Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-02
GENERAL BELLS
EvENTFUL CAREER

VISALIA, Cal, Sept. 10. 1902
When Gen. Tyree H. Bell fell asleep
at New Orleans. August 90, 1902, no ordin-
airy man left his tenament of clay. Not
only so, but within a quarter Of a CEN
fury no man has passed away whose
acquaintance and circle of friendship was
more widely extended than General BelTs.
From Ohio, Tennessee. Louisiana ana
California, where his life had been spent.
he was one to be loved and admired for
his many noble qualities and sterling in
tegrity, and all over the union from Maine
to the gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc for his chief undaunted courage and
faithful services to his country in the
days that tried mems souls But those
who knew him best and consequently low
ed him most find nothing but approval
of his acts and conduct during his event
full life of 81 years backing only six
days) He did everything that was noble
and good from the standpoint of earth
life. General Bell was not only hero
in the days of battle, but he was none
the less a hero In all civic life; he was new
err known to compromise the least prin-
ciple or take undue advantage of friends
or foe. In April, 1901, he went from his
home in Fresno in this state to Memphis.
Tenn, to attend the Confederate veterans
reunion. The thousands of old soldiers
who saw him there, who had not seen
him for years, were made to rejoice that
their emotions reminded one of the time
when the second temple was completed,
when some laughed some cried, because
time was doing its work on the manly
body, and others shouted for joy! There
is another fact to the life OF General
Bell that II is well to remember. He not
only had the heroism of a Washington
or a Napoleon and the bravery of a Leon
ides, and all the other qualities necessary
to make a man successful and admired,
but there was another element that enter
ed into these qualities and sweetened and
purified his life. For more than sixty-five
years he had been a faithful and consist
ent member of the Methodist church.
which engaged the greater part of his
mind. And last April and May he attend
ed the Confederate veterans reunion and
the general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south, at Dallas, ex.,
in Nav 1902. 1t makes Californians sad TO
know that che end came away from home
and relatives, but they rejoice to know
that it came among friends. To Gen. ].
B. Gordon and General George Norman
with the hundreds of ex-COnfederafes
who showed their love and appreciation
for their old comrade made. and who
made his dying months easy, restful and
gentle as bonds of brotherhood only can,
when at such hours at New Orleans, not
only do the other Confederate veterans
owe debt of gratitude to the veterans of
New Orleans who were so kind and cared
for him but the Californians as well.
The remains of General Bell reached
Fresno in due course of time clad in the
suit of gray bearing also the emblems of
his office and rank and enclosed in
casket. all the work and care of the la
Dor and love of the veterans of New Or
leans. His body lay in state for day
and night in ST. Paul's NJ. f. church,
SOUTH his church at Fresno; was viewed
by the veterans of Fresno and of the San
JOAQUIN valley; also by the veterans who
had in their days wore the blue, G. A. r.
encampment. after which Rev. j. ]. N.
Kenny, presiding elder of the San joaquin
district who nad been his pastor, deliv-
cred an appropriate discourse over the re-
mains, and then the body was laid to rest
beside those of his companions of his
youth, who preceded him twenty-one
years, on what would have been his S7th
anniversary.
Capt. Isaac T. Bell. who was a mem
Der of his fathers staff and by the way
who was wounded at Kennesaw mountain
and was nursed back to life in the home
of Bill Apps father. who was also his
secretary during the time General Bell
was receiver in the United States land
office in Visalia. CAL gave me suestan-
TALLY the following facts with reference
to the life of the old hero:
General Tyree II. Bell, who was prom
inent Confederate officer throughout the
war, passed away at New Orleans about
10 O'Clock at the advanced age of 81 years
lacking six days.
He was born in Cincinnati. o., Septem-
Der s, 1915, and in 1917. two years later, his
parents removed to Summer county, Ten
nessee, where he was reared and educated
In his early life he engaged in raising fine
stock, in which business he continued up
TO the breaking out of the civil war.
General Bell was intensely southern in
his views. All that was dear to him was
in the sunny south and he felt 1t was