William G. BELL

BELL, CARROTT, BRAHM, TOURTELLOT, OHARROW, HUNTLEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/26/2011 at 01:53:40

BIOGRAPHY - WILLIAM G. BELL.

A man of excellent business capacity, industrious and enterprising, William G. BELL is successfully engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the wealth and prosperity of our nation so largely depends, and upon which each succeeding year much more study and money is expended. A native of Cerro Gordo county, he was born September 21, 1884, in Portland township, on the farm where he is now living, a son of the late Malcolm G. BELL, Sr.

A son of Ronald BELL, who is now living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, Malcolm G. BELL, Sr., was born in Canada. At the age of eight years he came with his parents to the States, and for six or more years lived in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Coming then to Iowa, his father rented land in Owen township, which was the family home for a number of years. On attaining his majority, Malcolm G. BELL, Sr., began farming in Owen township, from there coming in 1882 to Portland township. Buying a tract of land, he labored hard to place it under cultivation, in addition to tilling the soil feeding and raising a fine grade of cattle. He became exceedingly successful in his operations, adding to his original purchase until he had a magnificent farm of four hundred and forty acres, on which he had erected substantial farm building and made other improvements of great value. Here he resided, an honored, contented and respected citizen, until his death, in August, 1904, when but forty-eight years of age. He was active and prominent in public affairs, holding various local offices and being ever a promoter of beneficial enterprises.

Malcolm G. BELL, Sr., married, in Cerro Gordo county, Mary A. CARROTT, a daughter of William CARROTT, a pioneer farmer and stock raiser and a man of prominence. Five children were born of their union, namely: Mrs. Mabel BRAHM, of Mason City; Mrs. Lulu TOURTELLOT, of Owen township; William G., of this review; Malcolm G. Jr., a farmer and stockman in Portland township, married Gertrude O'HARROW, of Owen township, and Myrle, living with her widowed mother in Mason City.

William G. BELL received his rudimentary education in the rural schools of his native district, afterward taking a business course of two years. Choosing the occupation to which he was reared, he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on the home farm, which is one of the most valuable and desirable pieces of property in the township, being finely improved and readily yielding to cultivation.

Mr. BELL married in January, 1908, Litta L. HUNTLEY, a former teacher in the Mason City schools, and they have one child, Alden H. BELL, born in September, 1909.

Politically Mr. BELL is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. BELL are members of the Christian Science church.

SOURCE: Wheeler, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Pp. 742-43. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011