Alexander Bell, chairman of the board of supervisors of Lodi Township, a position he has occupied for the last three years, was born in Cook County Illinois in 1846, son of Robert Bell, now deceased. The mother died when Alexander was very young, and at the age of fourteen, after attending school in his neighborhood, he started in life for himself.

He came to Mower County in 1878 and rented a farm in Clayton for one year. In the fall he moved to town and bought a place of F. Bulis. He was elected Marshall in the year 1879, which office he held for four years, then was elected town mayor in 1883, which he held for four years, and was school director for several years.

In 1900 he rented the D.C. Wood farm of 320 acres in Section 20, Lodi Township. Here he follows diversified farming, raises oats, barley, corn and some wheat, and breeds cattle, horses, swine and sheep. He has forty-two head of Black Poll and twenty-five Shorthorn cattle, 160 head of Shropshire sheep, fifty head of Poland China hogs, and twenty-one Percheron horses.

Aside from his township position he has served seven years as a member of the school board of district 96.

Mr. Bell was married in early life to Eunice Mitchell, who died in 1886. In 1886 he was married to Augusta Brunce, daughter of Fred Brunce, of Mower County, and they have seven children: Clara, Robert, Leslie, Harlen, Laura, Alexander Jr., and Louise. All are at home, and Leslie, Harlen, Alexander Jr., and Laura attend school.

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Transcribed from "HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY," published in 1911, pg. 765

Submitted to MnGenWeb by Kathy Pike, Nov. 2006