Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Hon. Clements Bell
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
HON. CLEMENTS BELL, one of the most
prominent and influential citizens of Dickinson
County, resides on section 12, Wheatland
Township. His father, Edward A.
Bell, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and
married Leah Kennedy, also a native of that
county, where they began their domestic life.
About 1848, they emigrated to America and settled
in Belmont County, Ohio. Subsequently,
they removed to Muskingum County, where the
father died April 11, 1854. Mr. Bell came to this
county in 1871, and has here since made his home.
Our subject was the eldest of their five children.
He was born in County Antrim on the 16th of
December, 1845, and was only three years old
when his parents crossed the broad Atlantic. After
the death of his mother, he lived with some neighbors
for about five years, and then returned home,
remaining under the parental roof until December,
18(61. Prompted by patriotic impulses, he responded
to the country's call for troops, enlisting
as a member of Company B, Seventy-eighth Ohio
Infantry. He took part in many important engagements,
including the battles of Ft. Donelson,
Pittsburg Landing, Iuka, the Vicksburg campaign,
Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black
River, the siege of Vicksburg, and the battles of
Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. At the last named
place, on the 22d of July, 1864, he was
taken prisoner, and for nine months was confined
in the prison at Andersonville, and for a short
time was incarcerated at Milan, Ga., and Savannah,
Ga. After the battle of Atlanta, it was reported
that Mr. Bell was killed. A body was found on
the field supposed to be that of our subject, for a
handkerchief found on the person was recognized
as his. They laid the dead soldier beneath the
sod, marked the grave with a rude post, and inscribed
Mr. Bell's name upon it. For some time
the mistake was not discovered, as our subject was
in prison and had no means of communicating
with his friends. He suffered untold hardships at
Andersonville, but owing to his vigorous constitution
he survived, and lives to tell the story of the
dreadful prison life. On the close of the war, he
was mustered out, June 20, 1865, after about four
years of faithful service.
On receiving his discharge, Mr. Bell returned to
his home in Muskingum County, Ohio, and shortly
afterward went to Chicago, III., where he was employed
in a packing-house for about six months.
In the spring of 1866, he went to Johnson County,
Mo., where he engaged m fanning until the spring
of 1871. That year witnessed his arrival in Dickinson
County, Kan., where he secured a homestead
of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12,
Wheatland Township. Here he has since resided,
and has transformed his land into one of the
finest farms in the locality. By additional purchase,
he has increased the amount of his property until
his possessions now aggregate live hundred
and sixty acres, four hundred acres in one body.
Upon this farm he has made excellent improvements,
has erected good buildings, and the land is
under a high state of cultivation.
On the 28th of October, 1873, Mr. Bell was married
in Johnson County, Mo., to Miss Mary E. Foster,
daughter of William and Lavina S. (Lansden)
Foster. Her parents were both natives of Tennessee,
and died in Johnson County, Mo. They
had a family of seven children, five of whom grew
to mature years. Mrs. Bell was born in Johnson
County, Mo., June 8, 1853, and by her marriage
became the mother of four children: Carrie L.,
wife of James T. Ryan; Sue L., Clements W. and
Mary P. The mother died January 5, 1885, at the
age of thirty-one years. She was a woman well
known for her many Christian virtues and noble
traits of character�a faithful and devoted wife
and mother. At the age of sixteen years, she
united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
and was an active and consistent member up to the
time of her death. The poor and needy found in
her a friend, and her loss was mourned throughout
the community. ''Her children rise up and
call her blessed," and her husband will never cease
to mourn the loss of her who, for more than
eleven years, was his faithful companion and
helpmate.
Socially, Mr. Bell is a member of Abilene Post
No. 63, G. A. R., and in politics he is a stalwart
Republican, having always supported that party.
In the fall of 1875, he was elected to the Legislature
from the seventy- fifth district to fill an unexpired
term, and served throughout the remainder
of the session. This fact plainly indicates
his great personal popularity and ability, as
he was the first Republican ever elected in the
district, and out of eighty-six votes cast in his
own township he received all but two. Mr. Bell
has many, many friends and few, if any, enemies.
His sterling worth and strict integrity have won
him the high regard of all with whom he has come
in contact. He is also a self-made man. When
he came to Kansas, he had only $18, and with that
as a nucleus he has acquired a handsome competence,
which is the just reward of his energy, perseverance
and good management.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP