A native of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, Bell graduated from Wittenberg College in 1862 and enlisted in the Union Army.

Bell served as an escort for the Northern Pacific Railway construction crew during the summers of 1880, 1881, and 1882, and was promoted to major in 1896.

Bell left the army upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64 in October 1901, and resided in New London, Connecticut and Hermosa Beach, California.

[3][4] After graduating from college, Bell joined the Union Army for the American Civil War by enlisting as a private in a company of the 86th Ohio Infantry Regiment.

[5] Battles in which he participated included Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Haw's Shop, Trevilian Station, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Coggin's Point (wounded), White Oak Road, and Hatcher's Run.

[5] In March 1865, Bell served in North Carolina, where his cavalry troop opened communications between the forces commanded by William Tecumseh Sherman and those of John Schofield.

[5] From September to November 1868, he was assistant quartermaster of the combined 7th Cavalry and 3rd Infantry Regiment units commanded by Alfred Sully at Fort Dodge, Kansas.

[5] He then returned to assistant quartermaster duties at Fort Riley, and was in the field with 7th Cavalry forces commanded by George Armstrong Custer during the winter of 1868 to 1869, including participation in the November 1868 Battle of the Washita River.

[5] During this fight, Bell was commended for leading wagon trains through enemy fire and difficult terrain to deliver ammunition.

[5] He was on an extended leave of absence in 1876, so he did not take part in the Battle of the Little Bighorn; he was promoted to captain as a result of George Yates's death in this fight.

[7] In September 1877, Bell took part in the Battle of Canyon Creek against the Nez Perce, for which he received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel.

[9][10] In July 1899, Bell was promoted to colonel of United States Volunteers and assigned to command the 27th Infantry Regiment.

[1] In addition, he was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba, Military Order of Foreign Wars, Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Club, and New York City's Army and Navy Club.

[1] In 1918, Congressman James V. McClintic of Oklahoma introduced legislation that would have allowed the president to award the Medal of Honor to Bell for his heroism at the Washita battle.