John Calhoun Bell

John Calhoun Bell
Portrait by C. M. Bell c. 1891–1894
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Herschel M. Hogg
Personal details
Born	(1851-12-11)December 11, 1851 Sewanee, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	August 12, 1933(1933-08-12) (aged 81) Montrose, Colorado, U.S.
Political party	Populist
Spouse	Susie Abernathy Bell
Occupation	Lawyer, politician

John Calhoun Bell (December 11, 1851 – August 12, 1933) was a U.S. Representative from Colorado.

Born near Sewanee, Tennessee, Bell was the son of Harrison and Rachel Laxon Bell. He attended public and private schools in Franklin County, and studied law in Winchester, Tennessee. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and married Susie Abernathy in 1881.^[1]

Bell moved to Colorado in 1874 and commenced practice in Del Norte, Colorado, moving to Saguache, Colorado, the same year. He served as county attorney of Saguache County, Colorado, from 1874 to May 1876. He moved to Lake City, Colorado, in 1876, and was elected county clerk of Hinsdale County, Colorado in 1878. He served as mayor of Lake City in 1885. He moved to Montrose, Colorado, in 1886 and continued the practice of law. He was judge of the seventh judicial district of Colorado from 1889 until his resignation in 1892, having been elected to Congress.

Elected as a Populist to the Fifty-third and to the four succeeding Congresses, Bell was United States Representative for the second district of Colorado from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1903. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth Congress. He served as member of the United States Industrial Commission in 1900 and 1901. He resumed the practice of law in Montrose, Colorado; and served as judge of the Colorado Court of Appeals from 1913 to 1915, then resumed the practice of law. He served as a member of the State board of agriculture from 1931 to 1933.

While residing in Montrose, Colorado, John Calhoun Bell had a notable encounter with Elsie Lincoln Benedict, a distinguished lecturer and thinker from the same town. During a visit to Los Angeles, Judge Bell attended a series of lectures on psychology conducted by Mrs. Benedict, who was then making significant waves with her public speaking and intellectual prowess on the West Coast.

Impressed by her abilities, Judge Bell praised Elsie Lincoln Benedict as "the most striking personality and the most profound thinker in the feminine world capturing the attention of the American public." He was particularly struck by her oratorical skills and her ability to engage and inspire her audience. Judge Bell noted that her lectures were not only well-received but also had a profound impact on many individuals, helping them to discover and utilize their latent abilities.

Bell's encounter with Benedict was covered in the Montrose Daily Press, Volume XI, Number 200, dated March 2, 1920, highlighting the widespread recognition and admiration she garnered. Benedict's lectures were so popular that despite the venue in Los Angeles having a capacity of only 1000, over 1200 people attended, with many, including Judge Bell, standing throughout the event.

This meeting reflects the broader cultural and intellectual connections prominent individuals like Bell had with other significant figures of their time, further illustrating the rich social and intellectual fabric of early 20th-century America.^[2]

Bell died in Montrose, Colorado, on August 12, 1933.

• United States Congress. "John Calhoun Bell (id: B000341)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Govtrack US Congress

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress