Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


WILLIAM C. BELL 
 
was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1832, his parents 
being William and Jane (Colwell) Bell, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father 
was a millwright and carpenter by trade. When the subject of this sketch was 
about two years old his parents moved to Allegheny County, and in 1847 to 
Muskingum County. When sixteen years old he was apprenticed to learn the 
shoemaker's trade, at which he worked until 1850. He then accompanied his 
parents to Richland County, Illinois, and there finished his trade. He worked as 
a journeyman at his trade in various places and finally established a boot and 
shoe store in Clinton, which he conducted until 1857. In the fall of that year 
he went to Texas and during the following winter remained in Slierman. In the 
spring of 1858 he started overland for California, and upon his arrival in Los 
Angeles County located at El Monte, where he engaged in teaming. In January, 
1859, Mr. Bell was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Ann Fears, the daughter 
of Edward W. and Mary (Scott) Fears. Her father was a native of Tennessee and 
her mother of Alabama. Mrs. Bell was born in Illinois. She came to California 
with her brother, James M. Fears, now (1889) a well-known resident of Pomona. 
Mr. Bell engaged in teaming, and also, a portion of the time, in the butcher's 
business, in El Monte, until 1866. He then was employed in freighting to Owens 
River, and afterward from California into Arizona. This laborious and often 
dangerous employment he followed for many years. His family during this time 
resided in El Monte. In 1880 Mr. Bell discontinued his teaming, and rented land 
of E. J. Baldwin, near El Monte, engaging in agricultural pursuits, which he has 
since followed. He is the owner of a neat and comfortable cottage residence and 
two acres of land in El Monte, where he resides. Mr. Bell is well known in the 
county, where he has lived for more than thirty years, and particularly so in El 
Monte, where he has reared his family. He is a man of sound sense and practical 
ideas, which is well illustrated by the satisfaction he gives as the efficient 
roadmaster of the El Monte district, in which position he is serving his second 
term. In political matters he is a Democrat, but is liberal in his views. He is 
a member of El Monte Lodge, No. 188, A. O. U. W. From the marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. Bell there are five children living, viz.: Thomas, who is associated with 
his father in his farming operations; Charles M. (a sketch of whom is in this 
volume); Susie, John and Annie. All of the children except Charles and Susie 
Bell are residing under the parental roof. Susie Bell is married to G. B. 
Wandling, a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and resides in Los 
Angeles.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 406
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler