Senator Andrew Bell View All Years

ANDREW B. BELL

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Andrew B. Bell, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Andrew B. Bell was born in Aspinwall, Crawford County, Iowa, December 7, 1886. Reared on a farm in the same county, he attended Denison Normal College, from which he was graduated in 1909. Later he attended the State University of Iowa and was graduated from the Law Department of Drake University in 1912.

On February 12, 1929, Mr. Bell was married to Clara Curry of Denison. They had one son, Robert. Mr. Bell’s wife predeceased him in 1957.

Mr. Bell was elected County Attorney of Crawford County the same year of his graduation from law school and held that office for 20 years, retiring therefrom to become a candidate for state senator. During his 20 years acting as county attorney, he was also actively engaged in the general practice of law in Denison. Two major cases that he prosecuted as county attorney were the Voss forgery case and the Farm Holiday group. The latter case attained national prominence and was carried in newspapers in England, France and Germany. The National Guard was called out by Governor Clyde Herring and guards came from Red Oak and Council Bluffs. The 300 guardsmen were armed with bayonets and loaded guns and the county was under martial law for seven or eight weeks.

Andrew Bell was elected to the Iowa Senate from the Thirty-fourth District, comprising Crawford, Monona and Harrison Counties in 1933. He served during the Forty-sixth, Forty-sixth Extraordinary and Forty-seventh General Assemblies. While serving as state senator, he sponsored the homestead exemption bill, which became law. He was also appointed by Governor Kraschel to a committee to investigate the state liquor commission.

Mr. Bell passed away January 24, 1976, at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his son, Robert Andrew, and two grandsons, Robert and James.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Andrew B. Bell, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the Senate by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service to his community, state and nation and tender its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

LOUIS P. CULVER, Chairperson

WILLIAM E. GLUBA

ELIZABETH SHAW

Committee

The resolution was unanimously adopted.