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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 591]

    ROBERT BELL, now a retired farmer living in Cherokee, Iowa, is justly
    entitled to mention in this connection.  He is a native of Scotland,
    born October 13, 1839, and is the third son of ROBERT and ISABELLA
    (MURRAY) BELL, also natives of Scotland.  The grandfather on his
    father's side was JAMES BELL, and on the mother's side, JAMES MURRAY.
    The family removed from their native land to Canada when our subject
    was but four years old; there the father died April 26, 1888, at the
    age of eighty years; the mother, who is ten years younger than her
    husband, still lives in Canada with her son JAMES.  ROBERT spent his
    youth in Canada, and received his education in the common schools.
    In 1863 he made a trip to California, and remained there three years,
    during which period he was engaged in a mill for the Union Lumber
    Company.  Upon his return to Canada he engaged in the blacksmith's
    trade which he continued two years, and at the expiration of that
    time he removed to Will County, Illinois; was employed in farm work
    for ROBERT GILKINSON.  In 1880 he came to Cherokee County, locating
    in Pilot Township, where he secured a quarter section of land which
    he at once commenced to improve.  In 1884 he left his farm and came
    to Cherokee to live a more retired and easy life, having been a hard
    worker ever since his early youth;  he also wished his children to
    avail themselves of the excellent school privileges afforded in the
    public schools.  Mr. BELL was united in marriage January 9, 1866, to
    Miss MARY ANN GALE, a native of Canada and a daughter of JOSEPH and
    MARY C. GALE.  Five children have been born of this union: JOHN W.,
    JAMES E., both learning the machinist's trade in Illinois Central
    shop at Cherokee; RUBY J., IDA MAY and AGNES ANNA.  In the spring of
    1889 Mr. BELL was elected street commissioner of Cherokee.  In poli-
    tics he affiliates with the Republican party.  To Mr. BELL much credit
    should be given; he came to Will County, Illinois, with only fifty
    cents in his pocket, and year after year he has worked along, sup-
    porting a family which is an ornament to society, and has accumu-
    lated considerable property, including his farm and town residence,
    and three other houses which he rents.  He and his wife are both
    members of the Presbyterian Church.

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