Greenbrier County, West Virginia         Biography of MASON BELL.

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History of Greenbrier County 
J. R. Cole 
Lewisburg, WV 1917 
p. 175-176

MASON BELL.

Every community is in need of good schools, good newspapers and good 
bookstores. Lewisburg is particularly well favored in this respect. The 
bookstore owned by Mason Bell bespeaks for the intelligence of the reading 
public of Lewisburg and the support given them reflects credit on the 
public-spirited citizenship of the county.
Mason Bell is the son of Robert J. and Mollie E. Brown, of Roanoke Valley, of 
Virginia. They were married, September 3, 1877, and soon after moved to 
Blacksburg, Va. After the father's death, on September 28, 1890, the family 
moved to Lewisburg, in the month of October following.
Robert J. Bell was educated in the University of Washington and Lee, 
Virginia, and was a merchant all his life. He was a man greatly esteemed by 
those who knew him best.
The children horn to Robert J. Bell and his wife were: Mason. August 29, 
1878; Robert Marion, October 16, 1880; Anna Nelson, November 5,1882 (died 
April 17, 1880) ; Martha Myrtle, January 5,1885; Thomas Rhea, October 4, 
1886; Moffat Wilson, June 25, 1889 (died December 18, 1892); Frances Brown, 
May 24 ,1891.
Mrs. R. J. Bell was born September 24, 1854, and was the daughter of James E. 
Brown, horn July 30, 1828, and Anna C., his wife, born October 8, 1830.
Mason Bell was educated in the public schools and at the Military Academy of 
Lewisburg.  He began life as a clerk in the store of his uncle, Henry T. 
Bell, and at the age of thirteen years had visions of his present book trade. 
 He began his business venture in one corner of his uncle's store, in a very 
small way, and having been grounded in business principles, he built up a 
trade any bookseller now might be proud of. He erected his present store 
building in 1910.
Mr. Bell is treasurer of the Limestone Telephone Company, of Lewisburg; 
member and deacon in the Presbyterian church; past master of Greenbrier 
Lodge, No.42, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; member of Ronceverte Chapter, 
No.21, Royal Arch Masons; member of Greenbrier Commandery, No. 15, Knights 
Templar, and member of Beni Keden temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the 
Mystic Shrine, of Charleston, W. Va