Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: BELL, Charles R. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p. 86-87


CHARLES R. BELL.

	Charles R. Bell, a representative of the Denver bar, was born In 
Harrisburg, Franklin county, Ohio, March 20, 1853, his parents being 
Joseph Blackwell and Melinda A. (Heath) Bell. The father was born near 
Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, his people having come to America in the 
early part of the seventeenth century, representatives of the name 
living in Virginia and in Kentucky through various generations. At the 
time of the Revolutionary war the patriotism of the family was manifest 
in active service of Charles Bell, the grandfather of Charles R. Bell, 
who was an officer of the American army and was present when Lord 
Cornwallis surrendered his sword to General Washington at Yorktown. 
Joseph Blackwell Bell was appointed postmaster of Harrisburg, Ohio, 
when Zachary Taylor was president of the United States. He was named in 
honor of Commodore Blackwell of the United States navy and for a 
considerable period he carried on merchandising in Ohio in addition to 
serving as postmaster of his town. In 1856 he started with his family 
for Iowa, leaving his Ohio home for Iowa, locating in Winterset where 
the family resided until 1860, when in March of that year they started 
for Colorado. They traveled westward with a prairie schooner all the 
way from Iowa to Denver, the journey requiring forty days. After 
reaching his destination he opened a hotel in Denver, which he 
conducted for several years, or until 1865, when he sold out to Peter 
Powell and turned his attention to the wholesale grocery business in 
connection with the firm of J. G. Vawter & Company. He was thus 
associated until 1867, when he removed to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he 
remained until 1868 and then returned to Denver. He built a hotel at 
Littleton, Colorado, and continued its conduct throughout his remaining 
days, his death occurring in 1877.

	He was a public spirited man and assisted materially in the 
upbuilding of Colorado. His widow long survived him and passed away at 
the home of her son, Charles R. Bell, in 1910, when seventy-two years 
of age. In the family were two children, the younger being Van Chilton 
Bell, who was born in Winterset, Iowa, in 1859, and died in Denver in 
1890.

	In his youthful days Charles R. Bell of this review was a pupil 
in the school conducted by Miss Ring in Denver and afterward attended 
another private school, conducted by Abner Brown. He later became a 
student in the Colorado Seminary and subsequently returned to his 
native state to continue his studies in Oberlin College. After his 
textbooks were put aside he again came to Denver and began reading law 
in the office and under the direction of Judge Samuel H. Elbert, while 
later his reading was directed by Daniel E. Park, of Leadville. In 1881 
he was admitted to the bar and has since actively followed that 
profession, being now a well known member of the Colorado bar. He 
served at one time as county attorney of Pitkin county, for he 
practiced at Aspen, Colorado, from 1881 until 1896, when he came to 
Denver. His incumbency in the office of county attorney covered the 
years 1881 and 1882 and he was afterward district attorney for Pitkin 
county in 1885. He likewise served as city attorney of Aspen in 1890-1. 
Since locating in Denver he has continued in the general practice of 
law and has been accorded a good clientage.

	On the 3rd of February, 1886, Mr. Bell was married to Miss 
Margaret E. McKnight, of Denver, a daughter of David S. and Nellie 
(Kricks) McKnight, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Bell belongs to the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, becoming a charter member of Aspen 
Lodge, of which he is also a life member and was the first exalted 
ruler of that lodge. He stands for those things which are most worth-
while in community upbuilding, while in character development he has 
taken recognition of the principles which in every land and clime 
awaken confidence and respect.