Representative William B. Bell View All Years

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William B. Bell

Washington County

Washington county delights in finding men of mature years and broad experience to the legislature. This time it is Colonel William B. Bell who has the honor. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1833 and is now 60 years of age. The Muskingum county schools were the places in which he obtained his education. He early went to work at the blacksmith trade and grew to vigorous manhood while pursuing it. When he became of age he started for the west, locating at Muscatine, Iowa. With the exception of the two years at Muscatine he, lived at Washington ever since. He built up a good business at blacksmithing and carriage building. Like other patriotic young men, he enlisted at the outbreak of the war, and was unanimously named captain by a company of one hundred men. He was assigned to company C, 8th Iowa infantry. That gallant regiment was at bloody Shiloh, and Captain Bell with the remnant of his company was captured and sent to Libby prison. From that ghastly trap he was paroled in October of 1863. He was a field officer in the campaign against Vicksburg. In July, 1863, he was promoted to the position of lieutenant colonel, and from October of that year till the end of the war he was in continuous command of the 8th Iowa. When Forest made his raid on Memphis, Captain Bell was in command of the union forces that opposed him. After a number of years he was elected to the equity board of supervisors. 1879 he was appointed postmaster at Washington and retained place till 1885. Not caring to return to the shop he bought a farm near town and has ever since been engaged with his crops fine stock. He has for a long time been a member of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Bell may be called a man of extensive experience, which put in practice in the halls of legislation make him a valuable member.

House District 23