Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
Robert Bell was a native of Scotland, having been there born in 1834, and came with his parents to this country in his third year. They settled in Ohio, where our subject received his early education in the common schools. The father was a farmer and this vocation our subject followed during his lifetime. Robert Bell enlisted in the 2nd Ohio Regiment for three years and at the expiration of this term, which began in 1861, he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. He saw much hard service and endured the hardships common to the soldier's life and suffered a great deal from exposure and hard service. The government eventually recognizing his valiant work granted him a pension of two dollars per month, which was afterward raised to twelve dollars a short time before his death, which occurred April 13, 1894.
Mrs. Bell now receives a pension of eight dollars a month. Mr. Bell enlisted Aug. 28, 1861, re-enlisted Feb. 13, 1864, at Warren, in the 52nd Ohio, and was discharged and mustered out Sept. 4, 1864, at Tod Barracks, Columbus. Mr. Bell bravely followed the fortunes of his regiment and was engaged in several hard fought battles and was never in a hospital.
At the close of the war our subject came to Michigan and in 1866 was married to Mrs. Frances J. Walker of Jonesville, Michigan, who was born at East Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y. She was born in that county in May, 1841. Five children came to bless this couple: Myrtie Luella, Oct. 11, 1867, married W. H. Taylor of Toledo, Ohio; Leola M., Feb. 6, 1870, married E. H. WInfield, residing on the adjoining farm to Mrs. Bell; Orrin E., Dec. 1, 1874, married Jennie Harper and resides on a farm in Delhi; G. Ward, May 7, 1879, manages the farm at home and is a model young man in every respect and assisting the mother to educate the younger brother, Robert Floyd, who is 22 years of age, now attending the M. A. C., taking a course in civil engineering. Floyd is improving his opportunities and making rapid advancement in his chosen profession. He was elected president of the class of 1904, is a member of the Y. M. C. A. and was a delegate to its convention in 1903 at Lake Side, Ohio. He will graduate in June, 1905. He is also a member of the Columbian Literary Society at college and holds the M. I. A. A. indoor championship for 1903; also the championship of the college football team for 1903 and 1904, and has won a medal at an athletic meeting. He was captain of the footbal team years at M. A. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Bell first located in Jonesville, Hillsdale county, Michigan, where they lived for two eyars, and then came to Ingham county and bought eighty acres their present home. They made a comfortable home, and a family of dutiful children are not the comfort of Mrs. Bell's life. After the father's death, Orrin, the eldest son, took charge of the farm until his marriage, when the next son, Ward, came into the management of affairs and is successfully engaged in mixed farming.
The family are all members of the M. E. church and the father was a staunch member of the G. A. R. and a strong Republican, though never an office holder. More than ordinary credit is due Mrs. Bell for the management of her property and she has worked hard with her children to show them the right path in life and has been well rewarded by their uprightness and honesty. Mr. Robert Bell was a good man and known throughout his county. The uprightnese of the sons are but the reflections of the father's life.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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