BELL, Thomas - 1890 Bio (1839-1903)

BELL, GRAMES, FLYNN, MCCRAY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/28/2007 at 14:46:12

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 316-318

Thomas BELL has been longer engaged in the grocery business than any other merchant in Jefferson County, his operations in that line in Fairfield covering a period of twenty-five consecutive years. A prominent business man and a leading citizen, he is well worthy a representation in this volume, and we feel assured that this sketch will be received with interest by many of our readers. Pennsylvania is the State of his nativity. He was born in the City of Brotherly Love, on the 5th of April, 1839, his parents being Thomas and Rachel (GRAMES) BELL. His paternal grandfather, who was reared in Scotland, imbibed the love of freedom and religious liberty characteristic of the people of that country, as will be seen later on. Having married in his native land, he emigrated to County Donegal, Ireland, locating in Rathmelton. He was a devout Presbyterian, and a leader among the Orangemen. So intense was the hatred of the Catholics toward him that on one occasion, while crossing a bridge, he was met by a number of the Romanists and thrown over. He was unconscious on reaching the ground, and the Catholics, thinking they had killed him, piled stones upon him and thus left him buried. Some time afterward, parties passing by heard groans, and throwing off the stones liberated Mr. BELL. It is needless to say this barbarity neither inspired in him nor his descendants a love for Catholicism.

Thomas BELL, Sr., was born on the way to the Emerald Isle, and at the age of nineteen years sailed for the United States, locating in Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned in the old country. In that city he married Miss GRAMES, who was a native of Pennsylvania, although her ancestors came from Scotland. After living in Philadelphia for some time, Mr. BELL removed to Allegheny City, where he kept a shoe store. Later he carried on business in Pittsburg and other towns in the Keystone State, but subsequently, following the course of human emigration, which was steadily flowing westward, reached Harrison County, Ohio, and in 1857 we find him in Louisa County, and three years later in Des Moines County, Iowa. After his arrival in this State he devoted his time between farming and work at his trade until the organization of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, when he joined that regiment and served until its discharge, holding the office of Sergeant. When the war was over he removed to Corning, Iowa, where he engaged in the shoe business and also dealt in furniture for some years. He is now living a retired life, being some seventy-two years of age. In Allegheny City his wife and only daughter died at the same time, in 1853, leaving a family consisting of five sons. Mr. BELL was afterward again married, and by his second wife, whose maiden name was Eliza FLYNN, had six children.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest child of the first marriage. When a lad of twelve years he began learning the shoemaker's trade, and with the exception of a short time spent in school, remained at the bench until he had attained his majority. His primary education was supplemented by two terms attendance at an academy, he thus securing a good practical education. When the war broke out he and a friend proposed to raise a company and go into the service. He secured the number he was to raise but his friend was not successful, and at length, tired of waiting, Mr. BELL, together with eight other companions, went to Davenport, and on the 25th of August, 1861, enlisted in Company K, of the Second Iowa Cavalry. His war record is one of which he may justly be proud.

Besides participating in sixty-two skirmishes, Mr. BELL took part in the following regular battles: New Madrid, Mo., Farmington, the two battles of Corinth and Iuka, Miss., Colliersville and Moscow, Tenn., West Point and Okolona, Miss. His time having expired, he veteranized on the 1st of March, 1864, and after a short furlough returned to the dreadful work of war, and participated in the battles of Tupelo, Old Town Creek, Hurricane Creek, Shoal Creek, Butler Creek, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. On the 17th of December, 1864, the Second Iowa Cavalry engaged in a hand to hand contest with the Confederates a few miles south of Franklin. Bayonets, swords, muskets and pistols were used indiscriminately. The following is substantially given in Sergt. L. B. Pierce's history of the Second Iowa Cavalry: "The principal event of this struggle, the fiercest in which the regiment ever engaged, was the capture of the colors of Ross' (rebel) brigade. As the contending forces came together, Thomas BELL ordered the rebel color bearer to surrender. He refused; a rush was made upon him. Just as Dominic Black was in the act of striking down the color bearer with his saber, he was shot through the heart by one of the color guards. Sergt. Coulter seized the flag, wrenching it from the rebel's hands, and though at that instant he received a bullet through his shoulder, he handed the flag to Thomas BELL, who took it and led Coulter off the field, carrying the flag with him to the Union lines. When they were returning, they were met by their reinforcements, who on seeing the rebel flag, and thinking it was in the hands of a rebel officer fired upon Mr. BELL, and his escape from death was almost miraculous. Private Wall was confronted by a rebel, who placed the muzzle of his gun against the former's side. Wall dropped his own gun, seized that of his antagonist, and thrust it aside. Thomas BELL rushed to Wall's relief, aiming an empty carbine at the rebel; seeing BELL, the rebel dropped the gun, jerked the pistol from his belt and fired at the former's head, however without effect. BELL discovered another pistol in the rebel's belt, and urging his horse beside him made a successful grab for the weapon, with which he killed his antagonist. Wall, who had the rebel's gun, killed with it another of the enemy who had assaulted BELL. Thus for some time they fought like tigers; blood flowed like water; men fell on every hand, but the flag remained in the possession of the boys in blue."

Our subject was mustered out at Selma, Ala., having been saddler of his company for some time. At over four years of service, in which he participated in seventy-eight engagements, Mr. BELL returned unscathed, conscious of having done his part in maintaining the Government's honor and establishing universal liberty. He has two relics of the war which he prizes very highly -- the pistol above referred to and a leave of absence. In 1864 every man in the field was needed, and orders were given that no soldier should be allowed a furlough. Mr. BELL received word that his wife lay at the point of death. He despaired of getting a release, but his Lieutenant wrote a letter citing the reason for his wishing a furlough, recounting Mr. BELL's valor in capturing the rebel flag, and recommending that he be permitted to go home. This message passed through the hands of the several authorities, each time receiving the proper official endorsements, and he was granted the much prized furlough.

In 1865 Mr. BELL engaged in the grocery business in Fairfield, which without interruption he has carried on since. He has had a partner for four years of that time, W. B. Rowland having been associated with him two years, and J. A. Beck an equal length of time.

On the 2d of May, 1864, in Des Moines County, Mr. BELL was united in marriage with Miss Leonora McCRAY, who was born in Indiana, but came with her parents to Iowa in an early day. They are parents of five children, four of whom are living: Frank A., Edwin B., Thomas H. and Florence. The eldest, Alonzo A., died at the age of five years. Both Mr. BELL and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and take an active part in Sunday-school work. For a number of years he has been Chairman of the county Sunday-school organization, and has been instrumental in establishing many schools throughout the county. He is a member of the Grand Army Post, of Fairfield, of which he has been Commander. Twice he has been honored by being sent as a delegate to the National Encampment. He is and has been for the past three years, President of the Old Soldiers and Sailors Association of Fairfield. Mr. BELL is not only a temperance man in practice, but is also a fearless, outspoken advocate of prohibition.

Politically, Mr. BELL took a stand with the Abolitionists, in fact, was one among the first to volunteer in their ranks; since he has been a Republican of the most enthusiastic and pronounced type. In the army, the boys longing for home and the close of the struggle, would call upon him to make a speech in regard to the issues of the war. He would tell them that the war could never close until every man under the flag should be free. While they enjoyed this talk they hooted at his ideas. How well he divined results, history shows. Mr. BELL has made business a success owing to industry, enterprise and good management. As a result he has secured to himself a handsome competence, from which he makes liberal contributions to church and Sunday-school work, and other worthy interests. He believes that a man's zeal for a cause is truly shown by what he is willing to invest in it.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.