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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Counties of PORTER and Lake Indiana.
Historical and Biographical
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor
Charles Blanchard, Biographical Editor
F. A. Battey & Co., Pub., Chicago - 1882

   -236-

        REASON BELL, Jr., the first white child born in Porter County,
     Ind., is the son of REASON and SARAH (DARNELL) BELL, and was born in
     Washington Township, this county, January 11, 1834.  REASON BELL, Sr.,
     now deceased, was one of the pioneers of Porter County, and was born
     December 31, 1797, in Greene County, Va.  He married, August 26, 1819,
     Miss SARAH DARNELL, born in the same county May 9, 1801.  Shortly
     afterward they moved to Ohio, and thence, in July, 1832, to Indiana,
     stopping in La Porte County until 1833, and then coming to Washington
     Township, this county, then unorganized.  They are said to have been
     the third white family to settle in what is now Porter County.  They
     located in the unbroken forest, and underwent all the hardships and
     privations of pioneer life.  They had born to them twelve children,
     nine of whom reached maturity; six are still living.  Mr. BELL was a
     Whig and afterward a Republican, and was one of the early County Com-
     missioners; in religion he was a Universalist in belief, although he
     was a member of no church.  He died July 16, 1867, his widow surviving
     him until July 12, 1881.  The remains of both lie in the Lutheran
     Burying Ground, Washington Township.  REASON BELL, Jr., received only
     a common school education, and December 23, 1857, married Miss DELIA
     A. WHITE.  At the age of eighteen, he began acting as Deputy County
     Auditor, and so continued until 1857, when he was elected to the
     office by the Republicans, and re-elected, and served eight consecu-
     tive years - in all, sixteen.  At present he is leading a retired
     life, yet gives some attention to real estate.  He is the father of
     six children, viz: THERON H., MARION A., HERBERT R., MARY, MARK D. and
     CLARENCE W.  Mr. BELL is a member of the I. O. O. F., the O. F. En-
     campment, and the Grand Lodge of O. F., and has passed the chairs of
     lodge and encampment.  The family name was formerly spelled BEALL, and
     the first one known is JOSEPH BEALL, a native of Scotland, who moved
     to England.  His son, JOHN BEALL, emigrated from England to America in
     1730, and settled in the Jerseys.  He was the father of three sons;
     one, ONESIMUS, was born on Long Island in 1738, and served as Captain
     in the French and Indian wars, and twenty years later as Lieutenant in
     the Revolution.  Another son, SIMEON BELL, was the grandfather of
     REASON BELL, Jr.  SIMEON married MARY McLANE, a lady of Irish descent,
     and to them were born eleven children, of whom REASON, our subject's
     father, was the fourth child.

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