John Calhoun Bell
Encyclopedia
John Calhoun Bell was a U.S. Representative
from Colorado
.
Born near Sewanee, Tennessee
, Bell attended public and private schools in Franklin County
. He studied law in Winchester, Tennessee
, and was admitted to the bar
in 1874. He moved to Colorado in 1874 and commenced practice in Del Norte, Colorado
, moving to Saguache, Colorado
, the same year. Bell served as county attorney
of Saguache County, Colorado
, from 1874 to May 1876. He moved to Lake City, Colorado
, in 1876.
Bell was elected county clerk of Hinsdale County, Colorado
in 1878. He served as mayor
of Lake City in 1885. He moved to Montrose, Colorado
, in 1886 and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the seventh judicial district of Colorado
from 1889 until his resignation in 1892, having been elected to Congress
.
Bell was elected as a Populist to the Fifty-third
and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1893-March 3, 1903). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth
Congress. He served as member of the United States Industrial Commission
in 1900 and 1901. Bell resumed the practice of law in Montrose, Colorado
. He served as judge of the Colorado Court of Appeals
1913-1915. He again resumed the practice of law. He served as a member of the State board of agriculture 1931-1933.
Bell died in Montrose, Colorado
, August 12, 1933, and is interred in Cedar Cemetery there.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Born near Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
, Bell attended public and private schools in Franklin County
Franklin County, Tennessee
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 41,052. Its county seat is Winchester.Franklin County is part of the Tullahoma, Tennessee, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He studied law in Winchester, Tennessee
Winchester, Tennessee
Winchester is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Tullahoma, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1874. He moved to Colorado in 1874 and commenced practice in Del Norte, Colorado
Del Norte, Colorado
The Town of Del Norte is a Statutory Town in and the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Del Norte is located at ....
, moving to Saguache, Colorado
Saguache, Colorado
The historic town of Saguache is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and most populous town of Saguache County, Colorado, United States. The population was 578 at the U.S. Census 2000.-Name:...
, the same year. Bell served as county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
of Saguache County, Colorado
Saguache County, Colorado
Saguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
, from 1874 to May 1876. He moved to Lake City, Colorado
Lake City, Colorado
The Town of Lake City is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 375 at the U.S. Census 2000...
, in 1876.
Bell was elected county clerk of Hinsdale County, Colorado
Hinsdale County, Colorado
Hinsdale County is the least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 790 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Lake City. Hinsdale County is named for George A. Hinsdale, a...
in 1878. He served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lake City in 1885. He moved to Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, in 1886 and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the seventh judicial district of Colorado
Colorado District Courts
Colorado District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Colorado.They have original jurisdiction in civil cases with any amount in controversy; felony criminal cases, domestic relations, family law, and cases involving minors cases , probate, and mental health...
from 1889 until his resignation in 1892, having been elected to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Bell was elected as a Populist to the Fifty-third
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1893-March 3, 1903). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth
58th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
Congress. He served as member of the United States Industrial Commission
Industrial Commission
The Industrial Commission was a United States government body in existence from 1898 to 1902. It was appointed by President William McKinley to investigate railroad pricing policy, industrial concentration, and the impact of immigration on labor markets, and make recommendations to the President...
in 1900 and 1901. Bell resumed the practice of law in Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
. He served as judge of the Colorado Court of Appeals
Colorado Court of Appeals
The Colorado Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the state of Colorado. It was established by statute by the Colorado General Assembly under Article VI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Colorado.-Jurisdiction:...
1913-1915. He again resumed the practice of law. He served as a member of the State board of agriculture 1931-1933.
Bell died in Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, August 12, 1933, and is interred in Cedar Cemetery there.