William Bell Jr.
20th Ohio Secretary of State
In office
January 11, 1875 – January 8, 1877
GovernorWilliam Allen
Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded byAllen T. Wikoff
Succeeded byMilton Barnes
Personal details
Born(1828-08-23)August 23, 1828
Utica, Ohio, US
DiedJuly 16, 1902(1902-07-16) (aged 73)
Newark, Ohio, US
Resting placeGreen Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLizzie O. Ochletree
ChildrenThree

William Bell Jr. (August 23, 1828 – July 16, 1902) was a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Ohio who held many local offices, served in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was Ohio Secretary of State 1875–1877.

Biography

William Bell Jr. was born in Utica, Ohio, in 1828.[1] He attended the common schools and the Martinsburg Academy. He was elected Licking County Sheriff in 1852 and served two years.[1] He was appointed postmaster of Newark in July 1855 by Franklin Pierce, and re-appointed by James Buchanan in 1856.[1] Bell was again elected sheriff in 1858, serving four years, and elected county auditor in 1863, serving seven years.[1]

Bell was elected to represent Licking County in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1871 and re-elected in 1873 to the 60th and 61st General Assemblies.[1] He resigned when he was elected later in 1874 to Ohio Secretary of State, defeating incumbent Republican Allen T. Wikoff. He served two years but was defeated for re-election by Milton Barnes.[2]

Bell was appointed Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs in 1878 and served two years. In 1881, he was elected from Franklin County to the legislature and served two years in the 65th General Assembly. He returned to Newark, and was elected mayor in 1892, and served two years.[1] He was again elected auditor in 1894 and served six years. He returned to the House of Representatives in 1900-1903 for the 74th and 75 General Assemblies.

Bell was a Campbellite.[1]

Bell was married to Lizzie O. Ochletree, of Newark, on January 1, 1856. Their children were Sam C., Virginia M., and Maggie O.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g The Ohio Manual of Legislative Practice of the 74th General Assembly. State of Ohio. 1900. p. 390.
  2. ^ Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 331, 364.
  3. ^ History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties. Williams Brothers. 1880. p. 548.
Political offices Preceded byAllen T. Wikoff Secretary of State of Ohio 1875–1877 Succeeded byMilton Barnes Ohio House of Representatives Preceded byWilliam Parr Representative from Licking County 1872-1874 Served alongside: William D. Smith Succeeded byWilliam D. Smith Preceded byJohn C. Groom, Benjamin L. Reese, W. T. Wallace Representative from Franklin County 1882-1883 Served alongside: Benjamin L. Reese, J. B. Hall Succeeded byCasper Loewenstein, Allen O. MyersE. W. Young Preceded byS. S. Williams Representative from Licking County 1900-1902 Succeeded byCharles D. Watkins
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