BIO: John Ross BELL, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson 
<davwilson@worldnet.att.net>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
**************************************************************
__________________________________________________________  

McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, 
Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 6. 
__________________________________________________________  

JOHN ROSS BELL
Huntingdon, Pa.

Superintendent Building Arts.  Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory.  The career 
of John Ross Bell has been somewhat varied, and his ancestry dates back to his 
great-grandfather, David Weaver, who fought in the Revolution under George 
Washington; also two other great-grandfathers, Adam Harper, who was an officer 
and also John Stover.  John Ross Bell was born at Aaronsburg, Centre County, 
Pa., December 30, 1877.  Aaronsburg saw his first initiation into the mysteries 
of an education.  The Bellefonte public schools then claimed him; later the 
Bellefonte Academy, and also a classical course at Juniata College, and an 
industrial education at State College.  His parentage is the late C.C. Bell, 
deceased, of Scotch-Irish descent.  His mother, Catharine Margaret (Weaver) 
Bell, lives at 500 Penn Street, Huntingdon, Pa.  At present he is 
Superintendent building arts, vocational school, instructor of bricklaying, 
stone masonry, stone cutting, plastering, cement finishing, plastic arts, 
drafting and tile setting, at the Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory, from 
August 1, 1909, to date, 1929.  Prior to 1902 he was a law student at the 
Huntingdon County Bar, and from 1902 to 1909 was a contractor in brick, stone, 
and cement work in Pittsburgh, Pa.  He lectures professionally on industrial 
education, popular philosophy, and patriotism.  Author on building construction 
and industrial education.  He is the author of forty text books on all branches 
of the trades.  He is teaching, and uses his own books exclusively in teaching 
at this great institution.  Other works he reads to further his knowledge along 
educational lines.  He was the first county chairman of the Progressive Party, 
in 1912, under an act regulating same.  He is a Progressive Republican.  His 
wife, daughter and he belong to the Abbey Reformed Church.  He has held many 
offices in all branches of the church, had two years' college training for the 
ministry in the Reformed Church.  He has served on election board, Second ward, 
Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pa., 1899.  Belongs to Camp 321, P.O.S. of A., 
Camp 265, P.O. of A., and William Weand Commandery, No. 12.  Is a State Camp 
Trustee of the State Camp of Pennsylvania; Commissary-in-Chief of the 
Commandery General, and at present, 1929, directing his energies to 
establishing a Junior P.O.S. of A.  His efforts are meeting with success.  He 
has one sister, Mrs. Frank B. Patton, 500 Penn Street, Huntingdon, Pa.  Three 
brothers, H.H. Bell, 134 Penn Avenue, Coatesville, Pa.; C.E. Bell, 500 Penn 
Street, Huntingdon, Pa., and Andrew G. Bell, deceased.  Is married and has 
three children:  Margaret Estella, thirteen, at school; Catharine May, aged 
three; Jean Rosamond, aged thirteen months.  Football is his favorite outdoor 
sport.  His natural bent is writing and speaking.  John R. Bell has improved 
his intellect by taking advantage of his spare time, to gaining knowledge by 
reading worthwhile literature and applying it to practical use.