Monroe Bell

Monroe Bell (1826 or 1828/9 - 1900) was a laborer and state legislator who served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1872 until 1873.[1]

Biography

He was born in Mississippi either in 1826[2] or 1828/9.[1]

Bell enlisted with the 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in November 1863 joining Company L and was made sergeant after serving just a month.[1] A few months later in June 1864 he deserted.[1]

He was a member of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors in 1870 and was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1871 serving one session from 1872 until 1873.[1][3] He had been elected as a Radical and had been accused by legislator C. F. Norris of bribing member of the Radical party to support him.[4]

He stood for Sheriff of Hinds County in September 1873 as the Republican nominee,[5] but lost to William Jefferson who ran as an independent.[6] Later the same year he was made major of the Hinds County militia.[7]

He was tried in 1885 for attempting to poison his niece but his defense claimed it was only love powder "to kindle the ardent passion in her breast".[8]

See also

References
  1. Foner, Eric (1 August 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. "Monroe Bell – Against All Odds". Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. Work, Monroe N.; Staples, Thomas S.; Wallace, H. A.; Miller, Kelly; McKinlay, Whitefield; Lacy, Samuel E.; Smith, R. L.; McIlwaine, H. R. (1920). "Some Negro Members of Reconstruction Conventions and Legislatures and of Congress". The Journal of Negro History. pp. 63–119. doi:10.2307/2713503. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. "Another violation of the Enforcement Act". The Clarion. 9 November 1871. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2023. open access
  5. "Sheriff's Election". The Clarion-Ledger. 25 September 1873. p. 3. Retrieved 25 March 2023. open access
  6. "William Jefferson Sheriff of Hinds". The Clarion. 9 October 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 25 March 2023. open access
  7. "Militia Appointments". The Clarion. 2 October 1873. p. 3. Retrieved 25 March 2023. open access
  8. "Monroe Bell tried for attempted poisoning". Mississippian. 24 November 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2023. open access
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