James W. Bell
James W. Bell,
living practically retired upon his eighty acre farm in Franklin
township after many years of close identification with
agricultural interests of Winnesheik county, is a native of this
part of Iowa, born at Frankville, June 27, 1854. He is a son of
Thomas and Kizan (Williams) Bell, the former born in
Dumfrieshire, Scotland, June 22, 1801, and the latter in
Tennessee in 1830. The mother passed away when the subject of
this review was nine days old but the father survived her many
years, dying April 4, 1871. In early life he was a ship carpenter
and followed this occupation until about 1840, when he came to
America, locating first in Canada and later in Galena, Illinois,
where he engaged extensively in lead mining. About the year 1852
he moved to Iowa, locating in Frankville, in Winnesheik county,
where for several years thereafter he was employed in a store. He
was a man of exceptional education and special training at the
carpenters trade and he had no difficulty in securing
employment. In 1856 he moved to Allamakee county and turned his
attention to his trade in Franklin township until his death. He
was well known in public affairs, having been carried forward
into important political relations during the long period of his
residence here and he was honored by his fellow citizens by
election to various positions of trust and responsibility,
rendering his township excellent service as justice of the peace,
notary public and township assessor. He and his wife became the
parents of two children: George, who resides in West Union,
Fayette county, and James W., of this review.
James W. Bell was reared in the home of his aunt, Mrs. Mary
Clark, a resident of this township who took him when he was nine
days old. At the age of twelve he began aiding with the operation
of the homestead and thus at an early age became familiar with
the best and most practical agricultural methods. After his
marriage he purchased his aunts farm and upon it for many
years cultivated the soil as an independent landowner, during
which time his industry, ability and perseverance brought him
substantial and well merited success. In 1911 he sold the
property and moved to Waukon, making his home just on the
corporation line for one year, after which he bought his present
farm of eighty acres lying on section 9, Franklin township. This
he has rented to his son and is living in practical retirement,
his period of leisure rewarding many years of active and earnest
labor in the past.
On the 30th of December, 1875, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to
Miss Ella M. Johnson, who was born in West Virginia, May 9, 1859.
She is a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Beall) Johnson, the former
a veteran of the Civil war, who was killed in the battle of
Richmond. The mother afterward came west and located in Jefferson
township, near Rossville, where she married Oliver Adams, with
whom she moved into Franklin township, making her home there
until her death. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have become the parents of six
children. Anna, born June 28, 1878, is the wife of George E.
Decker, a resident of Franklin township, this county. Alta, born
October 16, 1880, married James E. Graham, a farmer in Stevens
county, Minnesota. Edna, born April 16, 1882, married Ernest
Decker and is now deceased. Arlie, who was born October 14, 1884,
is the wife of A. Henthorn, a farmer in this vicinity. George,
born December 9, 1890, is assisting his father with the operation
of the home farm. Gail, who completes the family was born June 9,
1895, and is attending school in Waukon.
Mr. Bell is connected fraternally with Rossville Lodge, No. 172,
I. O. O. F., and his political allegiance is given to the
republican party. He was justice of the peace for eight years,
closing his service with his resignation, but he has never
desired and has always avoided political preferment. He is
numbered among Allamakee countys most progressive and
successful native sons and has many friends in this community,
all of whom have learned to respect and esteem him highly by
reason of a life upright, straightforward and honorable in all
its relations.
-source: Past
& Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S.
J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Linda Earnheart
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