Samuel Arthur Bell was born 1749 in Surry County, VA.  Later moving to Sampson County, NC. He served in the Revolutionary War and received a pension for his service. In 1807 he moved to Robeson County.

Hardy H. Bell was born about 1786, in Sampson County, NC. His parents are Arthur and Unknown. But records indicate that a Hardy Bell was bound to Samuel Bell, Aug. 27, 1810 in Robeson County, NC.

Other records in Robeson County show that Samuel named Hardy his grandson.

The Bell Family lived in the Saddletree Area, on the old stage road from Lumberton to Fayetteville. Hardy married Sarah “Sallie” Parker about 1820. In 1840, Hardy moved to Lumberton and began a merchandising business.

For several years he was the most prominent merchant in Lumberton. He was very successful, because he was the third largest land owner in the Robeson County, Saddletree Community, before his sudden death, April 28, 1866, owning land from Lumberton to Saddletree and the Ten Mile Swamp. Estate records show that he owned some lots in Lumberton and land out Hwy 41. Today, we might consider him a realtor. He bought and sold much land. But he died without a will. But much of the land was lost in the courts trying to settle his estate.

Descendants still owns some of the original Hardy Bell land that his daughter and son, Helen Bell Santee and Wiley D. Bell received in the settlement.

Hardy Bell and Sarah Parker Family

Hardy and Sarah had 7 children, Mary Eliza, Nancy, Harriet, Wiley Daniel, Helen, Amos and Seymore.

1.     Mary Eliza (1822-unknown) married William Nelson Smith, December 14, 1836. They had 13 children: (a) Caroline who married David Carter. They had 11 children. (b) Sarah Frances married John R. Carter. They had about 8 children. (c) James Henry married Winnie M. Connor. They had 8 children. (d) Hardy H. married Mary E. Carter. They had 2 children. (e) Evander married Mary and they had 1 child. (f) John W. married Clarrisa and they had 3 children. (g) Sally married Thomas Goins and they had 1 child. (h) Fannie A. married Joseph French and they had 9 children. Don’t know anything about the other children.

2.     Nancy (1826 - bef. 1866) married Jonathan Revels, Nov. 11, 1843. They had 7 children. The only one that I know anything about is Clarisey A. who married Peter Chavis. They had 8 children

3.     Harriet (1827 – 11-10-1892) married Dolphin Hardin, Jan. 10, 1844. They had 12 children. (a) Frances married Robert Bell and they had 6 children. (b) Daniel married Aile Revels and they had 10 children. (c) Robert married Nettie Hammonds and they had 10 children. (d) John had 4 wives and 8 known children. (e) Condary married Ameretta Baxley and they had 13 children. (f) Sarah Salley married Simon Brewington and they had 4 children. (g) Mary Susan married Sandy Burnett and they had 10 children. (h) Amos married Annie Locklear and they had 8 children. Eliza and Lonzo Oxendine had 1 child. (i) William James married (1) Effie Hunt and (2) Nancy Anderson and had a total of 15 children. (j) Helen married Peter Bell and they had 5 children. (k) Mollie married Riley Chavis and they had 11 children.

4.     Wiley (8-31-1831 – 4-9-1909) married Martha Conner, Mar. 8, 1854. Their children were: Polly, Andrew, Hardy H., Sarah C., John J., and Mattie. (a) Andrew married Caroline Revels and they had 5 children. (b) Hardy H. II married Narcissus Hammonds and they had 11 children. (c) Sarah C. married James W. Blanks and they had 4 children. (d) John J. married Serenah Carter and they had 10 children. (e) Mattie married Thadaus Hammonds and they had 9 children. Many of the children in these families have 10 to 15 children.

5.     Helen (1832 – abt. 1902) married Kennedy Santee, Apr. 2, 1853. Their children were: Farme, Alonzo, Lucy, Mary, William J., and H.B. They Helen and Kennedy families have been included in this booklet.

