Alfred H. Bell, the genial and popular postmaster of Lostant, LaSalle
county, is one of the progressive merchants of this thriving town. He has
occupied a number of local offices of trust and honor, to the entire
satisfaction of everyone, and enjoys an enviable reputation for square
dealing and public spirit.
John Bell, the grandfather of our
subject, was a native of Italy and lived to attain an extreme age, dying in
Pennsylvania and leaving several children to perpetuate his name. During the
war of the Revolution in this country he supplied the army with meat, and
was very useful in many ways. He was a ship carpenter by trade. The maternal
grandfather of Alfred H. Bell was William Henning, whose birth took place in
Ireland. He fought at the great battle of Waterloo, under the Duke of
Wellington, being an aide to General Crumy. Subsequently he emigrated to the
United States, and after residing in the Keystone state for a numb.er of
years came to Putnam county, Illinois, where he was a pioneer. He was
industriously engaged in farming until his death, at the age of seventy
years. All of his thirteen children lived to maturity, and eleven of the
number attended the funeral of their mother, who lived to be eighty-five
years of age.
John G. Bell, the father of our subject, was born in
Pennsylvania, where he followed the trade of milling, and in 1857 came to
Illinois. After living at Todd's Mill for a short time he went to Ottawa,
where he made his home for many years. Then one year was spent in Hennepin,
and from that time until 1898 he dwelt upon a farm in Hope township. He then
located in Lostant, where his death occurred June 1, 1899. His wife, whose
maiden name was Mary Henning, and who was born in Ireland, is still living.
She is a devout member of the Episcopal church, while her husband was a
Lutheran. They were the parents of three sons and four daughters, five of
whom survive, namely: A. H.; George F., of Lostant; Lulu, wife of James
Patterson, of Hope township; Olive, wife of Charles Lambourne, of the same
district; and Miss C. Mae Bell.
Alfred H. Bell, who was born in
Putnam county, Illinois, attended the public schools of Ottawa and obtained
an excellent education, as a foundation for his future career. For several
years subsequent to leaving school he worked in a flouring mill in Ottawa,
together with his father; and after the latter's removal to the farm in Hope
township he devoted his winters to teaching, while in the summer he worked
on the homestead. A number of years were thus busily occupied, and then,
leaving his brother George to superintend the farm, he came to Lostant, in
1894, and has since been a resident of the place, thoroughly identified with
its upbuilding. For the first year after coming here he was associated with
his uncle, James Henning, in his warehouse and elevator business, and at the
expiration of the time stated he and his brother George purchased the senior
man's interest, and have since conducted the business under the firm name of
Bell Brothers. They possess energy and sound common sense in the management
of their financial affairs, and are steadily prospering.
In 1897 Mr.
Bell was appointed the postmaster of Lostant, and entered upon his duties in
December of that year. He takes great pains to meet the wishes of his fellow
citizens, and is highly commended for his promptness and general efficiency.
For two years he served as a member of the village board of trustees of this
place, and while living in Hope township he was a road commissioner for five
years. Politically he is a Republican of no uncertain stamp. Fraternally he
belongs to Magnolia Lodge, No. 103, F. & A. M., and is connected with
Magnolia Grange. Following in the line of his early religious training, he
is an Episcopalian.
Extracted 13 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 666-667.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
