My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. BELL, clerk, post office Mansfield, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1844, and is a descendant of Robert Bell, who, previous to 1765, came to Allegheny county from Virginia, on horseback, for the purpose of viewing the lands of Western Pennsylvania. What his opinion was respecting the land cannot be determined, as he was thrown from his horse and killed within sight of his home. Soon after this, however, his two sons, James and John Bell, came to Allegheny county, and settled on Charles creek, the former purchasing some four hundred acres on the west and the latter some six hundred acres on the east side of the above-mentioned creek. Soon after this settlement the balance of Robert Bell’s family also came to Allegheny county, where they remained and died. John Bell, the elder of these two brothers, married Ellen Blackmore, a lady from Maryland, and by her had three children, of whom Samuel was the youngest. Samuel was born in September, 1793; was a farmer, and owned 150 acres of the land purchased by his father. He married Mary Hulings, of Venango county, and by her had seven children, two sons and five daughters. He died in 1872, aged eighty years. John Bell, the youngest of his seven children, was a shoe maker by trade, which he followed during life. He married Friana Arnor, daughter of John Arnor, of Clarion county, Pa., the result of this union being six children, three of whom are now living. John Bell died in 1859, and his widow in 1866. John A., the subject of this sketch, was but eight years of age when his father died, and he was thrown upon his own resources. He had but poor opportunities of receiving more than a common-school education, but has however, been successful in business. He married, in 1877, Miss T. R. Foster, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Ross) Foster, and they have three children: Bessie, Mary and John. Mr. Bell is an elder in the U. P. Church; politically he is a republican.