Matthew Francis Bell

Matthew Francis Bell was born May 14, 1829 in Walden, England to Robert and Isabella Rider Bell. Matthew is a Pioneer of Richmond. Matthew is a veteran of the Utah War and Indian Wars.

Early Life & Travel West

Matthew grew up living on his father's farm for much of his early life. After some interactions with the Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Matthew was baptized a member of the Church in 1849. After his baptism, Matthew married Jane Metcalfe, whom he had known for many years. They were married on November 26, 1851, in Settle, England.

On Jan 10, 1852, Matthew and Jane left England to live with the Saints in Utah. The travel on the Kennebec was rough, and much of the time, people were seasick. Work on the ship was tedious. After some stops at Santo Domingo and Cuba, the ship reached the Mississippi River to go to New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 13, 1852.1

After arriving in New Orleans, the Bell family left for St. Louis to Churchville, Missouri. They traveled to Keokuk, Iowa where they waited to cross the plains. The Bell family joined the John Tidwell Company on June 4, 1852 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 25, 1852.

Life in the Salt Lake Area

Soon after their arrival, the Bell family moved to Grantsville, Utah where their first child was born. The Bell family were among the first settlers of Grantsville and helped to build the fort. Matthew participated with the Minute Men to protect his family and others from angry Native Americans. While here, Matthew was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Matthew participated in many war affairs, including the Utah War. The Bell family lived in Grantsville until 1860.

Life in Richmond

The Bell family, along with the William Pool family, whom Matthew became acquainted with in Grantsville, moved to Richmond in 1860. They lived in the northwestern part of the Richmond Fort. 

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains. Matthew was appointed Private.

While in Richmond, Matthew participated in education reform in the 1870s, becoming a school trustee teaching high school, principally reading, writing, geography, and math. The most interesting part of this is that Matthew had no previous education.

Matthew served the Utah Northern Railroad in 1872. Matthew served as City Treasurer of Richmond and was president of the local agricultural and stockraising society.

Family

While working on constructing the St. George Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ, Matthew became acquainted with John Long of Beaver, Utah. Matthew set up a time to marry John's sister, Elizabeth Deseret Lang in Salt Lake City on May 31, 1875, entering into the practice of polygamy. They would have eight children together. As common practice for men who practice polygamy, Matthew built a home for each of his wives.

On Feb 28, 1889, Matthew was arrested and sentenced to the Utah Territorial Prison in Sugarhouse, Utah for six months of "unlawful cohabitation." He was released on July 27, 1889 with a $41.50 fine.

Epilogue