Florence Bell

Milliner and dressmaker in De Smet; Laura Ingalls worked for Miss Bell prior to her marriage.

milliner – A person, usually a woman, who makes and sells head-dresses, hats, or bonnets, &c., for women. – Webster 1882

The ladies of the M.E. Church will give a dime sociable at the home of Miss F.E. Bell, Wednesday evening. All are invited to come and spend a pleasant evening. – Kingsbury County News, March 16, 1888

     
Florence Elizabeth Bell was born July 9, 1848, in Carmichaels (Greene County) Pennsylvania, the daughter of Elizabeth (Swan) and James Bell. Florence had seven siblings: Levi Harold (born 1843), Mary Olive (born 1846), Catherine Lora (born 1851), John Fremont (born 1853), Rachel Luvicy (born 1856), Amelia Margarita (born 1858), and Sarah Sarepta (born 1862).

In the summer of 1882, Florence moved to De Smet (Kingsbury County) Dakota Territory, where a sister was living. In June, she purchased a quarter section of land a mile and a half of Royal Wilder’s tree claim and just southeast of Mud Lake, the NW 28-112-56. Soon, another sister, Rachel, arrived with her husband and daughter. Rachel had married Anson Wright, who came to De Smet to work for Charles Tinkham as an undertaker. In 1888, Florence’s sister Reppa was hired to teach the primary department of the De Smet school, and she attended teacher’s institute alongside Carrie Ingalls, who was considering a career as a teacher before joining the De Smet Leader news force instead. In 1895, their sister Amelia Bell became the second wife of De Smet banker, Thomas Ruth.

In October 1882, Florence Bell purchased Lot 9, Block 4 in De Smet, where she had opened a fabric, dressmaking, and millinery store. Her shop was the first building on the lot, the lot having been contracted by Western Town Lots Company to be sold to her on October 2nd for $50; she paid for the lot in full on October 17, 1884. A weekly advertiser in De Smet newspapers, one of Miss Bell’s advertisements is shown above. Another read:

Millinery and Fancy Goods / I shall keep constantly on hand the latest in Millinery and Fancy Goods. / A complete assortment of Fichus, Scarfs and Collars, Spanish, French and plain Laces, and embroidery material. / Ribbons of all kinds, Plushes, Velvets, and Satins. / Ladies’ Furnishing Goods, Ladies’ and Children’s Hoods. / Cutting and Fitting, dressmaking and family sewing. / Florence E. Bell / Calumet Avenue, opposite Kingsbury County Bank

A piece about her appeared in a local paper during the Little House years:

In These Happy Golden Years, Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about visiting Miss Bell’s shop and going to work for her both on the weekends (Laura was teaching the Perry School during the week) and during the summer. Laura thought Miss Bell handsome, with her tall figure and dark hair and eyes (see Chapter 16, “Summer Days”). Sadly, no photographs of Florence Bell have yet been located. According to Wilder family lore, Almanzo Wilder’s sister, Laura Howard, also worked for Miss Bell during an extended visit with their sister, Eliza Jane Wilder. In the 1870s, Laura Wilder had expressed an interest in becoming a milliner. The location of Miss Bell’s shop is shown in red on the 1884 bird’s-eye drawing at left. South of her shop was John Owen’s law office in the A.T. Barnes building; to her north was a small building that was rented out as a private residence. The large building blocking the view of the shop in the bird’s-eye drawing is Carey Brothers’ Farm Implements, run by brothers John and Nick Carey. The Ingallses’ town building is labeled for reference, since most Little House fans know where it originally stood.

In 1892, Florence Bell married William Henry Ruth (1847-1925), younger brother of Thomas Ruth. Both were in their forties at the time of their marriage. In 1880, the Ruth brothers had organized the Kingsbury County Bank, which was one of the first businesses in De Smet; the original bank building is still standing on Calumet Avenue. In 1885, the Ruths organized the Dakota Loan and Investment Company. Will Ruth had a preemption claim just south of De Smet, and the Ruth brothers ran a stock farm, where they raised valuable horses. Will Ruth also ran a feed store with Frank Harthorn.

Home of Florence & William Ruth on Third Street prior to being torn down in 1973.

The couple made their home in De Smet in Will’s house on Third Street SW. It was located where the American Legion building now stands, the steps and short walkway between the street and sidewalk were part of the front walk to the Ruths’ home. The house served as the Legion house from the 1920s, and was torn down in March 1973 after it was deemed not cost effective to renovate the house instead of finance a new build.

Even before her marriage, Florence spent considerable time away from De Smet each year, visiting family and friends for several months at her old home each fall. Her advertisements seemed to announce a “grand opening” each spring and summer, with a “closing out sale” with great bargains at Christmas after her return.

In 1887, druggist George Bradley’s brother Fenn and his wife, Grace, opened a dry goods and millinery shop just two doors north of Miss Bell’s and in direct competition with her. After her marriage, Florence gave up the millinery business; it was very briefly taken over by Lettie Watson and Laura Broadbent, the wives of two local businessmen, but the lot returned to Mrs. Ruth’s ownership after a few months. In 1897, the lot and building was sold to Charles Brand, who opened a shoe shop.

Florence Ruth died on January 25, 1906, following a sudden heart attack. She was 57 years old. Her body was sent to Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, for burial. The Ruths had no children.

The building built in 1882 for Florence Bell’s Dry Goods and Millinery was occupied by a number of businesses after her tenure, including Bland’s shoe shop, Nellie Sherwood’s penny photograph studio, Dr. J. H. Halls’s dentist office, and barber shop. The 1882 millinery building is still standing at 226 Calumet Avenue, and is privately owned and used as a residence. Please do not trespass. Some changes were made in the original building over the years. What was originally a one room, one story 14-ft. wide building was divided into three rooms, with the attic on the east side converted into an apartment, later expanded to the whole length of the original building. Dormer windows aren’t original, nor is the rear lean-to.

Millinery shop built in 1882; shown at left circa 1910, and in Google street-view in 2021. At the time of the circa 1910 photo, the building again served as a millinery shop, this time run by Nina Briggs.

     

Bell, Florence (THGY 16, 18, 19, 20, 28; PG)
milliner (THGY 16; PG)