Monroe Bell Explained

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.

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. A few months later in June 1864 he deserted.

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.^[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

• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

Notes and References

1. Book: Foner . Eric . Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction . 1 August 1996 . LSU Press . 978-0-8071-2082-8 . March 25, 2023. en. 16.
2. Web site: Monroe Bell – Against All Odds . 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. . Some Negro Members of Reconstruction Conventions and Legislatures and of Congress . The Journal of Negro History . 25 March 2023 . 63–119 . 10.2307/2713503 . 1920. 5 . 1 . 2713503 .
4. News: Another violation of the Enforcement Act . 25 March 2023 . The Clarion . 9 November 1871 . 1.
5. News: Sheriff's Election . 25 March 2023 . The Clarion-Ledger . 25 September 1873 . 3.
6. News: William Jefferson Sheriff of Hinds . 25 March 2023 . The Clarion . 9 October 1873 . 2.
7. News: Militia Appointments . 25 March 2023 . The Clarion . 2 October 1873 . 3.
8. News: Monroe Bell tried for attempted poisoning . 25 March 2023 . Mississippian . 24 November 1885 . 1.