Charles J. Bell
Encyclopedia
Charles James Bell a Republican, was the 50th Governor
of the U.S. state of Vermont
from 1904 to 1906.
.
and was promoted to Corporal in 1864. Bell was wounded at Appomattox Station
in April, 1865, and was mustered out in June. He then returned to Walden, where he farmed and raised horses.
A Republican, he served in the Vermont House of Representatives
from 1882 to 1883, and the Vermont Senate
from 1894 to 1895.
He was a member of the state Board of Railroad Commissioners from 1894 to 1896, and the state Board of Agriculture from 1896 to 1904.
From 1898 to 1902 Bell was Secretary of the state Board of Cattle Commissioners.
Bell also served as President of the Caledonia County
Agriculture Society, a Director of the Vermont Agricultural Society, Treasurer and Master of the Vermont Grange, and an executive committee member and Secretary of the National Grange.
"Mountain Rule".
(Under the Mountain Rule, the Republican party alternated candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor between the east and west side of the Green Mountains
, identified nominees years in advance, and restricted governors to two years in office.
Bell was from the west side of the Green Mountains
, and his predecessor, John G. McCullough
and successor, Fletcher D. Proctor
were from the east. Republicans also apportioned the state's two U.S. Senate seats between each side of the Green Mountains.
The Republican party maintained this rule, with few exceptions, for more than 100 years, winning every election for Governor from the 1850s until 1960, and every U.S. Senate election from the 1850s until 1974.)
During his administration Bell was involved in a controversy that gained national attention. He was besieged by pleas to commute the sentence of Mary Rogers
, who had been convicted of murdering her husband. Bell reconsidered her case, but ultimately decided to allow the original sentence to be carried out, and Mary Rogers was executed by hanging.
, and one from the University of Vermont
.
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
of the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
from 1904 to 1906.
Early life and education
He graduated from Peacham Academy and at 17 enlisted for the Civil War in Company B, 15th Vermont Infantry Regiment15th Vermont Infantry
The 15th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
.
Military experience
After he was mustered out he reenlisted in Company C, 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment1st Vermont Cavalry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Cavalry was a three years' cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac....
and was promoted to Corporal in 1864. Bell was wounded at Appomattox Station
Battle of Appomattox Station
The Battle of Appomattox Station was fought April 8, 1865, during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer's Union cavalry, en route to Appomattox Station, clashed with the reserve artillery of the Confederate Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, under...
in April, 1865, and was mustered out in June. He then returned to Walden, where he farmed and raised horses.
Post Civil War experience
In addition to operating his farm and breeding horses, Bell was elected and appointed to various local offices, including school board member, selectman, and chairman of the select board.A Republican, he served in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
from 1882 to 1883, and the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from 1894 to 1895.
He was a member of the state Board of Railroad Commissioners from 1894 to 1896, and the state Board of Agriculture from 1896 to 1904.
From 1898 to 1902 Bell was Secretary of the state Board of Cattle Commissioners.
Bell also served as President of the Caledonia County
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
Agriculture Society, a Director of the Vermont Agricultural Society, Treasurer and Master of the Vermont Grange, and an executive committee member and Secretary of the National Grange.
Election as Governor
Bell was nominated for Governor in 1904. He easily won the general election, and served two years, in keeping with the Vermont Republican party'sVermont Republican Party
The Vermont Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Vermont. Patricia McDonald serves as Chairwoman of the Vermont Republican State Committee.-Current elected officials:...
"Mountain Rule".
(Under the Mountain Rule, the Republican party alternated candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor between the east and west side of the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
, identified nominees years in advance, and restricted governors to two years in office.
Bell was from the west side of the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
, and his predecessor, John G. McCullough
John G. McCullough
John Griffith McCullough was an American businessperson and attorney. He was Attorney General of California during the Civil War, and the 49th Governor of Vermont from 1902 to 1904.-Early life:...
and successor, Fletcher D. Proctor
Fletcher D. Proctor
Fletcher Dutton Proctor , born in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont, was a Republican member of the Vermont House of Representatives and the 51st Governor of Vermont, from 1906 to 1908....
were from the east. Republicans also apportioned the state's two U.S. Senate seats between each side of the Green Mountains.
The Republican party maintained this rule, with few exceptions, for more than 100 years, winning every election for Governor from the 1850s until 1960, and every U.S. Senate election from the 1850s until 1974.)
During his administration Bell was involved in a controversy that gained national attention. He was besieged by pleas to commute the sentence of Mary Rogers
Mary Rogers (murderer)
Mary Mabel Rogers was the last woman legally executed by Vermont. Rogers was hanged for the 1902 murder of her husband, Marcus Rogers.-Marriage:...
, who had been convicted of murdering her husband. Bell reconsidered her case, but ultimately decided to allow the original sentence to be carried out, and Mary Rogers was executed by hanging.
Career after governorship
After leaving office Bell returned to his agricultural interests and remained active in the Grange and other farming organizations. In 1906 he received an honorary degree from Norwich UniversityNorwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
, and one from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
.