Herbert Yeomans Bell was born September 29, 1882 at Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada, the son of Daniel and F. Eliza Bell. Bell graduated from Thornton Township high School in Harvey, Illinois and matriculated to Northwestern University. He took a B.S. degree from Northwestern in 1908, entered the University's Medical School and received his M.D. degree in 1911. After leaving Northwestern Bell accepted an appointment as physician in the Northern Pacific Hospital at Tacoma, Washington. In 1917 he enlisted in the Medical Reserve Corps and received his commission as a First Lieutenant. Bell was promoted to the rank of Captain on December 1, 1917. His military billets included Fort Flagler, Washington (August, 1917-April, 1918); the Harvard Graduate School of Medicine (Orthopedic Service, May-July, 1918); Camp Lee, Virginia (July, 1918-February, 1919); and Evacuation Hospital #17 (Vladivostok, Siberia, February-July, 1919). Prior to receiving his discharge in August, 1919, Bell established residence in Centralia, Washington and remained there the rest of his life. He died on October 20, 1965.
Bell and his wife, Jean, had three children: Margaret, Herbert, Jr. and William W. His brother, Lewis Barclay Bell (1884-1957) also took bachelor's and medical degrees from Northwestern University.
From the guide to the Herbert Y. Bell (1882-1965) Photographs, 1906-1911, (Northwestern University Archives)
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