Rash's Surname Index
Notes for G. Thomas BELL
G. THOMAS BELL,
ex-sheriff of Blair county, and a prominent republican and active business
man of Altoona, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Good) Bell, and was born
on the farm and in the house where he now resides, in Pleasant valley,
one-half mile from Altoona, in Logan township, Blair county, Pennsylvania,
June 10, 1845. The Bells are of Scotch-Irish descent, and the paternal
grandfather of ex-sheriff Bell was William Bell, sr., a native and life-long
resident of Lebanon county. His son, William Bell (father), was born in 1801,
and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some time. He then
engaged in contracting and building, and soon came to Blair county, where he
had taken a contract to construct the Crooked dam, on the Juniata river, for
canal purposes. After the construction of the dam, he removed, in 1839, from
Williamsburg to the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides,
where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he retired from
active life and came to Altoona, in which city he died on August 26, 1877, at
seventy-six years of age. He was an old-line whig and republican in politics,
and was one of the first three commissioners of Blair county, serving by
appointment from June to October, 1846, and afterward by election from
October, 1846, to October, 1847. He was one of the founders and first ruling
elders of the Second Evangelical Lutheran church of Altoona, and while an
unassuming man, yet was firm in his convictions of right and duty. He
commanded the esteem of the community in which he resided, and married
Elizabeth Good, of German descent, and a daughter of Peter Good, a well
respected citizen of Logan township. Mrs. Bell, who was a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran church, died July 29, 1866, when in the fifty-fifth year
of her age, and was survived by six children, four sons and two daughters;
David, of Logan township; Rev. Peter G., (see his sketch elsewhere in this
volume); Capt. James M., of the 7th United States cavalry; Mrs. E. P. Miller,
of Kansas; G. Thomas, and Mrs. Lewis Walton, of Altoona.
G. Thomas Bell grew to manhood in his native township, received his
education in the common schools, and has always resided on the home farm,
which he now owns. At seventeen years of age, in 1863, he enlisted in the
State militia for three months, and at the expiration of his term enlisted in
Co. A, 205th Pennsylvania infantry, in which he served until the close of the
war. He was in the fight at Fort Steadman, and the several battles around
Petersburg and Richmond during the winter of 1864-65, and was present at
Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. After the close of the war he
returned to his farm, and in 1867 made a tour of the west, southwest, and
California, from which he sailed for home by the way of Panama, and reaching
Altoona in March, 1868. After returning home he became somewhat interested in
aerial navigation, and made two successful balloon ascensions from Altoona, in
one of which he was carried forty-five miles in forty-five minutes, and one in
which he ascended to the height of 18,500 feet. In 1879 he received the
republican nomination for sheriff, and was elected over his democratic
competitor by a thousand majority. Mr. Bell served throughout his term with
energy, faithfulness, and efficiency, and at its close returned to his farm,
where he has resided ever since.
In 1875 Mr. Bell married Emily Husfield, a daughter of Henry Husfield,
of Blair county, and who died August 26, 1881, in the 26th year of her age.
On June 30, 1883, Mr. Bell was united in marriage with Lizzie, daughter of
John Pennock, of Altoona.
G. Thomas Bell is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 490, Free and Accepted
Masons; White Cross Lodge, No. 354, Knights of Pythias; Stephen C. Potts
Post, No. 62, Grand Army of the Republic. He is now actively engaged in the
real estate business, and has served for several years as director of the
Clearfield, Northern & Altoona railroad. In addition to farming and his real
estate business, he takes considerable interest in horses, and is a
stockholder and president of the Driving & Exhibiting association. Mr. Bell
is one of the substantial farmers and representative business men of Blair
county, and has always been active, energetic, and successful in all of his
various business enterprises. He is a man of strong will power, yet always
pleasant in manner and easily approached. He takes an active part and wields
considerable influence in the political affairs of his county.
Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@@AOL.COM
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