Eldest child of Joshua Peter and Margaret Miller Bell (nee Douglas), Joshua Thomas Bell (also known as Joey) was born 13 March 1863 at Ipswich, Queensland. Educated at the Brisbane Grammar School, Joshua Thomas entered Trinity Hall, Cambridge, England in 1881. He returned to Queensland in 1889 and in 1893 he was elected Member for Dalby. In 1903 he married Catherine Jane Jones (nee Ferguson, widow of Sydney Jones) (1867-1943). They had two children: Joshua Peter Ferguson (1907-1997) and Margot Margaret Maxwell (1908-1929) . Joshua Thomas Bell was part of the Arthur Morgan and William Kidston ministries. He was Minister for Lands, Minister for Railways, Home Secretary and Speaker. He died on 10 March 1911 at "Rakeevan", the Graceville residence of John Ferguson, father of Catherine Ferguson.

Catherine Jane Ferguson (also spelt as Katherine) was born on 16 May 1867 in Rockhampton, Queensland to parents Eliza Frances Wiley and John Ferguson (1830-1906). She married Charles Sydney Jones (1861-1896) on 28 October 1889 and together they had four children: Ella Maud (born 9 Mar 1891), Enid Frances Sydney (born 31 May 1892), Kate Elaine Sydney (born 27 Apr 1895, also known as Katie, Kit or Kitty) and a son Jack [?]. On 25 July 1903 she married Joshua Thomas Bell. Joshua and Catherine had two children: Joshua Peter Ferguson and Margot Margaret Maxwell. She died on 31 Aug 1943 in Brisbane.