John and his wife Jane came from Scotland in 1856 to the St. Louis, Missouri area, where they lived a few years before moving about 1861 from St. Claire Co. illinois to Warren County, Illinois, near Monmouth. They lived in Warren County, IL for about 23 years. In 1884 they moved to farm in Mira Valley 8 miles south of Ord, which is where they both died. In Scotland he was a miner.

He and his family were six weeks at sea when they sailed in 1856 from Scotland, landing in New Orleans, Louisiana, according to John's great grand daughter Jane W. Bell. He was naturalized in USA in Warren County, Illinois on March 29, 1864. In the USA John was a farmer.

He died on a Sunday morning, at his home in Mira Valley, near Ord, Nebraska, after a three-month illness. His funeral was conducted in his own home, led by Rev. Tooley of the United Brethren Church of Mira Valley, where John had his church membership. His fellow Ord Masonic Lodge members were the casket-bearers. He was called "Uncle Johnny."

John had two sisters who survived him, who remained in Scotland.

John and his wife Jane had 14 children:
Robert Scott Bell 1865-1934
James Bell Uncertainty exists about the correct information and whether there were possibly two baby boys born in the period following the August 21, 1855 birth of older brother Robert. A son named James was born somewhere around October 1, 1956 and died Aug 24, 1857 in St. Louis. Past verbal family history maintained a child was born while at sea during the trip to the US and was buried at sea.
Annette "Nettie" Bell 1858-1929
Marion "Mae" Bell 1861-1927
Mary Jane Bell 1863-1945
Andrew Wilson Bell 1865-1946
Elizabeth Maud "Lib" Bell 1867-1938
John Bell Jr 1869-1955
Archie Bell 1871-1885
Anna Margaret Bell 1872-1950
Adam Wilson "Bud" Bell 18774-1946
Oliver Perry Rugh "Ollie" Bell 1877-1969
Infant daughter (dates unknown)