Dion de Marbelle

American gospel songwriter, soldier, musician, and early circus clown. Born: July 4, 1818, Seville, France. Died: December 18, 1903, Elgin, Illinois, USA. He wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells (also known as "There's a Land Beyond the River"). De Marbelle worked on a whaling ship in the early 1800’s, then joined the American Navy and served as a drummer in a New York company during the Mexican War (1847). He was also a military musician in the American civil war, serving in the 6th Michigan Infantry. After his military service, he toured America as a musician and actor with an opera company, later organizing his own theatrical troupe. He could play almost any instrument, and wrote many songs. He was a ventriloquist, organized a brass band, and sang in a Methodist choir in Elgin, Illinois. He also called the figures in local square dances. He died penniless, near starvation, after the royalties from all his songs were stolen from him.