His wife, Sophia Browning, purchased his freedom while she was also enslaved.
Bell worked as a carpenter in Washington, D.C., and used his wages to purchase his wife's freedom.
He believed that education should be accessible for African Americans and became an activist in this area.
Bell co-founded and built a one-story school house with Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool, two free African American men who were also formerly enslaved.
[1][2] The original Bell School closed after few years due to a lack of funding.