Samuel Bell was born in Windham, Green County, N.Y., July 3, 1843. His parents removed to Wisconsin in 1855, locating in LaFayette township, Walworth County. He remained on the farm -- receiving his education in the district school and at Milton College -- until Aug. 21, 1862, on which date he enlisted, and was in due time located at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, as a member of Company I, 28th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving as company clerk, until detailed as Brigade Quarter Master Wylie's clerk at Helena, Ark. He was with the regiment on the Yazoo Pass and White River Expeditions. Having contracted malarial fever, in consequence of exposure, was brought home more dead than alive. After months of severe sickness he was discharged from hospital at Camp Randall, Madison, Wis., Oct. 19, 1863.

He was married in 1866 to Miss Caroline Fairchild Horton, of New York. He has a son and two daughters. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and enjoys the distinguished honor of being Commander of E.B. Wolcott Post No. 1, the present year (1896). He has lived in Milwaukee continuously for thirty-one years. He was elected secretary of the Society of the 28th Regiment at its third meeting in Waukesha, Aug. 28, 1885, and has served in that capacity ever since.