The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky.  By Franklin Gorin.  John
P. Morton & Company Incorporated, 1929.  Published originally in the
Glasgow Weekly Times, 1870's.  p. 91-93.

SAM BELL, it is believed, was born in West Virginia.  When a young man he
worked as a common laborer at the lead mines, which were extensive, on or
near the New River (Kanawa).  He was wild and thoughtless, and careless in
spending his money, so much so, although poor, he spent all his wages as
fast if not faster than he earned them.  At the same time there was at the
works a hired negro man, Harry, who was sensible, shrewd, and who formed an
attachment for young Bell.  By his sensible advice he prevailed on Bell to
abandon his habits of extravagance and folly and to take care of his money.
 In a short while Bell by his industry, economy and frugality, saved enough
money to purchase Harry and his wife, Hannah.  In the meantime his friend
James Forbes (Gen. Forbes) had emigrated to Kentucky, and he determined to
follow him.  He and his servants, Harry and Hannah, soon reached Kentucky,
and found Gen. Forbes settled one mile from Glasgow, on the South Fork.  He
bought one hundred acres of Forbes' land, adjoining the latter's place, on
which he built a log cabin one story high, with two rooms, in which he
lived during life, and in which he died.
	When he came to Kentucky he was quite lame in his right leg, and had to
use a cane as long as he lived.  He gave the following account for his
lameness:
	A pet bear that was kept chained up near the mines was one day turned
loose by some reckless hunters that came to the mines for lead, and while
he (Bell) and four others were walking along a road at night they met the
bear, which raised itself upon his hind legs and seized Bell, who was
foremost, in a close hug, and threw him down dislocation his hip bone.
	Mr. Bell was energetic, industrious and frugal.  He was fond of good
society, and as soon as the first brick Court house was built he was made
stray pen keeper, and had himself appointed janitor of the Court house, so
that he could enjoy, as he said, the company of the judges, the lawyers,
sheriff and the gentleman litigants and jurors.
	He paid but little attention to his farm and earned barely a support off
of it, notwithstanding he amassed wealth rapidly by purchasing and hiring
his slaves, and by economy.  Harry aided him in selecting such slaves as
would produce him most money by hiring.  He had but little education, but
possessed a strong and active mind, and was deeply versed in the Bible and
Ancient History.  He was waggish, possessed great good humor, was quick at
repartee, fond of music, and knew and could sing many comic songs.
	In the Court house he kept the strictest order, and furnished the court
and bar with every necessity and convenience.
	When business was not going on he made every person feel pleasant by his
jokes, songs and quips.  All liked him, and his pleasant agreeable ways.
	His passions were strong, his prejudices were great, his likings equally
as strong.
	He took great pains to bring a young lawyer he liked into notice.  One way
he took was when on a court day he saw his favorite was out, was to go to
the door and call his name loud and quick, and this he would do as often as
his favorite would leave the court room. On being asked why he did so, he
would reply "to make the people believe you have much business, and you are
a rising star."
	He was fond of good company at his house, where, as well as in town, he
was hospitable and kind.
	He was very fond of the Masons, and, although not one himself, he would
come to town on lodge nights to sup with them, as was the custom of those
days, would sing songs, tell anecdotes, &c.
	When near his death he sent for his friend, Col. B. B. Crump, to write his
will.  He gave all his property to the children of his friend Gen. Forbes,
except he gave to Jesse B. Winn, a deputy sheriff, one hundred four and a
half pence.  He had the four and half pence counted out, put into a leather
purse and put aside to be delivered to Winn, which was done at his death. 
He died in 1834 much loved and respected.  He was never married.
	Sam Bell Maxey, a Senator in Congress, from Texas, is named for him.
	He had two brothers, Wm. and Si (Josiah) Bell, and a sister living in
Muhlenburgh [sic] County, Ky.  They were well off was the reason, we
suppose, that he did not leave them his property.  His brother William
represented that county two or more years in the Legislature.

Bell Forbes Crump Winn Maxey
=
WV TX Muhlenberg-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/bell.s.txt