1850 New Testament printed by the American Bible Society, New York. Measures 2 ¾” x 4 ½” x ¾”. The exterior has the usual thin leather cover with slip for holding a flap. Covers show rather heavy wear, though interior pages are in decent shape with scattered spots of soiling. Cover has separated somewhat from the binding at the back of the book.

There are a number of inscriptions on the endpapers of the bible. Inside the front cover, written faintly in pencil is, “C. J. Bell / Co C 1^st Vt / Cav.” On the opposite page in different handwriting, also in pencil, is “Charles J. Bell / Walden, Vt.” And “Chas. J. Bell / Co. B 15^th Regt. Vt. Vols / 1^st A C 3d Brig 2d Division / Read it”.

Written on the following page, and extending into the title page, is “Charles J. Bell. / First Vermont Cavalry / Company C / Third Division Second / Brigade on / Pickett on ______ /  _____ Frederick County on the top of a ledge / on a stormy day, November 8 1864. / May all that believe this book for Abraham”.  This is feasible, as the regiment which Bell was serving with at the time, the 1^st Vermont Cavalry, were at the Battle of Kernstown in mid-October, and were in the same vicinity in mid-November 1864, near Winchester, VA, which falls into Frederick County,VA.

On the back page is written at the top in pencil, “Charles J. Bell / East Hardwick / Caledonia County / Vermont”; below in ink is “Charles / Maisonneuve / Montreal / Canada – East”. On the inside of the back cover in pencil is, “C. J. Bell / Co. B 15^th Regt. Vet. Vols.”

Charles J. Bell was a 17 year old resident of Walden, VT who enlisted as a Private on 9/8/62. On 10/22/62 he mustered into Co. B, 15^th Vermont Infantry. Mustered out on 8/5/63/63. He was most likely present at the Battle of Gettysburg; his military and/or pension records may confirm this. On 8/17/64 he mustered into Co. C, 1^st Vermont Cavalry. Promoted to Corporal on 11/19/64. Wounded at Appomattox Court House on 4/8/65. Mustered out on 6/21/65.

He then returned to his family's farm to work. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1882 and to the state Senate in 1894. He was a member of the Board of Railroad Commissioners from 1894 to 1896, a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1897 to 1904, and Secretary of the State Board of Cattle Commissioners from 1898 to 1902. As governor, he supported centralized schools and favored restricting the newly-invented automobile to a few roads. In addition, legislation was enacted during his administration forbidding the employment of children in mills, workshops, and factories. After serving one term, Bell returned to farming. He died in New York City on 9/25/1909 and was buried in North Walden Cemetery in Walden, Vermont.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.