News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-07-06
SKETCH OF CHARLES j BELL.

SKETCH OF CHARLES j BELL.
The following sketch of the life OF
Charles j. Bell was written by c. I.
Walter, editor of the Sc. Johnsbury
Republican, and was published in the
VermOnter in June, 1901
Years ago, in Scotland, an indus
tFiOus artisan, John Austin by name,
attracted considerable attention by
inventing the tuIip-shaped bell now In
common use. The invention brought
HIM into royal favor and he was
knighted by Queen Elizabeth, very
appropriately assuming the name OF
Bell. He was native of Glasgow
and a Presbyterian of pronounced
views. In the religious controversies
which followed, his freely expressed
opinions obliged him to flee the coun-
try and he went to Ireland. From
there several brothers came to Amer
lea and one, James, settled In Lyme,
N. H., and became the head of the
family of the subject of this sketch.
The grandfather moved to Vermont
in 1904, settling In Walden, where his
son and grandson were born and
have always lived. He was a lawyer
of marked ability, possessed of re-
markable supply OF eioquence and ma
tive wit. The father, James D Bell
Judge Bell, az he was Familiarity
known-Tas also prominent man
of affairs in his day aud generation.
On the grandmother's side the Bells
trace their lineage back to William
the Conqueror. By birth, as we'll as
by the well-earned right OF personal
achievement, the subject OF this
sketch Ia entitled to place in The
Vermonter's list of public men of to-
day. The Bells, IRON the days of
good Queen Bess to the present time,
have earned their honors. Whatever
of distinction has come to them has
been richly deserved. Good ancestry
and modern common sense make a
good combination. To the inherited
ability of a noble ancestry. the sub
ject OF this sketch has added literally
by years Of industry and we'll. directed
effort. His success ia worthy of the
name. There are those who believe
he has higher hOnors still In store.
However, | was asked to write his
tory not prophesy.
"Charles j. Bell was born in Wal
den in 1916. He Is a seIf-made man.
Internationally, his early opportuni-
ties were few, but we'll improved.
Aside from the advantages afforded
by the common schools of his native
town, five weeks at the old Caledonia
County Grammar School at Peach.
am completed his education. He has,
howeve taken long course in that
larger school of experience, and has
learned his lessons we'll.
she ia Yankee of the very best
model, a Vermonter to the manor
born. He loves his home and native
state and has never been absent from
them more than three weeks at
time, except when In the army. 1t
was not spirit of adventure, there
fore, but spirit of true loyalty to
country, which prompted him, when
but lad of seventeen years, to enlist
as a member of Go. B, 18th Vt. Vols,
afterward re-enllsting in Co. C, LIST vt.
Cav. 1t was his first journey from
home. Just how great was his sacri.
flee, only the hundreds of other Yer
mont boys can tell, who like him,
went from the hills and valleys of the
Green Mountain State to face tho
enemy on the field of battle. Mr.. Bell
enlisted as private and returned at
the end OF the war a corporal. He cast
his first vote for President Lincoln in
1864, when only ninteen years of age,
voting in the field in the Shenandoah
valley, near Cedar Creek. His vote
meant something to him then and
has ever since, for he has made it a
point never to be absent from a free
mans meeting from that day to this.
He was wounded just before the close
of the war.
"He has held many important of.
fees In town ana state. He has been
school director and has served as
chairman of the board of seIectmen
of Walden for at least q dozan vaors