John Bell was born around 1815 in Ireland. He married Isabella McIntyre, and they immigrated to America sometime before 1855. They settled in Hector, New York, and Bell worked as a farmer. By 1860, he owned $2,600 of real estate and $900 of personal property. He helped care for his nephew and niece, William and Mary Bell. He had at least three children: Martha, born around 1856; Ida, born around 1858; and John, born around 1865. In 1870, they owned $4,000 of real estate and $600 of personal property. He died sometime after 1880.