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         DR. JOHN BELL, deceased, a pioneer physician of Wapello, was born in Brush Creek Township, Greene Co., Pa., April 2, 1792, and was a son of Simeon and Mary (McLain) Bell. His father was a farmer, a miller and a machinist, and was of English origin. The paternal grandfather, Onesemus Bell, emigrated from England in the early days of the history of this country, and he had twelve sons, who settled in various parts of this land. John Bell, the Presidential candidate of 1860, was an own cousin to our subject.

Determining to make the practice of medicine his profession through life, Mr. Bell entered the office of Dr. Townsend, in Pennsylvania, and later read medicine with Dr. Blachley. During the war . . .

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. . . of 1812 he served as a surgeon. He participated in the siege of Ft. Meigs, and was one of the volunteers who aided in the recapture of the American vessel “Carolina,” which had been taken by the British. Previous to his enlistment, in 1811, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Blachley, daughter of Dr. Blachley, and two children were born of their union: Samuel C., who was a soldier of the Mexican War, studied medicine and practiced that profession for some time, but later became a lawyer; he died from disease contracted during the war. The other child was John, Jr., who studied medicine with his father in Ohio, and afterward was graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, of which his father was a charter member. The mother of these children died, and Dr. Bell was again married in 1824, becoming the husband of Sarah Wilkinson, who was born in Crosswicks, N. J., Aug. 29, 1799, and was a daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Wilkinson. To them were also born two children: Lydia M., born at Montgomery, Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 29, 1825, died at Wapello, Iowa, April 1, 1882; Thomas S. was also born at Montgomery, March 26, 1827, and is now a physician at Wapello.

Dr. Bell first engaged in the practice of his profession at Wooster, Ohio, and later removed to Montgomery, Ohio, where he remained until 1842, and then came to Wapello, reaching this city on the 23d of April. He here built up an extensive practice, and was regarded as one of the best read men in his profession in that day. His death occurred in Wapello, Oct. 13, 1853, and Mrs. Bell died Nov. 28, 1859. Politically, he was a Democrat, while religiously, he was a Baptist in early life, and sometimes preached for that denomination, but later united with the Christian Church.