Author talk:James Bell (1841–1900)

Sources

• [1] "In 1881, James Bell, an assistant postmaster in Gainesville, undertook excavation of the mound."
• [2] "[...] J. P. Hovey Bell, whose father, James Bell, appears to have collected specimens for the Smithsonian Institution while simultaneously working for the United States General Land Office and operating a stationery store in Gainesville. Hovey Bell was an employee of the railway postal service who ultimately became assistant postmaster of the post office in Gainesville"
• [3] James B. Bell (May 1841 - 6 Jul 1900)
  • "Served in New York Infantry-Applied Civil War Pension, Aug. 13, 1878, Application # 259, 534 Certificate # 166,325. Widow, Mary Catherine (Hovey) Bell filed Aug.3, 1900. Application # 723,971. Certificate # 538,761. He was appointed Post Master for Gainesville, Alachua Co., FL, May 21, 1889 and again Mar. 16, 1898."
  • Obituary: "Judge James Bell, a native of Bloomingburgh, Sullivan county, died of apoplexy at his home in Gainesville, Fla., July 6th. He was a veteran of the Civil war and located in Florida after the war. He leaves a wife and four children. Among the surviving brothers and sisters are Lewis Bell and Mrs. A. Norris, of Bloomingburgh, and Mrs. F. S. Couch, of Middletown."
  • One of his children is John Parsons Hovey Bell Sr. (27 Sep 1870 - 1941)

Summary: the various sources don't all agree on all the details (particularly about his occupation—postmaster? judge? stationary shop owner?), but I think it's enough to conclude that James B. Bell (1841-1900) was indeed the author of "Mounds in Alachua County, Florida". —Beleg Tâl (talk) 14:38, 15 August 2024 (UTC)