Birth: 1844 - 1845.
Death: Unknown.
Wife: Ellen Colvin Bell.
Children: Nellie, Olive, Hannah, Joshua H., Benjamin K., Rollin Singer Bell.
Burial: Unknown.
Author. He was a Harness Maker and Police Magistrate, was also a Butter Sale man.
Illinois Ninth Cavalry Co. L., Regimental History.
JOSHUA BELL was born in Lemont, Cook county, Ill., August 15, 1844, and with his parents removed to Chicago the fall of that year. He received a grammar school education, and graduated from the high school into Company L, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, October 15, 1861. He was small for his age, and barely passed muster on the ground "that he would do for a Bugler." When his company was full he was appointed Saddler Sergeant of Company L. He says: " I did not capture any court houses or Generals, and think I was a hard case," as I was one of the first to be arrested for foraging after leaving Pilot Knob, but dodged the guard house as I had no official notice of the order, and beat the Sergeant-Majcr cut of the hog I shot".
Author. I tried to find out about the shooting of the hog and the court house, but it was not stated.
Soon after arriving at Helena he was taken sick in consequence of the hardships and lack of water on the march to that place, and was discharged for disability, September 20, 1862.
After leaving the Ninth the subject of this sketch was sick for nearly a year, and January 7, 1864, enlisted in the " Chicago Mercantile Battery," and served in the Department of the Gulf until July 10, 1865, when he was mustered out as a veteran, having taken part in the Red River expedition under General Banks, and other minor movements.
After he returned to Chicago he was married, 1866, to Miss Ellen Colvin, and has a promising family of six children three sons and three daughters.
He has had his full share of the ups and downs of life. After twelve years of service in political life in various capacities he obtained the position in 1887 of Superintendent of the Harness contract at the Illinois State Prison, Joliet, Illinois.
Comrade Bell, in all these years of toil, maintains the same cheerful and happy demeanor. He lias many friends and the respect and confidence of all who know his sterling qualities of head, and the goodness of his heart. His address 1888, Joliet, Illinois.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES.
Illinois Civil War Detail Report.
Name: BELL, JOSHUA. Rank: PVT. Company: L. Unit: 9 IL US CAV.
Personal Characteristics. Residence: CHICAGO, COOK CO, IL. Age: 20. Height: 5' 2 1/4. Hair: BROWN. Eyes: GRAY. Complexion: DARK. Occupation: SADDLER. Nativity: IL.
Service Record: Joined When: OCT 15, 1861. Joined Where: CHICAGO, IL. Period: 3 YRS. Muster In: NOV 11, 1861. Muster In Where: CHICAGO, IL. Remarks: DISCHARGED SEP 20, 1862.