Tello was born in San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina.

He was the son of José Tello, a Spanish businessman born in Zamora, and Josefa Zalazar, an Argentine woman.

[1] He ultimately became president of the legislature, and then was elected governor of the province.

In 1897, he went to the Genoa Valley to put down a rebellion commanded by the cacique Salpul.

He died in 1924 in Buenos Aires, where he lived the last years of his life.