Bell, Charles Henry, 1823-1893

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1823 - 1893

Biography

Charles Henry Bell was born November 18, 1823, in Chester, New Hampshire, the son of John and Persis (Thom) Bell. He attended Pembroke Academy and Phillips Exeter, before entering Dartmouth College; he graduated from Dartmouth in 1844. After college, he studied law, practicing in Exeter. After giving up the active practice of law in 1868, Bell spent most of his time in research and writing, publishing several historical and biographical works, including the Bench and Bar of New Hampshire, and a history of the town of Exeter. He was president of the New Hampshire Historical Society, 1868-1887.

Bell represented Exeter in the New Hampshire state legislature in both House and Senate, holding, at different times, the office of Speaker of the House and president of the Senate. In March 1879, he was appointed by Governor Benjamin Franklin Prescott to serve out a seat in the U.S. Senate; and was governor of the State of New Hampshire from 1881-1883.

Bell died in Exeter, November 11, 1893.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Asa Dodge Smith letter

Item 1

Identifier: Mss 864377.2

Mss 864377.2

Date(s): 1864-06-27

Scope and Contents

Four-page letter from Asa Dodge Smith in Hanover, New Hampshire to Charles Henry Bell, arguing for the location of the agricultural college at Dartmouth.

Charles Bell papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-619

MS-619

Date(s): 1842 to 1893

Abstract

Charles Henry Bell(1823-1893), Governor of the State of New Hampshire, 1881-1883. Dartmouth Class of 1844. Correspondence documenting his career as a lawyer and politician from Exeter. Some letters relate to New Hampshire in the Civil War and to prohibition.

Franklin Pierce letter

Item 1

Identifier: Mss 867663.1

Mss 867663.1

Date(s): 1867-12-13

Scope and Contents

Letter from Franklin Pierce in Concord, New Hampshire to Charles Henry Bell in Exeter, New Hampshire in which he responds to a request for an autograph of Nathaniel Hawthorne and discusses personal matters. (Tipped onto flyleaf of Hawthorne's campaign biography of Pierce, shelved in Val.)

John Smith Woodman letter

Item 1

Identifier: Mss 860369

Mss 860369

Date(s): 1860-06-19

Scope and Contents

Four-page letter from John Smith Woodman at Dartmouth College to Honorable Charles Henry Bell, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Concord, NH, requesting that a bill before the legislature to grant State lands to Dartmouth College should be amended sp as to divide income derived from this land equally between the Scientific and Academic Departments of the College.

Robert C. Mack correspondence

Item 1

Identifier: Mss 868670

Mss 868670

Date(s): 1868 to 1872

Scope and Contents

The correspondence of Robert C. Mack included a letter to Charles H. Bell inviting him to give an address at the 15th anniversary celebration of Londonderry, New Hampshire as well as a letter from a correspondenct in Londonderry, Ireland, acknowledging a copy of Mack's book. Photograph of Mack and an engraving of Londonderry, Ireland, accompanied correspondence.