Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 454.
 
JOHN B. BELL
 
     One of the most prominent, successful and influential citizens of Lane
county, Oregon, is John B. Bell, who has in various ways earned the respect and
admiration of his fellowmen. His career has been marked by a progressive spirit
that has enabled him to accomplish great results and he has earned a reputation
as a man of mature judgment and sound discrimination in practical affairs. Mr.
Bell is a native of West Virginia, born on the 1st of May, 1871, and is a son of
John X. and Mandane Bell. In 1884 the family came to Wallowa county, Oregon,
where they remained until 1893, when they moved to Asotin county. Washington,
which was their home until 1907. In that year they came to Lane county, and here
both parents died.
 
     John B. Bell secured his early education in the public schools, and then
entered the Washington State Agricultural College, at Pullman. He attended that
institution during 1896 and 1897, but did not graduate, leaving school in order
to enlist for service in the Spanish-American war. He served eighteen months in
the Philippine islands, and on being discharged from the army returned to
Washington. He was elected county auditor of Asotin county in 1901 and was
reelected in 1903, serving in that capacity four years. In 1905 he organized the
Bank of Asotin County, which he served two years as cashier and manager.
 
     In 1907 Mr. Bell came to Lane county, Oregon, and organized the First
National Bank of Springfield, of which he became cashier and manager, serving as
such until 1909, when he became identified with the Lane County Abstract
Company. This concern was first established in 1888 by A. E. Wheeler, under the
name of A. E. Wheeler & Company. He operated it until 1909, when he sold it, and
it was reorganized as the Lane County Abstract Company, with the following
officers: John B. Bell, president; Paul Merrill, vice president; Fred G.
Stickels, secretary and treasurer, and Don F. Skene. The present officers are
John B.
Bell, president and manager, and Joseph H. Koke, secretary and treasurer. The
company was for many years located in the Hovey building, but was later moved to
the Zormwalt building, at Seventh and Willamette streets, where it remained
until 1920, when it was moved to its present commodious quarters in the United
States National Bank building. It is the oldest abstract company in Eugene and
commands a large share of the business in its line. In 1913 Mr. Bell organized
the Bank of Shedd, in Linn county, of which he has been vice president for many
years. He is also a director and a member of the executive committee of the
Security Savings and Loan Association, of Eugene, and is extensively interested
in farming in Lane county.
 
     In 1903 Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Mabel F. Fouche, of
Wooster, Ohio, and a graduate of Wooster College. To them have been born two
children, John 13., Jr., and Helen, both of whom are students in the University
of Oregon. Politically Mr. Bell has always given his active support to the
republican party. In 1918 he was elected to the state senate and was made
chairman of the assessment and taxation committee and a member of the ways and
means committee in the session of 1921. He was again elected to the senate in
1926 and is now a member of that body. He has performed much effective service
in the public interest and was the author of the present double election board
law. Mr. Bell is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also belongs to the Kiwanis Club,
the Eugene Country Club and the Chamber of Commerce. In the best sense of the
term he is distinctively one of the notable men of his section of the state, for
as a business man he has shown ability of the highest order, as a citizen he is
public-spirited and enterprising to an unwonted degree, as a statesman he is the
peer of any of his contemporaries, and as a friend and neighbor he combines the
qualities of head and heart that win confidence and command respect.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2017 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.