Thomas Cowan Bell

Template:Short description Template:Infobox person Thomas Cowan Bell (May 14, 1832 – February 3, 1919) was an American college president, educator, newspaper publisher, and Civil War veteran.<ref name="lg" /><ref name=":1">The Norman Shield 2021-2023 (49th ed.). Sigma Chi Fraternity. 2021. p. 56-57.</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> He is best known for being one of the founders of Sigma Chi fraternity.<ref name="lg">Template:Citation. via Google Books</ref><ref name="bulletin" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life

File:Thomas Cowan Bell, Civil War.png

Bell in his Civil War uniform

Thomas Cowan Bell was born May 14, 1832, in Bellbrook, Ohio.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He grew up on a farm and his primary school education was in log schoolhouses.<ref name=":0" />

He attended Miami University in the fall of 1854.<ref name="bulletin" /> Bell and six other students founded the Sigma Chi fraternity on June 25, 1855.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> At the age of 23, he was considered to be an "elder statesman" of the fraternity.<ref name=":1" />

While a student at Miami, Bell lived in the Oxford, Ohio home of his Aunt Lizzie Davis.<ref name=":0" /> Because all of the other members of the fraternity at one time or another lived in Aunt Lizzie's place or took meals there, her house became known as "the first Chapter house of Sigma Chi."<ref name="bulletin">Template:Citation. via Google Books</ref><ref name=":0" /> She eventually allowed all seven members to move into her house and hired two cooks from Cincinnati to accommodate the men.<ref name=":0" />

At Miami University, Bell was also a member of the Eccritian literary society and was considered "one of the principle orators of the university".<ref name=":0" /> He delivered the commencement speech when he graduated with an A.B. in 1857.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He received an A.M. from Miami University in 1859.<ref name=":2" />

With the start of the Civil War in 1861, Bell enlisted as a private in the 74th Ohio Infantry of the United States Army; he was a lieutenant colonel in less than a year.<ref name=":0" /> He received a high commendation for leading the regiment's bayonet charge at the Battle of Stone River.<ref>Template:Citation.</ref><ref name=":3" /> He served in the military through 1863, retiring with the rank of major.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

Career

After college, Bell became a teacher.<ref name=":1" /> Following the Civil War he returned to education, serving as the superintendent of school system in Nobles County, Minnesota, from 1872 to 1877.<ref name="lg" /><ref name=":1" /> He was the County Record or Deeds and became the editor and publisher of the newspaper, Journal, in Worthington, Minnesota from 1878 to 1885.<ref name="lg" /><ref name=":1" />

From 1885 to 1886, he was the president of Philomath College in Oregon.<ref name="lg" /><ref name="bulletin" /><ref name=":1" /> Next, he was the principal of La Creole Academy in Dallas, Oregon from 1887 to 1892.<ref name="lg" /><ref name="bulletin" /><ref name=":1" /> He was president of Central Oregon State Normal School in Drain, Oregon from 1892 to 1896.<ref name="lg" /><ref name="bulletin" /><ref name=":1" /> He retired from teaching in 1896.<ref name="lg" /><ref name="bulletin" />

Personal life

Bell was married to Sigourney White of Oxford in 1857.<ref name="lg" /><ref name=":0" /> He married his second wife, Lucia Chase, in 1866.<ref name="lg" /> He had five boys and two girls between the two marriages.<ref name=":0" /> He was the Oregon adjunct for the Grand Army of the Republic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After he retired, Bell retired to Oakland, California.<ref name="bulletin" /><ref name="lg" />

Late in life, he renewed his connection to the Sigma Chi fraternity.<ref name=":0" /> Bell attended Sigma Chi's semi-centennial celebration in Oxford, Ohio in 1905.<ref name="lg" /><ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref> He was also involved with the Alpha Beta chapter at the University of California at Berkeley.

He died in his home in Oakland on February 3, 1919, the day after attending an initiation ceremony of the Alpha Beta chapter.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="bulletin" /><ref name=":2" /> He was 87 years old.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> He is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery, located in the Presidio of San Francisco.<ref name=":1" />

His son, Donald J. Bell, was initiated into Sigma Chi in June 1930.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Honors

• In 1905, Sigma Chi presented Bell with a souvenir medal as an expression of its "love and gratitude" at the fraternity's semi-centennial celebration.<ref name="centennial">Template:Citation. via Google Books.</ref><ref name=":5" />
• In 1933, Sigma Chi erected and dedicated a Founders' Memorial Monument in the San Francisco National Cemetery where Bell is buried.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Bell is the namesake of the Thomas Cowan Bell Scholastic Foundation, located in San Jose, California, which awards college scholarships to both members of the Sigma Chi fraternity and students of San Jose State University<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Bell is the namesake of the Thomas Cowan Bell Sigma Chi Scholarship for both members and non-members of Sigma Chi at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• The Thomas Cowan Bell Teaching Award is presented annually by the Ohio State chapter of Sigma Chi.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Sigma Chi chapters with the most active alumni donors are given the name of "Bell Chapters" in honor of Thomas Cowan Bell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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References

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