Husband Dr. Harry Jacob Bell 1 2 3
Born: 11 Mar 1868 - Arendtsville, Adams Co, PA 4
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Bell (1842-1876) 4
Mother: Mary Lower (1849- ) 4
Marriage: 28 Oct 1896 5
Wife Helen M. Reed 1 3 5
Born: 24 Nov 1869 1
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Rev. John B. Reed (1839- ) 3 5 6 7
Mother: Isabella Shields (1841- ) 5 6
Children
General Notes: Husband - Dr. Harry Jacob Bell
He attended the public schools of McKnightstown, his Adams County, Pennsylvania, birthplace, and afterward was a student in Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, Pennsylvania. He prepared for his professional career at the Medico-Chirurgical College in Philadelphia and was graduated from this institution in 1892, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Subsequently he began the practice of medicine at Juniataville, Fayette County, where he remained for two years. In 1894 he came to Dawson where his activities were thereafter centered. Dr. Bell quickly established his professional qualifications and with passing years the demands on his services grew steadily, extending to a large part of Fayette County. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Bell served as surgeon to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, the West Penn Railways and the Western Maryland Railroad. He was active in the Connellsville State Hospital, where he served as chief of the obstetrical staff, and contributed substantially to the development of the institution and the elevation of its standards. He was a member and past president of the Fayette County Medical Society, a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, a Fellow of the American Medical Association and a member of the Youghiogheny Medico-Social Club of Connellsville.
In 1907 he was elected and on January 1, 1908, took office as coroner of Fayette County, in which position he was the first to serve an eight-year elective period. He was secretary of the Dawson Board of Health for some twenty-five years and a director of the Dawson School Board for thirty years, during twenty of which he was its secretary. He exercised an important influence in the general civil life of Dawson and in the World War period was prominent in all war work, notably as chairman of Selective Draft Board No. 5 and as one of the "Four-minute Speakers" in Fayette County. Dr. Bell was a consistent Republican in politics and on several occasions was honored by his party. His nomination and election to the State Senate from the Thirty-second Senatorial District (Fayette County) in 1926 broadened the scope of his public service to include the state at large. Dr. Bell was successfully re-elected in 1930, continuing in the Senate until 1934. In the session of 1931-33 he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining. In the extra session of 1933 he was chairman of the important Appropriations Committee and was also a member of the Finance Committee and the committees on Banks and Banking, Education, and Public Health and Sanitation.
Dr. Bell's Masonic record dates back many years and his services to the order brought him its highest distinctions. He was a member of James Cochran Lodge, No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was the first Worshipful Master and which he served beginning in 1913 as secretary. He was Past High Priest of Union Chapter, No. 165, Royal Arch Masons, at Uniontown, and a member of the Committee of Correspondence of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania. He was a member of Olivet Council, No. 13, Royal and Select Masters, at Greensburg. He was Past Commander of Uniontown Commandery, No. 49, Knights Templar, at Uniontown, and held various offices in the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar of Pennsylvania, serving in 1938 as Grand Senior Warden. He was also a member of the Committee of the Educational Foundation Fund of the Knights Templar of Pennsylvania. From 1920 to 1931 he was Division Commander, Division No. 10, of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar, of Pennsylvania, and Grand Warden of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Pennsylvania, 1931-32. Dr. Bell has also been active in the Scottish Rite bodies and was Past Thrice Potent Master of Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Uniontown; and a member of Pennsylvania Consistory, Valley of Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Red Cross of Constantine Assembly at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a life member of Syria Temple; Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh. On September 17, 1907, at Boston, Massachusetts, the honorary thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite, an often sought but rarely accorded distinction, was conferred upon him. This was Masonry's highest honor and was granted only in recognition of outstanding character, complete devotion to Masonic ideals and notable service to Masonry.
Dr. Bell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dawson and served for some years as chairman of the board of trustees. He was also teacher of the Men's Bible Class in the Sunday school for thirty years and became superintendent of the Sunday school.
General Notes: Wife - Helen M. Reed
from Laurel Hill, Fayette Co, PA