami, Fla., who is to return home Sunday after a two month visit here, Mrs. Arthur Harvey collected …” S1, 4 Sep 1926, pg. 7. [Establishes that Nell had a sister]
1926 – “Word was received from Harold Yaw, Mrs. Nell Bunnell Roser and Mrs. Tom May, all former Middletown residents now in Miami, that all were safe. Yaw and Mrs. May suffered heavy financial losses due to damage to buildings.” S2, 22 Sep. 1926, pg. 16. [On 17 Sep. 1926 the Miami/Palm Beach area was struck by a tremendous hurricane with 130 mph winds. About 450 people were killed.]
1927 – “Ed Bunnell returned to Middletown Thursday after passing the winter with his daughter Nell Bunnell Roser, at Fort Worth, Fla. Mr. Bunnell will remain in this city for the summer with his daughter Mrs. Arthur Harvey and family.” S1, 14 May 1927, pg. 7. [Nell’s father is Ed, which may be his middle name.]
1927 – Divorce between Charles A. Roser and Nell Bunnell. S7
1930 – “D.P. Council Marries Nell Bunnell Roser in Ceremony at Asheville. Ashville, N. C.., Sept. 6. Verification of the marriage of D. P. Council, well known Lake Worth, Fla., resident and Madame Nell Bunnell Roser, prominent Lake Worth singer, was given here Saturday. The marriage took place here in July, it was learned Saturday, but the couple made every effort to keep it secret until their return to lake Worth. …” S8, 7 Sep 1930, pg. 8.
1931 – “Mrs. D. P. Council (Nell Bunnell Smith) and son Buddy of Lakeworth [sic] Fla., left Monday for their summer home near Danville, KY., where they will spend the summer months. They were accompanied by the former’s daughter, Miss Nancy Jane Smith and Miss Robin Vorhis.” S1, 16 Jun 1931, pg. 7.
1938 – Ohio Department of Health Index: Date of Death
Name of Deceased County & City Vol. No. Certificate Mo Day Yr
Council, Nell Bunnell Middletown 8795 33008 6 08 38
The newspaper articles alone provide a wealth of information: her career, marriages, death of her first husband, her children, residences, possible parents, and a sister who married Arthur Harvey. They certainly point us in the directions we need to look for more detailed or official information and sources.
Enter Freda Long, 82 Elm St., Germantown, OH 45327, who found Nell’s gravestone in the Woodside Cemetery, Middletown, OH which provided us with her birth date (1882) and death date (1938). I later found her cemetery listing on the web which shows her name as Nell Bunnell-Council. Also buried in that cemetery are Dr. H. H. Smith (1872 -1920), Nell’s 1st husband, and Samuel E. and Martha A. Bunnell. Samuel could well be the S. E. Bunnell mentioned in the 1925 guardianship notice; however in the previous article a Mrs. Edward Bunnell is mentioned. The 1927 notice states that her father’s name is Ed which seems to confirm that Samuel goes by a middle name, such as Edward.
Adding to the confusion are two more newspaper articles and a death certificate index:
1933 – S. D. Bunnell. Samuel Daniel Bunnell, 72, suffered a stroke of paralysis a year ago since which time he had been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. D. T. Council in Lake Worth, Fla., where he died on Wednesday night. For many years Mr. Bunnell was connected with the American Tobacco company and was prominent in civic affairs in Middletown. He retired 10 years ago. The remains will be brought to Middletown and taken to the house of another daughter, Mrs. Arthur Harvey. Funeral arrangements will be made after the arrival of the remains here.” S2, 4 May 1933, pg. 15.
Florida Death Index, 1933: Guide
Name Place Sex Col. Vol. Number Year
Bunnell, Samuel Edgar Palm Beach M W 583 8057 1933
Claude’s database shows Nell’s sister, Rose, as marrying Arthur Harvey. And he cites the Hampden co., MA Vital Records as stating that Rose’s parents were S. Edgar and Martha.
If the Samuel Bunnell in the Death Index is the same one whose remains were sent to Middletown, then the newspaper appears to have printed the wrong middle name.
To try and sort out these inconsistencies I have ordered the death certificates for Nell Bunnell and Samuel Edgar Bunnell. But even without them, the above information does provide some updates for the database:
1. CB008523 in the database is Nellie I. Bonnell. I believe Claude used the Bonnell spelling base on the 1900 census for Butler County, OH. Nellie, her father Edward, mother Martha and sister Ruth L. are listed as “Bonnell.” However, based on the multiple sources cited above, the spelling is definitely “Bu” rather than “Bo.” Apparently the census taker wrote down what he thought he heard. I’m confident this is our Nellie based on other family info in the data base.
a. Nellie’s marriages can now be added to the web page.
b. Her singing career should be mentioned.
c. Her death date and burial location can now be shown.