6.     Amos (5-8-1837 – 2-8-1919) married Catherine Revels, August 14, 1866. They had 8 children. (a) Nancy married (1) Leonard Swett (2) Levi Hunt and (3) Alexander Chavis and she had a total of 7 children. (b) Duncan married Martha Jane Mitchell and they had 10 children. (c) Malendy married an Oxendine and they had 2 children. (d) Seymore, II married Sarah C. Hammonds and they had 6 children. (e) James Warren married Lucretia Ledwell and they had 11 children. (f) Rosa married Abner Lowery and they had 1 child. (g) Aretta married Samuel J. Chavis and they had 2 children.

7.     Seymore (1839 – unknown) married Eliza Hammonds, March 30, 1854. No children were born to this marriage.

My grandfather was H.B. Santee (Santee later changed to Canady) son of Kennedy and Helen Bell Santee (Santee later changed to Canady). H.B. was born Oct. 1, 1871 and died of a heart attack, Jun. 25, 1950. He married (1) Jane Revels, daughter of Hinson and Sally Deese Revels and (2) Luella Hardin, daughter of Condary and Amaretta Baxley Hardin.

H.B. and Jane Revels Canady’s children were: Clarence (1894 – 1953), Ora (1896 – 1-30-1951), Jennie (12-24-1898 – 11-24-1995), Grady (8-4-1900 – 1-26-1972), Raymond (7-27-05 – 12-12-81), Stella (3-8-06 – 1-22-79), Rex (1907 – 1968), Halmon (1909 – 1979), Gertrude, my mother, was born Oct. 18, 1911.  

H.B and Luella Hardin Canady’s children were: Harvey (10-16-1917 - 7-19-2006), Hazel (4-24-1920), Leslie (1922-2002), Essie Neal (1924-1986), Doug (1926-2001), and Walter (1928-2002).

Hardy H. Bell was my great-great-grandfather. He had approximately 46 grandchildren and over 268 great grandchildren.  I have found that if  you descended from the Saddletree area you are probably my kin.

Sources: NC Archive Records, Robeson County Census, Robeson County Register of Deeds, The Robesonian, The Fayetteville Observer Times. My Cemetery Records, Mr. Sam West, and Personal Interviews.

TEN MILE CENTER BAPTIST CHURCH
The church, old one and the new one were built on land formerly owned by Hardy H. Bell.

Ten Mile Center Church is an outgrowth of the old Magnolia Church, which was located about 2 miles south of the present site on Hwy 301.

According to the Burnt Swamp Association minutes, an association was held at the old Magnolia Church in 1882. Cary Wilkins served as moderator; J.S. Wilkins as clerk; and J.W. Blanks as preacher.

After the Magnolia Church burned, an interested group began to meet at Magnolia School (a two – room building). Seymour Bell, Lloyd Lowry, Thad Hammonds, Will Collins, and G.L. Canady, Sr. helped organize a Sunday School and choir.

The group soon felt the need for a church building; thus plans were made to build Ten Mile Center Church. A building site located on the east side of Hwy 301 adjacent to Ten Mile Swamp was obtained from H.B. Canady. The foundation was laid by: Lloyd Lowry, Godwin Hunt, Whaley Locklear, Grady Canady, and Evander Chavis. Nasbie Harding cut the sills. Most of the work done on this building was donated labor.

Ten Mile Center Church was organized in 1924. The first trustees were: Richard Harding, Grady Canady, and W.W. Blanks. Rev. Alvie Taylor, who had preached for the group at Magnolia School, was called as the first Pastor. Hector Blanks was elected the first clerk.

Sometime after December 1954, a proposal was made to investigate the possibility of Ten Mile Center and Mt. Moriah Churches securing a site agreed upon by both for the purpose of building a new church. When Ten Mile realized this plan would not materialize, a new building interest and urgency developed within the Ten Mile group. After much discussing, searching for a building site, praying, and waiting, the church voted to purchase a site from: Mrs. Jenny Blanks and family, Mr. and Mrs. Prentis Blanks and family, and Mr. Harvey Canady.

In December of 1967, the church was under construction when on of the beloved members passed away. With much improvising, the first service held in the new Church was the funeral of Mrs. Sara Margaret Hammonds. Since Mrs. Hammonds had served on the building committee for many years and had expressed her hopes that the Church would be completed in time for her funeral, the group felt it fitting to carry out her wishes.

By Loleta Oxendine Blanks