David was the son of James S. Bell (b.ca.1811) and Eliza Kyle (1812-1884) found in the 1850 census of Olive Township, Morgan County, Ohio.
He enlisted as a Private on September 28, 1864 at the age of 24 and was drafted into Company K, 62nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out on June 20, 1865 in Richmond, Virginia.
He married on December 23, 1866, Washington County, Ohio, to Clarissa B. Dobbins
They are listed in the 1880 census of Jackson Township, Noble County, Ohio. He was a farmer.

David enlisted in the Union Army on October 12, 1864. He served as a private in Company K of the 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. David joined the unit after it had lost 150 men in the assault of Ft. Wagner and siege of Charleston, South Carolina. In the spring of 1865, David and his regiment took part in the assault upon Petersburg and the victory at Appomattox where General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9. 1865. Bell was honorably discharged at Richmond, Virginia, on June 22, 1865.

Private Bell likely saw action at the Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-18 in 1864; and duty in trenches north of the James before Richmond Hill in March of 1865. The regiment then moved to Hatcher's Run on March 27-18, and took part in the Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9; the fall of Petersburg on April 2; the pursuit of General Lee from April 3-9; Rice's Station on April 6; and finally the famous April 9 surrender of Lee and his Army at Appomattox Court House. The 62nd Infantry was then assigned garrison and guard duty in the District of South Anna, Department of Virginia, until September. Following Bell's discharge in June, the regiment consolidated with the 67th Ohio Infantry and mustered out on December 7, 1865. In all, the regiment lost 244 men -- 131 of them by disease.
Contributor: Honoring our Ancestors 46844300

Besides the children linked below, they had:
Edgar L. Bell (ca.1875-unk)
Minnie R. Bell (ca.1883-unk)
Anna E. Bell (ca.1887-unk)