"Bell, Hon. Digby V., of Battle Creek, Michigan, was born November 10, 1804, in the Island of St. Christopher, British West Indies. His father, a retired British naval officer and merchant, died when he was five years old. Under the guidance of an accomplished mother, he received the elements of an education; and, as he grew older, obtained every intellectual advantage the island could afford. At the age of thirteen, he was fitted to enter upon any business to which his inclinations might lead him. With his mother's reluctant consent, he chose the life of a sailor; and, for six years, experienced the drudgery, toil, and peril of a common seaman's life. The exposure to which he was subjected during the service laid the foundation of a painful disease, which afflicted him for many years; but the charms of the sea and his love of adventure kept him a sailor until mature years sobered his feelings, and prompted him to seek less exciting pursuits. After a few years spent in trade, he removed to New York City and sought a wider field of labor. This was about the time of the discovery of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania. Mr. Bell was appointed agent of a New York company, incorporated for the purpose of exploring the mines in that region. He was one of the pioneers in this great enterprise. The substantial education he had received qualified him especially for this work, while his untiring energy advanced the enterprise rapidly and successfully. On leaving the mines, he entered the service of the New York Gas-light Company. He married, November 12, 1825, at Morristown, New Jersey, Sarah Haun, a native of Northumberland, England. She was an accomplished, high-minded, self-sacrificing woman, whose generous heart cheered and substantially aided many of the new settlers among whom her lot was cast. She died at Detroit, February 14, 1849, and was sincerely mourned. Mr. Bell followed the current of emigration to the West; and, in 1834, removed to St. Joseph County, Michigan, with his young family. It was a period of rapid growth and development in the new country, and competent men found themselves almost involuntarily vested with official powers. In a few months, Mr. Bell was discharging the functions of seven offices. He did not, however, neglect his farm, but worked it with his accustomed diligence, and was soon the possessor of a cheerful home. In the meantime, he took an active part in the organization of the State government, and was the author of the first address to the citizens of the county. He was subsequently elected Judge of Probate, and held other important positions, among which were seats in both Houses of the Legislature. While acting as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, in February, 1843, Judge Bell made an exhaustive report on the foreign and domestic indebtedness of the State, its credits, revenues, and expenditures. His arguments were so powerful that the people abandoned the disgraceful proposition of repudiation, which had been openly advocated, and the credit of the State abroad was at once placed on the firm and honorable basis it has ever since maintained. During the "wild-cat" period he was Bank Commissioner, and in this capacity protected the people from some of the enormous frauds which were practiced. He held the positions of Commissioner of the State Land-office and Auditor-General of the State. In the latter office, he aided Governor Fitch in preventing the school section, at Lansing, from falling into the hands of the speculators, thus saving that valuable property to the State. He seemed to be selected for these offices of trust more on account of rare qualifications, than from any fondness of his own political preferment. His tastes and training led him to private business, and he next accepted the position of Cashier of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, which he held for a few years. He then entered a private banking house as an active partner; and, in 1850, removed to Chicago and established there the first commercial college in Illinois. He devoted himself to the interests of this institution for several years and established it upon a firm and permanent basis. As his health was not good, he removed to New York, and became connected with his son in a banking house. Though obliged to suspend payment during the crash of 1857, they resumed business the ensuing year, and paid off all liabilities in full. In 1858 Judge Bell returned to Chicago, and again devoted himself to educational interests as a co-laborer with Bryant & Stratton. Under their joint efforts, the Chicago Commercial College ranked among the first in the country. Soon afterwards he was appointed, by the Legislature of Illinois, Commissioner of Claims, and was charge with the duty of investigating the finances of the city of Chicago. He also discharged the duties of special agent of the Post-office Department with signal ability. Judge Bell brought up a large family, and sent four sons into the army during the war of the Rebellion—three of whom remained in the field until hostilities ceased. The kindness of heart, the benevolent and philanthropic impulses, and the sense of justice, which marked his career, both public and private, were illustrated in one of the important acts of his life. Upon coming into possession of his father's property, at the age of twenty-one, he at once gave to the slaves—fourteen in number—their freedom; and, subdividing the estate into small farms, gave them deeds of the property. Judge Bell was an intelligent, earnest, and consistent believer in the doctrines of the New Church, and one of its most prominent and useful members. His death occurred at Battle Creek, Michigan, on Saturday, October 28, 1871. He held, at that time, the office of Postmaster." – Excerpt from "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.