Bell, T. J.

BELL

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/27/2019 at 19:22:48

THOMAS J. BELL

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 101:

"THOMAS J. BELL, of the firm of Blair & Bell, general merchants of Lamoni, was born in Clark County, Indiana, April 30, 1851, his parents, James and Frances (McKutchan) Bell, being born, reared and married in the same State. The father died on the old homestead where our subject was born, September 22, 1885, aged fifty-six years. The mother still survives, and resides at the old home with her three youngest children. The names of their children are -- Thomas J., our subject; William, living in Lamoni; Charles P., of Orange County, Indiana; Elias, of Clark County, Indiana; Mrs. Jemima McKinley lives near her mother; Mrs. Sarah Bell, of New Albany, Indiana, and Elizabeth, Andrew and Telford, living at the homestead. Thomas J. Bell was reared to a farm life, and educated in the district schools. August 11, 1872, he was married to Miss Jincy Ann Scott, who was born in Floyd County, Indiana, February 9, 1854, a daughter of Herbert and Nancy Scott. They are the parents of three children, a son and two daughters -- Edward Curtis, Clara May and Tina Ethlyn. Mr. and Mrs. Bell commenced married life on her father's farm in Floyd County, Indiana, and in the spring of 1875, removed to Sandwich, Illinois, and in the autumn of 1876 came to Decatur County, Iowa, and located at Davis City, where, in company with B. V. Springer, Mr. Bell worked at the carpenter's trade for eighteen months. July 17, 1879, he entered the mercantile establishment of Clark & Sons, where he was engaged in clerking till September, 1882. In January, 1883, he removed to Lamoni, and March following he was engaged in the lumber yard of David Dancer, where he remained until he became associated with Mr. Blair in the mercantile business. They carry a general stock of dry-goods, groceries, clothing, boots, shoes, etc., their stock being worth about $6,500, their annual sales amounting to about $18,000. Mr. Bell is a man of excellent business qualifications, and by his gentlemanly and courteous manners has become a popular merchant. In his political views Mr. Bell is very liberal, and is not allied with any party. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the church of the Latter-Day Saints, and for the past three and a half years he has been an elder of the Lamoni branch of that denomination. He served in the city council at Davis City three years, and was a member of the first council of Lamoni."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)