BENONI BELL was born in Virginia July 24, 1822, the son of Zebulon and Rachel, nee Single, Bell, natives also of the same State, who settled in this township in 1834; mother died in December, 1852, but his father is still living, now eighty-two years of age. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to this county, and in 1847 he married Eliza J. Wills, who was born in Kentucky in 1823, and died in 1856. Their two children were Cornelia, now Mrs. Doake; and William S., deceased. In 1859 Mr. Bell married Anna Taylor, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1823; they have five children. Mr. B. in 1856, purchased the mill which he now owns and forty-five acres of land, which is worth $45 an acre. Politically, he is a Republican.