| Joe H. Bell, farmer, was born in Spottsylvania County VA, October 22, 1826. His parents, George T. and Mary J. (Lumsden) Bell, were born in 1807 and 1809, and died in 1876 and 1885, respectively. Joe H. Bell, is of Scotch-English descent, and is the second of seven children: Francis C., Joe H., Eliza H., George T., John Z., Mary and Julia. Joe H. Bell lived on a farm until he was eighteen years of age, then became an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, and at the end of two years began journey work. In 1851 he and his brother, John Z., came to Tennessee, and our subject began working at this trade on his arrival. He was the principal contractor in Crockett County for a number of years. In 1868 he began farming and has been very successful up to the present time. In 1854 he married Jane S. Jones, and their union resulted in the birth of two children: Claud J. and Mary F. (Mrs. Geo. T. Williams). Mr. Bell is a Democrat and one of the worthy and honest citizens of this county. He was a soldier in the late was and served as escort to Gen. N. B. Forest, from November, 1863, until the close of the war. |
