JOHN P. BELL

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 620-621.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 17 August 2005

JOHN P. BELL, farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Bell, who has long ranked with the best farmers of Fulton township, and was for a number of years one of the leading tobacco growers of this section of the State, claims the Old Dominion as the State of his nativity, but has been a resident of Missouri from early manhood, or rather from the middle of his “teens.” He was born in Franklin county, Virginia, on the 13th of December, 1842. His parents, Ira and Permelia S. (Gilbert) Bell, were both also natives of that State, where they continued to live until their deaths. His grandfather, James Bell, enjoyed the singular and none the less honorable distinction of having been a gallant soldier of his country in the War of 1812. John P. was reared to the age of sixteen in Franklin county, and during his youth attended various subscription schools taught in the neighborhood, thus acquiring the elements of an ordinary good education.

But anxious to start out for himself, and believing that there were better opportunities in the West for young men of energy and intelligence than could be found in the older States, in 1858, he came to Missouri, with his widowed mother and brothers, being at the time about sixteen years of age. Here his time up to the outbreak of the war was occupied with farming pursuits and attending school, the latter of which included one year spent as a student at Westminster College.

In the beginning of the war in the spring of 1861, he promptly identified himself with South, and proved his gallantry as a soldier and his devotion to the land of his birth by shedding his blood like a hero on more than one field of battle during the war. In April, 1861, he enlisted in McIntyre’s company of Burbridge’s regiment, with which he served for six months, and at the expiration of this term of service enlisted in Company B., of Colonel Gale’s regiment, with which he continued until the close of the war, or rather until the battle of Altoona, where he was permanently disabled by a wound, from further service. He participated in the battles of Springfield, (or Wilson’s Creek, Missouri), Pea Ridge, Arkansas, first Corinth, Mississippi, the sieges of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and of Atlanta, Georgia, and the battle of Altoona, Georgia, besides engagements of less importance almost beyond number. At the battle of Springfield, Missouri, August 10, 1861, he was wounded in the top of the head by a gunshot and was left on the field for dead for several hours, being unconscious at the time. At Altoona, Georgia, he received a gunshot wound in the right wrist, the bone being fractured so that he was permanently disabled for further military service.

After the war Mr. Bell returned to Callaway county and engaged in merchandising at Ham’s Prairie, which he followed for about two years, but not with satisfactory results. Following this he engaged in school teaching in the county, and taught school some ten years, becoming widely known as one of the best teachers in the county. In 1872 he bought land and improved a farm, being the place where he now resides, which he has made one of the best farms in the township. His tract of land contains 240 acres, of which 160 are in cultivation. It is well improved, having a neat, comfortable dwelling, good out-buildings [sic], stables, etc., an excellent orchard, and splendid fences. Up to within the last year or two Mr. Bell made a specialty of raising tobacco, and has sold nearly $10,000 worth of this product. He was one of the best tobacco raisers in the State, and in 1873, took a premium on his tobacco at the St. Louis fair, of $500. In the last few years, however, he has quit tobacco culture and is giving his whole attention to raising grain and stock, in both of which he is abundantly successful.

On the 2nd of October, 1872, Mr. Bell was married to Miss Emma Keen Gilbert, at St. Louis, a lady of Virginia, and daughter of Elisha K. Gilbert, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have five children, Ovid K., Minnie O., Mattie C., Fannie K. and Boyd E. Both parents are highly esteemed in this part of the county, personally and as neighbors. Mr. Bell is looked upon as one of the leading men of his vicinity.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Township Transcriptions | Biography Transcriptions | Crimes and Criminals | Old Settlers | Official Records | Wars