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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.

Biography

He was born in Mississippi either in 1826 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. 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.

He stood for Sheriff of Hinds County in September 1873 as the Republican nominee, but lost to William Jefferson who ran as an independent. Later the same year he was made major of the Hinds County militia.

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".

See also

• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

References

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

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