Lewis W. Bell Biography This biography appears on page 1054 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm LEWIS W. BELL. Lewis W. Bell, who is engaged in general farming on section 29, Clare township, Moody county, is a native of the state of Maine. He was born August 17, 1852, his parents being Eben and Jane (Willard) Bell, who were natives of the Pine Tree state, in which they spent their entire lives, the father there following the occupation of farming. After attending the public schools Lewis W. Bell learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for five years in Maine. He then came to South Dakota in 1877, settling on a homestead claim on the northwest quarter of section 29, Clare township. He likewise obtained a tree claim covering the southeast quarter of section 26 and a preemption on section 32, Flandreau township. He has added to his possessions from time to time as his financial resources have increased, making judicious investments in property until he now owns nine hundred and twenty acres in Moody county. There were very few settlers in his section of the state when he removed to the west. At Luverne he reached the western terminus of the railroad and from that point walked to Sioux Falls and then proceeded on foot to Moody county in order to locate his land. He has made all of the improvements upon the property, which he has converted into valuable farms, deriving therefrom a gratifying annual income. Success has attended his efforts because his work has been characterized by diligence, determination and unfailing enterprise. Upon his place he has all the modern farm implements and machinery. He cultivates his home place with the aid of a nephew and rents the remainder of his land. He makes a specialty of raising blooded cattle, of which he has seventy-five head, and he likewise has twenty-five head of hogs and twelve horses upon his place. In addition to his other business interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Egan. While Mr. Bell has led a very busy and useful life in the conduct of his individual business affairs, he has also found time to aid in measures relating to the public good. He realizes the value and worth of improved highways and is a champion of the wide-spread movement for good roads. He travels for recreation, finding great enjoyment in visiting other sections and learning of the progress that is being made in other parts of the country.