Warren County IA Archives Biographies.....Bell, Joseph R. 1844 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 9:17 pm

Source: See below
Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

JOSEPH R. BELL, the present Sheriff of Warren county, Iowa, and ex-bridge
contractor and mechanic of Indianola, Iowa, was born in Stark county, Ohio, June
9, 1844, and is a son of Joseph and Susanna (Coleman) Bell, both of whom are
natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, the father born in 1806, the mother
in 1811. They were married in their native county in 1832, and had one child ere
their emigration to Ohio. They became ultimately the parents of eight children,
seven of whom are now living: Jane, born in the Keystone State, married T. H.
McCaughey, and resides in Champaign county, Ohio; Charles is a farmer living in
Nebraska; Agnes is the wife of Sam Wasson, of Adams county, Ohio; William
Coleman is a farmer of northern Kansas; Susan A. is the wife of T. J. Beatty, a
hardware merchant of Nebraska; Joseph R. is the next younger; Mrs.  R. J. Smith
died December 5, 1881; John, who is living in Champaign county, Ohio, completes
the family.

   Joseph R. Bell was educated in the district schools of Adams county, Ohio,
and grew to manhood upon his father's farm, remaining at home until twenty years
of age, when he joined the Union army. Enlisting in 1864 as a member of Company
E, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, he joined his regiment at Knoxville and went on
the Atlanta campaign. He was sent back to guard the Georgia railroad for a time
and later joined the Twenty-third Army Corps, returning then to Knoxville. He
took part in the campaign in Tennessee and on into North Carolina, and was with
General Stoneman when he made his famous raid into Virginia, capturing the salt
works, thus cutting off the supply of that much needed article from the
Confederacy. The troops then retired to Greenville, Tennessee, and soon after
were ordered into North Carolina, where their work was terminated by the
surrender of the rebel forces. Going to Knoxville, Mr. Bell was there mustered
out of service, and on the 30th of June, 1865, reached Cincinnati, whence he
went at once to his father's home in Adams county.

   Mr. Bell there carried on farming until the spring of 1867, when the family
removed to Hamilton county, Indiana. He was married there on the 12th of August,
1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha M. Wheeler, a daughter of John
and Mary (Stoops) Wheeler, both natives of Kentucky, the father born September
29, 1807, the mother on the 3d of March of the same year. They were married in
1828, and their family numbered ten children: Philip S., who is living in
Noblesville, Indiana; William T., who resides near that place; Ann, who became
the wife of John Fisher, and died in Noblesville, leaving a family; John H., a
farmer and stock dealer of Noblesville; George W., who carries on farming near
that city; Mrs. Jane Foland, a resident of Indianola, Iowa; Sarah, wife of Isaac
Fisher, who carries on farming near Noblesville; James W., a stock dealer,
farmer and miller residing in Noblesville; Mrs. Bell, wife of our subject; Henry
P., who is engaged in the lumber business in Noblesville. The parents of this
family were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and the family was established in America
in Colonial days. Two uncles of Mrs. Bell were heroes of the Revolution,
enlisting from Kentucky, and two of her brothers, John H. and James W., were
soldiers of the Union during the Civil war. Mr. Bell also had two brothers,
Charles and William C., who were in the same regiment to which he belonged, and
the former also served for six months in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

   Mr. Bell has been a resident of Iowa since 1869, and his parents located here
the same year. His mother died in April, 1871, and in 1882 his father returned
to Ohio, where he passed away at the home of his daughter in March, 1890. The
home of Mr. and Mrs. Bell has been blessed with a family of three children:
Orville J., born July 13, 1870; and Floss A., born February 27, 1879, are still
with their parents. The second child, Mary L., born September 7, 1877, died June
10, 1879.

   For thirteen years after his arrival in Warren county, Mr. Bell followed
farming, his home being in Jefferson township. In the spring of 1881 he sold his
land and purchased his present home on Third avenue, a handsome and convenient
cottage situated on spacious grounds. In November, 1895, he was elected Sheriff
by the Republican party for a term of two years. On coming to Indianola he
engaged in mechanical pursuits, which he had previously followed to some extent.
He and his son do a general building and contracting business. Orville is a
young man of bright intellect and industrious disposition, who completed the
high-school course in this city when seventeen years of age. The daughter will
also graduate at the age of seventeen. Mr. Bell is an active member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and is now serving as Past Commander of James Randolph
Post, No. 116. He also holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. His
wife belongs to James Randolph Corps, No. 115, W. R. C., and is a faithful
member of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Bell has been a lifelong
Republican, is a recognized leader in local political circles and has served for
two terms as Alderman of his ward. The story of his life is not filled with
exciting adventure, but is that of a man who, true to the duties of both public
and private life, has followed the even tenor of his way, becoming one of those
reliable substantial citizens in whom the community places entire dependence,
his career furnishing an example that is well worthy of emulation by those who
desire to become straightforward, honorable and prosperous members of the
business world.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/warren/bios/bell253nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/

File size: 6.4 Kb