Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3133Among his larger services as a member of the constitutional conventionMajor Bell introduced the resolution petitioning Congress for aid in thebuilding of the Air Line Railroad in that section of the country north of'Atlanta. While Congress did not grant the proposed aid, the resolution wasa means of attracting private capital to the enterprise, and thus Major Bellwas .largely responsible for a railroad which opened up one of the finestdistricts of North Georgia'In the summer of 1868 the first Legislature chosen under the new constitution elected Major Bell to the high and responsible position of comptroller-general of Georgia. That office he filled for a period of four years and sixmonths. His service was one acceptable to sii parties. Notwithstandingthe most rigid scrutiny and investigation of the official conduct of all whoheld official station of any kind at this period,by the state authorities of thesucceeding administration, his character was left unsullied and without theslightest reproach. Among other accomplishments he had the disorderedcollection of tax records and other documents brought from the old capitolat Milledgeville to Atlanta, and it was after the tremendous task of arranging and classifying these records that Major Bell submitted his first annualreport, a document which presented the first thorough index of the state'sfiscal affairs after the war. He proved in truth a financial genius at a timeof need in the fiscal reconstruction of Georgia. While in that office he alsosuggested the propriety of furnishing assistance to wounded Confederatesoldiers. This recommendation coming from a republican at a time when sectional bitterness and political animosities were very strong, caused the democratic party throughout the state to look upon him with favor, and thistogether with his wise and prudent course in regard to issuing executionsagainst unreturned wild lands, built up for him many strong friends insidethe democratic party who would have heartily re-endorsed his election, buthe declined again to become a candidate for the office. After that he wouldaccept no official service, though for a short time he was in the treasury department at Washington City, but resigned on account of ill health.On May 13, 1869, Major Bell married Miss Mary C. Cox of Banks County,Georgia. She was born in that part of Georgia close to the birthplace of herhusband July 20, 1847. She had been brought up on a farm, was competentas a director of her household, and when she went with her husband to Atlantawhere he was enjoying the distinction of one of the highest offices of the state,her many qualities of heart and mind drew around her a set of warm friendsand acquaintances in the city. She and Major Bell had a most ideal homelife. Mrs. Bell was the, granddaughter of Aris Cox, who had come from hisnative state of Virginia to Georgia when about eleven years of age, about thebeginning of the Revolutionary war. Matthew Cox, father of Mrs. Bell, wasborn in Georgia in 1809 and died in 1880. Matthew Cox married RebeccaWhite, who was born in 1812. Major Bell and wife had five children: Mary,born May 3, 1872; Nellie, born December 26. 1875; Cora, born August 21,1877; Madison, born August 1, 1879; and Ulysses S., born- January 28, 1884.Major Bell acquired some extensive property interests in Atlanta, andfor years resided in a home of simple comforts but of great dignity at thecorner of Alexander and Luckie streets. He and his wife were both devotedmembers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.This article. may properly conclude with the quotation of a paragraphfrom his biographer's introduction: "The individuality of his character, evincing in his every act a full determination to do exactly right, and to dischargethe full measure of his duty as an honest and patriotic citizen, with an eyesingle to the good of the state and that alone, was impressed upon all whocame in contact with him, either as a soldier, politician or public officer or asa private citizen. Indeed it may be truthfully asserted that comparativelyfew men are favored with such a happy combination of mental acquirementsin the management of affairs as Maj. Madison Bell."Vol. VI 2 3