He was raised in Greenville and moved to Montgomery upon the completion of his education and obtained a job as a clerk at a hardware store.

Merrill was the nephew of Prattville town founder Daniel Pratt and was named heir of half his fortune upon his death in 1873.

Bell was listed as a secretary for the Prattville Mercantile Company in 1905, and served as a member for the State Legislature representing Autauga County from 1911 to 1915.

That same year, the Bells daughters Katherine and Adelaide (whom the former had returned from service in World War II) lived in the house until they sold it to Thomas H. Walker in October 1949.

In 1970, the house was sold to Colonel Ernest and Martha Biggs by Nancy and Hyman Hamner, the former of which are the recorded owners as of 1998.