2. CB040855 is Nell Bunnell who married Charles A. Roser. This entry should be eliminated as the information will be listed with CB008523.
Nell’s first husband was Harry H. Smith, born 1872 and died November 1920. His type of practice was Allopath and he practiced in Jeffersonville, IN, 1907 and Middletown, OH, Oct 24, 1911. He was a graduate of Indiana Medical College, School of Medicine of Purdue University, Indianapolis, 1907. [Source: Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929, Ancestry.com].
Next I wanted to try and determine Nell’s lineage.
Parents: probable: Samuel Edgar/Edward and Martha Bunnell
possible Edward and Martha Bunnell.
Grandparents:
Warren County 1880 census shows Arch and Hannah Bunnell with a son Samuel E., b. about 1862 and a William and Mary A Bunnell with a son Eddie, b. abt1871.
Hamilton County 1880 census shows William & Roxyann Bunnell with a son Samuel, b. about 1862.
Butler County 1880 census shows Oliver and Mary A. Bunnell with a son Eddie, b. abt. 1868.
Seneca, Summit and Wyandot, Ohio each show an Edward Bunnell or Bonnel b. between 1868 and 1879 who would be considered if the death certificates show that Nell’s father’s name was Edward.
So, in the next issue we hope to complete Nell’s lineage based on the results of the death certificates.
In the continuation of the Nell Bunnell saga, we received her death certificate the day after we finished the previous newsletter. Here’s what we learned from it:
Name: Nell Bunnell Council Address: 600 Alameda St, Middletown, OH Husband: David P. Council.
Date of Birth: Nov. 22, 1882 Age at death: 55 years, 6 months, 16 days Date of Death; June 8, 1938
Birthplace: Red Lion Ohio Father’s name: S.E. Bunnell Father’s Birthplace: Ohio
Mother’s Name: Martha Kim Mother’s Birthplace: Ind. Informant: Ruth Harvey
Trade or profession: Musician
Cause of Death: Carcinoma Oesophagus, right breast, left hip, cervical vertebrae, cerebral Hemorrage.
While I was hoping it would show her father’s precise name, the S. E. certainly narrows it down
A couple of days later I received the death certificate for Samuel Edgar Bunnell, which was listed in the Florida index of death certificates. And it provided precisely the information I was looking for.
Name: Samuel Edgar Bunnell Address: Lake Osborne Rd, Lantana, FL Wife: Martha Bunnell, deceased..
Date of Birth: Jun 1, 1861 Age at death: 71 years, 11 months, 2 days Date of Death; May 2, 1933
Birthplace: Warren Co., Ohio Father’s name: Archibald Bunnell Father’s Birthplace: Ohio
Mother’s Name: Hannah Schnorff Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio Informant: Mrs. Nell B. Council
Trade or profession: Retired Tobacco Mfg.
Cause of Death: Cerebral Hemorrage.
This clears up and consolidates several entries in the database for Nell, her father and her sister.
Nell Bunnell was born 22 Nov 1882 in Red Lion, Warren co., OH daughter of Samuel Edgar and Martha (Kim or Kern) Bunnell.
M. (1) Dr. Harry H. Smith, b. 1872; d. 1920. Issue (surname Smith)
Nancy J., b. abt 1916
Jacob E., b. abt 1918
M. (2) abt. 1925, Charles A. Roser; div. 1927; no issue
M (3) July 1930, David P. Council; no issue
In the database
CB040855 Nell Bunnell should be removed.
CB008523. Nellie I. Bonnell & CB008524 Ruth Louise Bonnell should be realigned under CB341141, Samuel Edgar Bunnell and the spelling of their surname corrected.
CB008522 Edward L. S. Bonnell: All entries regarding Nellie and Ruth Bunnell and Martha Kern should be removed.
CB341141 Samuel Edgar Bunnell: b. 1 Jun 1861, Warren co., OH, son of Archibald and Hannah (Schnorff) Bunnell. M. 22 Feb 1882, Martha A. Kim or Kern, b. 1861, d. 1925.
Finally, using what we have learned and the database, we can now report Nell’s ancestry back to William the immigrant: William1, Nathaniel2, James3, Stephen4, Jonas5, George6, Archibald7, Samuel8, Nell9.
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