Fresno County Biographies

T. A. Bell

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006

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	T. A. Bell, Recorder for Fresno County, was born in Gallatin, 
Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1856. His father, T. H. Bell, carried on general 
farming, making tobacco the staple crop. In 1859 he moved to Dyer County, West 
Tennessee, and there young Bell received his education at the Newbern School, 
which was chartered as Union Seminary. He entered the primary department and 
continued in school until he was eighteen years old. At that time the family 
moved to California and settled in Fresno County. On King's river his father 
engaged in wheat farming and stock-raising, remaining there until the 
administration of President Cleveland, when he was appointed Receiver of the 
Visalia land office. After his appointment he moved to Selma, and still makes 
that his home. T. A. Bell lived with his parents until 1880, when he engaged in 
the sheep business, making headquarters at Centerville and keeping from 1,500 to 
2,500 sheep. This he continued until 1884. In that year he sold his flock and 
entered mercantile life in Fresno, under the firm name of Harrell & Bell. Two 
years later he sold his interest and became agent of the Fresno Agricultural 
Implement Works, and was also in the land business. In the fall of 1888 Mr. Bell 
was elected County Recorder, and was re-elected in the fall of 1890. He employs 
ten deputies, three of whom are official: J. M. Collier, C. C. Elliott and I. N. 
Hyde. He was married in San Francisco, in January, 1887, to Miss Emma S. Maddon, 
a native of Stockton, California. They have two children: Mary Gertrude, born 
July 9, 1888, and Irma E., born May 5, 1891. Mr. Bell is a member of Fresno 
Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M.; Vineland Lodge, No. 67, K. of  P., and Fresno Lodge, 
No. 3455, Knights of Honor. Of the last named lodge he is a charter member.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, 
Tulare, and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp. 314-315.