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EDWARD BELL, a progressive farmer and enterprising citizen of Antis Township,
Blair County, Pa., is the owner of a fine farm of 189 acres and was born
December 12, 1830, in what is now Bellwood, a son of David and Margaret
(McKnight) Bell.
     David Bell, father of our subject, was born June 23, 1805, at Bells
Mills, and was a son of Edward Bell, who was known throughout Blair County as
a financier, and iron manufacturer, and who was the largest land owner of the
county in its entire history. David Bell was reared and spent his entire life
in Antis Township, coming to the farm owned by our subject at an early period.
Here he made a clearing, and in 1834, erected a large barn, which is still
standing, cutting the pine with which it was built from off the place. He
also built a fine brick residence that same year, and both buildings are
still in excellent condition. On February 4, 1830, David Bell married
Margaret P. McKnight, who was born December 19, 1807, and died July 8, 1889.
David died March 28, 1841, and both were buried in the Logan Valley Cemetery.
The following children were born to David and Margaret Bell: Edward, subject
of this record; Mary Jane, who died aged four years; John P., who lives in
Antis Township on a farm adjoining the old home place; Henrietta, who died
aged four years; and Richard M., who was killed May 4, 1864, at Drury's Bluff
during the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 and was a member of Company F., 76th
Reg. Pa. Inf.
     Edward Bell was reared in Antis Township, and was less than three years
of age when his parents moved to his present farm. He has lived here
continuously, except for a period of nine years, returning in 1850, and has
always followed general farming. Mr. Bell was married September 26, 1865, to
Anna Graham, the Rev. D. D. Clark officiating. Mrs. Bell was born in
Waterloo, Juniata County, Pa., and is a daughter of James and Mary
(Montgomery) Graham, the former of whom died when she was less than two years
of age. Her mother, who came of one of the oldest families of Juniata County,
subsequently moved with her family to Newton Hamilton, where Mrs. Bell was
reared. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bell, as follows: Margaret
married W. H. Bently of Bellwood, and they have three children - C. Kenneth,
Annabel and Edward Bell Bently. James Graham died October 19, 1888, aged
twenty years. Eliza, is the wife of Rev. J. R. Wood, pastor of the Baptist
church of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and they have two children, Elizabeth R., and
Richard Graham. Mary lives at home; Edward, Jr., is a resident of Johnstown,
Pa., and married Elizabeth Eckfeldt. Richard M., who lives on the home place,
attended Bucknell University (as did also the other sons except Graham, who at
his death was a junior at the Troy Polytechnic College of Troy, N. Y.), and
was for some years a professional ball player, having played ball in all
parts of the country. Adie K. met his death in the yards of the Green River,
Wyoming & Union Pacific R. R. on December 15, 1907; he married Mary Freeburn
of Bellwood. Allan C. died in November, 1906, aged 19 years. Mrs. Wood is a
member of the Pi Beta Phi order, and Richard M., and Edward Bell are members
of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Mr. Bell is politically a Republican and
served as school director, supervisor, and poor director, and was post master
at Sabbath Rest 24 years. He is a member of the Logan Valley Baptist Church,
and is the oldest member of that church, having been identified with the same
since boyhood.