Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Bell, John A. March 3, 1826 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 28, 2009, 12:52 am

Author: Chapman Brothers

JOHN A. BELL, farmer and lumberman, sec. 6, Deerfield Tp., was born March 3, 
1826, in Canada.  He is a son 

of James and Amelia B. Bell.  His father ws born in England and came to Canada 
in 1814, where he married 

and passed his remaining years.  Mr. Bell's mother was a native of New Jersey.

Mr. Bell remained under the paternal roof until the age of 23, engaged on the 
farm and fitting for future 

usefulness.  After managing his father's farm for two years, he purchased 200 
acres of land with limited 

improvements, on which was a saw-mill.  He carried on the farm and engaged in 
lumbering, and operated in 

this two-fold method five years, when he sold out and bought another farm of 
100 acres, which he occupied 

four years, and again sold out.  In the fall of 1861, he came to Michigan, and 
was engaged in lumbering in 

Mecosta County about nine years, when he bought 280 acres of land, chiefly 
unimproved, with the most 

primeval type of buildings.  They have passed to the oblivion of destruction 
and decay, and have been 

replaced by others which rank with the finest in the country.  An additional 
purchase of 160 acres 

adjoining his estate has increased his landed possessions to 440 acres, 340 of 
which are under a good 

state of cultivation.  Mr. Bell is a Republican of no uncertain type, and 
though often urged to permit the 

use of his name in the interests of his township, has always declined.

He was married in Canada, Nov. 6, 1850, to Margaret Johnson, a native of 
Canada.  Four of six children 

from this union are living:  Am. A., born June 30, 1852; James P., June 14, 
1855; Theodore A., Dec. 14, 

1858; and Emily A., Aug. 29, 1861.  Mary L., born April 24, 1857, was married 
Jan. 23, a878 to Arthur 

Allen of Meocta County, and died Aug. 9, 1883.  One child died in infancy.  
Mrs. Margaret Bell, the 

mother, died Feb. 22, 1866, at her home in Mecosta County.  Mr. Bell again 
contracted marriage in Canada, 

Oct. 30, 1866, with Sarah, daughter of Angus and Sarah (McDougall) McCollum.  
Her parents were natives of 

Scotland who emigrated  to Canada at an early period of their lives.  Her 
father is yet living in Canada, 

where her mother died about 1873.  Three of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bell 
are living, - Sarah A., born 

Jan. 8, 1878; Clinton R., born Jan. 23, 1876 and Edith C., born Nov. 22, 
1879.  John A. was born Jan. 23, 

1873, and died May 11, 1876.

The family are communicants of the Episcopal Church, and are esteemed and 
worthy members of society, and 

lend every effort to elevate its standard.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/bell404nbs.txt

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