Biographical Sketch of William M. Bell, Franklin County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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William M. Bell, a prominent farmer of Franklin County, and one of its
older citizens, was born in the county in 1827.  Of the twelve children
born to William and Polly (Armstrong) Bell he was the third.  He rec-
eived a good common school education and was reared on the farm until 
he reached his majority, and as an occupation he has followed farming
through life.  When nineteen years of age he entered the Mexican War in
Company E, First Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and was in 
active service one year; he participated in the battle of Sacramento,
February 28, 1847, under Col. A. W. Doniphan, and was mustered out at
New Orleans in June, 1847, when he returned home.  In 1850 he married 
Anna, daughter of John Armstrong.  Leaving his bride, Mr. Bell then
went to California, where he remained three years and as a result of 
hard work and good management was enabled at the end of that time to
return with about $2,500.  To Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born eleven chil-
dren, of whom only four survive, viz.: William A., John L., Mary V.
and Louisa J.  During the late war Mr. Bell was a Southern sympathizer.
He is a stanch Democrat, and lends his hearty and cheerful support to
his party, but is not a political aspirant.  In 1855 he embarked in the 
mercantile business at his present homestead, which he closed out at
the end of three years, and turned his attention to farming and trading.
He has made substantial progress in the accumulation of property, and
now owns over 400 acres of land, besides having given all his children 
small farms.  Mr. Bell is a Freemason, and, with his wife, is a worthy
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  They enjoy the respect 
and esteem of the whole neighborhood.

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