Dr. Jas. Bell was born in 1826, and was 66 years old when he died. He father was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and married Mr. Bell. Oct. 20th, 1818, in Wayne county, Ohio, when she was not yet 18 years of age. They first lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania; James was born there, but the family emigrated to Ohio when he was an infant. Eighteen children (no twins) were born of this union inside of twenty-five years. His father died in Feb., 1843, and his mother in 1881, at the age of 80 years. This large family was reasied in Muskingum county, O., and were exceptionally robust and healthy. A malignant type of sore throat carried off four of the children in a few weeks' time; eleven being dangerously ill at the same time, comprising nearly all the family at that data. Eleven of the large family have passed over to the "silent majority". 

James, the subject of this sketch, even when a boy, or quite a young man had very pronounced convictions, and would sometimes reprove his seniors for doing what he thought was wrong. He was raised in the Associate Presbyterian church, but went into the United Presbyterian church in 1858, but on account of his views on civil government he soon after went into the Refromed Presbyterian rhuch and retained his connection with that society until his death .

At his father's death a large family of small children had to be cared for, and James would teach school in the winter and work on the farm in the summer, until other members of the family arrived at an age where they could relieve him. He supplemented a common school education received at Muskingum COllege, Ohio, by studying medicine with Dr. Mitchell of Newark, Ohio, but graduated in his chosen profession at Cleveland Medical College in 1864, and commenced the practice in New Concord, Ohio, soon afterwards. He was married to Miss LIzzie Russell in October, 1855, and two children were born to them, but his wife died about the year 1862, and both children are dead. Soon after he attended and graduated at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. In 1864 he was again married to Miss Sallie Gilbraith and removed to Olathe, Kansas in 1866, where he continued to make his home for the remainder of his active and useful life. 

In 1887 Dr. Bell received a medal from the INter-National Medical Congress which met at Washington D.C. In 1888 he was elected president of the State Medical Society, which position he held for one year. He was connected with the Olathe Academy for a number of years and did much toward establishing and maintaining its usefulness. 

He was a most estimable man, performing all his duties faithfully and conscientiously. Hundreds of persons who have been treated by him and restored to a life of usefulness, and are a living testimony to this just tribute to a worthy man. His home was a comfortable one and his friends always welcome. He was happy in his social life and devoted to his family and true to his hosts of friends. His trials and his ambitions are alike over and his busy life is exchanged for one of rest.