• Born 10-06-1893 (October 6th, 1893)
• Follows the naming conventions of the Bell family being named off the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Joel coming between the Book of Hosea and the Book of Amos.
• Joel 1:3 ❝ Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. ❞
• In order to be the next in a line of names you need to have the exact same name so he is not Micah Bell IV.
• Amos had only daughters so Joel is a continuation of the family tradition despite not going by the name Micah.
• Always introduces himself as Micah J. Bell, but notes he insists on being called Joel.
1893 - Born October 6th in San Francisco to a 16 year old Ersa Bell.
1897 - Age 4, Joel has been raised primarily by Amos and was said to be his son hoping to allow Ersa to continue her education and avoid rumors.
1899 - Age 7, Joel becomes interested in stories of outlaws and the west.
Note: Joel is not in the Van Der Linde gang and all of these are just events in his life that would have happened around the same time as the chapters.
The blackwater ferry - After the failed ferry heist and Micah’s name making news Joel started to pester Amos to tell him about his uncle.
Colter - Beaver’s Hollow - Joel progressively wore Amos down more and more eventually being given watered down bits and pieces about Micah.
Epilogue - Age 14, Joel started writing little stories about outlaws and fearsome critters but didn't show anyone. He also started learning dressage in his past time.
1911 - Age 18, Joel would leave home planning to strike it big as a pamphlet writer. Inspired by the tales by Theodore Levin to actually get first person accounts from surviving outlaws about their experience with the famous Van Der Linde Gang. His first stop was to interview a Mr Simon Pearson in Rhodes. Joel has a Dutch Warmblood trained in dressage named Châtenay, named after Joel's favorite artist. Châtenay has a mustache matching Joel's and an array of custom fit clothing, normally matching Joel's.
1914 - Age 21, after traveling around the expanse of Turtle Island he eventually was pointed to Beecher’s Hope to interview the last living Van Der Linde Gang member, John Marston. Once he arrived at the ranch he met Jack and was informed of John’s passing. Joel would start to shadow Jack hoping to write about the son of an outlaw and the heroic tale of redemption.
After “Remember My Family” - Age 21+, after watching Jack kill Edgar Ross first hand Joel stopped his work on the book about the Van Der Linde gang. He would instead try to write about odd creatures like he did in his youth but for the most part he tried to be there for Jack. After running into a Jackalope in the Armadillo Saloon Joel started to try and search for more real instances of folklore. Joel would be further convinced to do this with his life after Jack made an off hand comment about Arthur’s journal mentioning aliens, vampires, and ghosts. Jack would tag along with him to ensure Joel doesn't get himself killed, similar to the “Arcadia for Amateurs.” quests.
Joel is a very giddy man trying to see the light in everything, though he considers himself a realist not an optimist. He believes optimists are blind to the world and ignore the headships while a realist with a good attitude acknowledges that all but looks for change instead of ignoring it.
Joel is a city boy through and through even if he now lives on the Marston Ranch. He will almost always be found in a suit and grooming his mustache. He considers manners incredibly important and acts like he's in some high society gala 24/7. He will only refer to Jack as “Mr Marston” even when it's just the two of them.
Joel can get sucked into his work, once he gets into a flow he won't stop until his body literally forces him to. He tends to put a good story in front of people’s feelings or what would be for the best, like how he practically stalked and hunted down the old van der Linde gang members for the sake of an interview. He talks a lot and can be quite self absorbed despite writing stories about others.
Watching Jack kill Ross sort of pivoted how he sees everything. It's a lot different to hear tales of gunslingers and outlaws shooting people than seeing it happen in front of you. He started to actually notice Jack’s depression and general mental state now that he isn't just focusing on what makes a good story. Joel also began respecting the outdoors areas away from the city more especially now that he and Jack were “cryptozoologists” (not really).