San
Diego County
Biographies
CHARLES N. BELL
For six years the
Vista irrigation district has been under the
capable management of Charles N. Bell, a civil engineer of high standing, who
came to California from the east, having gained prominence in his profession
while a resident of Pittsburgh. He is a
native of Indiana and a son of C. S. and Mary
(Newnam) Bell, who are now living in Oceanside, situated eight miles from Vista. The father retired from business several
years ago. Charles N. Bell is one of a
family of seven children. A sister, Miss
Zell Bell, is teaching school in Vista. Another sister, Miss Catherine Bell, is
district nurse at Escondido,
California, saw overseas’ service
with the United States Army at the time of the World War. A brother, Uhl Bell, is a skilled mechanic
and lives in the east.
Charles N. Bell
pursued his advanced studies in Ohio Northern University
at Ada, Ohio,
where he received the C. E. degree in 1912, and following his graduation joined
the engineering corps of the American Bridge Company at Pittsburgh.
In April, 1917, when America
declared war against Germany,
Mr. Bell enlisted in the army and served with the United States Engineers until
1919, when he was mustered out. He
returned to Pittsburgh, where he was in charge
of a shipyard until 1924, when he came to Southern California, and has since
been engineer and manager of the Vista
irrigation district. To the discharge of
his important duties he brought a clear understanding of the broad scientific
principles as well as the practical phases of his profession and has amply
justified the confidence reposed in his ability. This irrigation district, comprising about
fourteen thousand acres, has a wonderful future. It contains some of the finest avocado and
citrus fruit orchards in California
and also some of the finest homes.
In 1910 Mr. Bell
was married to Miss Ruth Armstrong, of Indiana,
and six children were born to them: Malcolm P., a young man of twenty-one, who
joined the Marine Corps and is now serving on the U. S. S. Pennsylvania;
Raymond C., who is nineteen and recently graduated from high school; and Ruth
Odette, Anita Jene, Patsy Anne and Charles M., aged respectively nine, seven,
five and three years. Mr. Bell is
domestic by nature, finding his greatest happiness in his home, and says that
his is both a pre-war and post-war family.
He belongs to the Oceanside Lodge, No. 1561, of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks and to Post No. 365, of the American Legion, while
Mrs. Bell is a member of the ladies’ auxiliary of the Legion. Both are active in the social life of Vista, and Mr. Bell’s well developed powers have carried
him rapidly to the fore in his chosen field of usefulness.
Transcribed by Bill Simpkins.
Source: California of the South
Vol. II, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 463-464, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Bill Simpkins.
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