Abrams, Wis. -- This little village , nestling in the southeast corner of Oconto County, claims the distinction of having the oldest couple in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. James Bell, Sr., who live with their son, James, Jr., in a small cottage near the outskirts of the town have each passed the century mark.

Mr. Bell in 104 years old. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in May, 1815. His mate, English by birth, was born in 1819. 

Despite their advanced age the couple take a wholesome interest in life and are keen observers of all that is going on around them. They know all the gossip of the village and are generally referred to as the township biographers. They have a certain number of choirs which they perform diligently each day, and count that day lost when they do not finish some odd job around their home.

Mr. Bell walks down to the postoffice, about a quarter of a mile away, daily. He gets the mail and chats with friends and then returns home, where his wife, whose sight is just a trifle better than his, reads him the daily papers, preferably the Green Bay-Press Gazette.

Mrs. Bell keeps informed on all the world's happenings. Her mind is remarkably clear and she can discuss the early history of Wisconsin with all the knowledge and fineness of a historian, Despite her frail build, up to two years ago she milked 7 cows twice daily, never missing a milking for any reason.

At present Mrs. Bell is sewing a patchwork quilt. 

"What do you think of those seems," asked her 64 year old son as he proudly showed samples of her work to a Press-Gazette correspondent. The seems were nigh perfect. "I expect to finish this quilt in a few days and start another," chimed in Mrs. Bell. "My little girl tells me I work too much, but I like to be always doing something and my needle is seldom idle," she added .The "little girl" she referred to is Mrs. M. A. Schultz, a 76 year old daughter, and the 

Mr. Bell is a woodsman of the old school. He knows every foot of timberland in Oconto county and when he was a bit younger, spent most of his time among the tall trees and tiny birches. While on one of his jaunts through the forests a few years ago he discovered a real White Pine.

"I decided right then and there that I wanted that tree," he said. "I cut it down, hauled it to town, and hewed it into the flagstaff that you see standing near the village depot." The staff is 96 feet high and was erected a few years ago by Abrams residents.  During the war Old Glory snapped form this mast, being raised each morning and taken down in the evening by residents.

The centenarians had no particular recipe for their longevity. "We just minded our own business, didn't worry and worked hard," said Mr. Bell. "Sure, I smoke and I drank as little liquor, too, before prohibition. No, I don't think much of prohibition. I drank moderately for many years and no one can say that it has injured my health. I have never been sick a day in my life and I don't know what a doctor looks like.

"No I don't need any help," said Mr. Bell indignantly when the correspondent offered to help him down the porch steps into the yard where he and his wife posed for a picture. "With this old stick I can get anywhere. "Mr and Mrs. Bell have lived in their present home 45 years, being among the first settlers in this section of the country. Prior to coming to Abrams, they lived at Pensaukee for a number of years, going there from Sheboygan county. The came to Sheboygan from Canada, where Mr. Bell met his wife.

The couple have been married for 81 years having celebrated a silver, golden and diamond wedding anniversary. "We might celebrate our 100th anniversary, too, you never can tell," remarked Mr. Bell. "We both feel pretty pert."

Mr. and Mrs. Bell are the parents of 10 children, 7 of whom are living. "How many grandchildren have we got?" he queried. "Lets see." after thinking a while Mr. Bell gave it up. "I can't tell you; ask my daughter." Mrs. Schultz said that there were 31 grandchildren and several score great grandchildren living.

{Editor's note: James Bell lived until September 29, 1922.  He died at home in Abrams and is buried at Brookside Cemetery, 107 years, 4 months and 9 days of age.

Louisa Lock(e) Brazier Bell lived until April 4, 1925. Her marriage to James Bell was her second at age 19. She was married at age 14 in Canada to Ben Brazier and had two daughters with that marriage, Ann (Ed Schultz) and Liz (Joe Tool) before her first husband died. She died at the home of her daughter and is buried at Brookside Cemetery, Oconto County, WI., aged 105 years 8 months and 23 days.}