ELBERT M. BELL, attorney-at-law and city solicitor of Piqua, a practitioner in the State and Federal Courts, was born in 1870, in Logan County, Ohio, and from the local schools entered Findlay College at Findlay, Ohio, where he completed his literary education.

After leaving college, Mr. Bell entered upon the study of law with Marion G. Bell, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and received his degree of law at the Ohio Northern University in 1897. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Bell enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, entering Company F, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained with his regiment in camp at Chickamauga, Macon and Knoxville until December, 1898, when he was assigned to detached duty as clerk to General Bates, who was then the military governor of Santa Clara Province, Cuba, and he remained in that capacity in Cuba until February, 1899. After he returned to the United States he was mustered out at Macon, Georgia, and shortly afterward located at Piqua. For four years he was associated in law practice with L. R. Drake, and in December 1906, he was appointed city solicitor, in the fall of the following year being elected to the same office. His service has been very satisfactory and the office has never been better administered.

In October, 1899, Mr. Bell was married to Miss Martha E. Rosebrook, of Big Springs, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are members of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Piqua. He takes a hearty interest in politics, especially in the public affairs of city and county, and has proved himself an effective party worker. Mr. Bell is identified with the Piqua Business Men's Club, is treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association and belongs to the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Home Guards of America, the Golden Eagles and the Knights of Pythias.