| Thomas Cowan Bell "The Qualities of Learning" May 14, 1832 - February 3, 1919 |
| Born: May 14, 1832 A.B., Miami University: 1857 A.M., Miami University: 1862 Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel, 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, U.S. Army: 1861-63 county superintendent, public schoo l s, Minnesota: 1872-77 publisher, Journal (Worthington, Minn. ) : 1878-85 president, Philamath College: 1885-86 prin-c ipal, La Creole Academy, Dallas, Ore. : 1887-92 president, Central Oregon State Normal School: 1892-96 retired Died: February 3, 1919 Buried: Oakland, Calif. |
| "Learning" has been one of the working concepts of Sigma Chi from the very beginning. So it seems entirely fitting and proper that Thomas Cowan Bell became an educator, and that his knowledge, together with his understanding, implants him in memory not only for his marked success but for the power of wisdom.
Born at Bellbrook, Greene County, Ohio, on May 14, 1832, he started his schooling in the primitive log house of that period. He was to spend many years of his life in the halls of learning in many parts of the country. He was from pioneer stock as is attested by the fact that Bellbrook, his birthplace, was named for the earlier members of his family who settled there. Bellbrook is about 10 miles southeast of Dayton and originally was the center of a rich farming district. Today, it is practically a suburb of Dayton. Bell entered Miami University in the fall of 1854. Benjamin Piatt Runkle, a fellow-Founder, described Bell as he was then: "He was about 21 years of age, of medium height, with a frame well knit together and with an expression on his face that made one instinctively reach for his hand. He was one of the kindly and loveable sort, and came into the Sigma Chi movement as naturally as the bee seeks the flowers." Bell's home at Oxford was with his aunt, Mrs. Lizzie Davis. This house soon became known as "the first chapter house of Sigma Chi," as all the members of Alpha either moved into the house or into the immediate neighborhood and all ate at her well-furnished table. Graduating with the class of 1857, Bell started on his life's work of teaching. But on the outbreak of war in 1861 he enlisted in the 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His promotion was rapid. He soon won a commission, proved to be a splendid officer, and won particularly high commendation at the battle of Murfressboro. He came out of the war a lieutenant colonel, although he always preferred to be called "Major Bell." As soon as the war was over he went back to teaching and this time was in the public schools of Nobles County. Then he became registrar of deeds in that county and editor and publisher of The Journal at Worthington, Minnesota. This was in the period of 1878 to 1885. In subsequent years he held a number of top offices at various institutions. He was president of Philomath College, 1885 to 1886; principal of La Creole Academy, Dallas, Oregon, 1887-1892; and president of Central Oregon State Normal School, 1892-1896. At the close of his long career as an educator, Bell retired to a fruit ranch near Oakland, California. It was a welcome change from his teaching and administrative work and enabled him to pass his declining years in a congenial and rewarding occupation. For many years he had not had an opportunity to renew his interests in Sigma Chi. He had been living in places far removed from any Fraternity activities. His new location at Oakland, so near to an active chapter and with such a great number of alumni in the immediate vicinity, made the Fraternity, which had so filled his early days, again became a great joy and passion in his life. In 1905, at the Semi-Centennial Celebration in Oxford, Ohio, he met with the other three surviving Founders: Caldwell, Cooper, and Runkle. They had a wonderful reunion in the surroundings of their college days. He planned to make the trip back to Oxford in 1913 to attend the dedication of the Founders' Memorial Chapter House at the 31st Grand Chapter; but the infirmities of advancing age made this impossible. He sent greetings to the gathering, however, and was overjoyed to hear that the 1915 Grand Chapter was to be held in Berkeley. He was present at nearly every session of that Grand Chapter. From that time on, failing health prevented him from attending most Fraternity activities. However, on the night of February 2, 1919, he attended Alpha Beta's initiation. He was unable to stay for the entire ceremony and some of the active boys took him home early. During the night he became very weak and died the next day. One of the boys initiated that night was Judge Stanley N. Barnes, Sigma Chi's 37th Grand Consul. Brother Bell was buried in the Presidio, a one time army base in San Franciso, and was given a soldiers funeral. Here, in 1933, was erected and dedicated the final Founders' Memorial Monument. Bell was married twice and had a family of five sons and two daughters. His first wife was Miss Sigourney White, one of the Oxford girls of the Old Alpha days and a devoted friend of early Sigma Chi. His second wife was Miss Lucia Chase, who survived him. |
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