My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS H. BELL, farmer, was born February 27, 1820, in Wilson County, and had a limited advantage for schooling though he has supplied the deficiency by private study. At the age of nineteen he was joined in marriage to Martha A. O’Neal, who was born in 1824. This union resulted in the birth of six children. At the end of ten years the mother died and in 1854 our subject wedded Elizabeth J. Bruce, who was born April 27, 1834. This union was blessed by the birth of twelve children. Mr. Bell is a supporter of Democratic principles, and he and wife are active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has held the office of constable, deputy sheriff and magistrate, respectively. He was a strong Union man and is a solid prohibitionist. He has one of the best farms of 130 acres in the county though he has devoted considerable time to house carpentering, running engines and superintending mills. He is a son of Fielding and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Bell. The father was born in Virginia and came to Tennessee in 1802. The mother was a native of Tennessee and was a daughter of Col. Jenkins of Revolutionary fame. After marriage they moved to Wilson and finally to Bedford County in 1826 where they spent the remainder of their days. In 1854 the father died and in 1879 the mother, too, passed away.