JAMES M. BELL , A FARMER IN Rochester, was born August 6, 1856, in Sangamon county, the son of James and Milla (Dotson) Bell, whose sketch appears in this book. He was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools till 1872. He then attended the schools of the First Ward, in Springfield, Illinois, and in 1875, he entered upon the study of medicine, under the direction of Dr. H. O. Bolles, of Springfield, and afterwards graduated in the State University, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the year 1879, after which he practiced medicine at the village of Blackburn, in Christian county, Illinois, during one year. He was married April 29, 1880, to Laura F. North, who was born in Sangamon county, November 7, 1859, the daughter of Robert North, who was born October, 1814, in Buckingham county, Virginia, and taken by his parents to Jefferson county, Tennessee, when he was a boy. He came to Sangamon county with his brother John North, who had been back to Tennessee. They arrived in September, 1832, in what is now Cooper township. Robert North was married in Sangamon county March 29, 1838, to America Schmick. She was born February 10, 1816, in Lincoln county in company with her mother, brother-in-law - John Clemons, one brother, two sisters and two nephews, arriving in the fall of 1829, and settled three miles south of Springfield. Robert North and wife had six children living in Sangamon county. He was one of the most successful farmers in Sangamon county, and was a resident of Cooper township till his death, September 24, 1880. The widow is yet living at the old homestead. Since their marriage they have moved to the farm now situated in Rochester township, and now own nine hundred and twelve acres of land in Rochester, Buck Hart and Cooper township, which is under a good state of cultivation, and worth $40 per acre. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church. Politically, the are Democratic.