BIO: John Ross BELL, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 6. __________________________________________________________ JOHN ROSS BELL Huntingdon, Pa. Superintendent Building Arts. Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory. The career of John Ross Bell has been somewhat varied, and his ancestry dates back to his great-grandfather, David Weaver, who fought in the Revolution under George Washington; also two other great-grandfathers, Adam Harper, who was an officer and also John Stover. John Ross Bell was born at Aaronsburg, Centre County, Pa., December 30, 1877. Aaronsburg saw his first initiation into the mysteries of an education. The Bellefonte public schools then claimed him; later the Bellefonte Academy, and also a classical course at Juniata College, and an industrial education at State College. His parentage is the late C.C. Bell, deceased, of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother, Catharine Margaret (Weaver) Bell, lives at 500 Penn Street, Huntingdon, Pa. At present he is Superintendent building arts, vocational school, instructor of bricklaying, stone masonry, stone cutting, plastering, cement finishing, plastic arts, drafting and tile setting, at the Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory, from August 1, 1909, to date, 1929. Prior to 1902 he was a law student at the Huntingdon County Bar, and from 1902 to 1909 was a contractor in brick, stone, and cement work in Pittsburgh, Pa. He lectures professionally on industrial education, popular philosophy, and patriotism. Author on building construction and industrial education. He is the author of forty text books on all branches of the trades. He is teaching, and uses his own books exclusively in teaching at this great institution. Other works he reads to further his knowledge along educational lines. He was the first county chairman of the Progressive Party, in 1912, under an act regulating same. He is a Progressive Republican. His wife, daughter and he belong to the Abbey Reformed Church. He has held many offices in all branches of the church, had two years' college training for the ministry in the Reformed Church. He has served on election board, Second ward, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pa., 1899. Belongs to Camp 321, P.O.S. of A., Camp 265, P.O. of A., and William Weand Commandery, No. 12. Is a State Camp Trustee of the State Camp of Pennsylvania; Commissary-in-Chief of the Commandery General, and at present, 1929, directing his energies to establishing a Junior P.O.S. of A. His efforts are meeting with success. He has one sister, Mrs. Frank B. Patton, 500 Penn Street, Huntingdon, Pa. Three brothers, H.H. Bell, 134 Penn Avenue, Coatesville, Pa.; C.E. Bell, 500 Penn Street, Huntingdon, Pa., and Andrew G. Bell, deceased. Is married and has three children: Margaret Estella, thirteen, at school; Catharine May, aged three; Jean Rosamond, aged thirteen months. Football is his favorite outdoor sport. His natural bent is writing and speaking. John R. Bell has improved his intellect by taking advantage of his spare time, to gaining knowledge by reading worthwhile literature and applying it to practical use.