Born in Philadelphia, April 5, 1839, and lived in that city, Pittsburg, and Allegheny the first fourteen years of his life. Then he spent a few years in Ohio, after which he came to Iowa in 1857, and this state has been his home ever since. He received his education in the schools of his native state. While he was residing in Des Moines county, Iowa, the war broke out, and Senator Bell enlisted in Company K, Second Iowa cavalry, and was saddler of that company when mustered out of service in October, 1865. In 1865 he was granted, by reason of his faithfulness and excellent service, a thirty days furlough, when no such privilege was granted to enlisted men. His soldier record is an unusually enviable one. Senator Bell was married in May, 1864, to Miss Leonora McCray. They have four children, three sons and a daughter. He has been in the grocery business in Fairfield for more than thirty years. He is a member of the G. A. R. of which he has held the office of senior vice-commander of the department of Iowa. He was president of the Jefferson County Soldiers' and Sailors' association for several years. He has held the presidency of the board of trustees of the College for the Blind at Vinton. Politically he has always been an enthusiastic republican, identified with every interest of the party. He is a conservative legislator. Last session he served as chairman of the committee on horticulture and forestry, and on the committees on railways, agriculture, military, educational institutions, penitentiaries and pardons, printing.

The counties of Jefferson and Van Buren alternate in the selection of a Senator from that district. This time the honor falls on the Hon. Thomas Bell of Fairfield to represent the district in the Senate for the next four years. He was born in the city of Philadelphia April 5, 1838: lived in Philadelphia five years and in Pittsburg and Allegheny nine years. He received his schooling in Pittsburg and Allegheny and at the academy in Beaver county, lie spent four years in Harrisonville, Scioto county, Ohio, and in 1857 came to Iowa. While living at Kossuth, Des Moines county, the war broke out. He enlisted in Company K, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and was saddler of that company when mustered out of the service October 5, 1865. He was in all the battles and skirmishes of the regiment. In 1865 he was granted a thirty-day furlough at a time when no such privilege was granted to enlisted men. This special favor was shown him in recognition of gallant conduct in helping to capture a rebel flag at Spring Hill, Tennessee, December 17, 1864. The colors belonged to the brigade commanded by Ross. In a desperate hand-to-hand struggle Mr. Bell and three of his comrades made the capture and he carried the colors off the field. He has the recommendation for this furlough, signed by all his regiment, brigade and division commanders, and he prizes the document highly on account of it showing the furlough was granted because of gallant conduct on the field of battle. Mr. Bell was married May 2, 1864, to Miss Leonora McCray, of Des Moines county. They have four children, Frank A., aged 27; Edwin B., 25; Thomas N., 19, and Florence L., 11. Mr. Bell has been a resident of the city of Fairfield for thirty years, and has been in the grocery business all the time. He is a charter member of George Strong post, G.A.R., has been post commander three years, and is an enthusiastic Grand Army man. He has attended nearly all the state encampments and was a delegate to some of those meetings. At one time he was senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. He was president of the Jefferson county Soldiers' and Sailors' association for six years. He has been president of the board of trustees of the College for the Blind at Vinton. He takes an active part in politics and in all matters that help build up the county, city and state, is liberal and public spirited, believes in progress, and that Iowa is the best state in the Union. He is an enthusiastic Republican.