James Martin Bell (October 16, 1796 – April 4, 1849) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1833 to 1835.

Biography

Born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Bell attended the public schools. He studied law in Steubenville, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in 1817 and commenced practice in Cambridge, Ohio. He served as major general of the Fifteenth Division, Ohio Militia. He served as prosecuting attorney of Guernsey County 1818–1832. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1826–1831, serving as speaker in 1830 and 1831. He served as master commissioner in 1827. He was in the

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

in 1830. County school examiner in 1830.

Congress

Bell was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1834 to the Twenty-fourth Congress.

Career after Congress

He resumed the practice of law. He served as mayor of Cambridge from 1838 to 1840.

Death

He died in Cambridge, Ohio, on April 4, 1849. He was interred in Founders' Burial Ground.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, James Martin 1796 births 1849 deaths People from Cambridge, Ohio 19th-century American politicians Speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives American militia generals County district attorneys in Ohio Mayors of places in Ohio National Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio Members of the Ohio House of Representatives