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WILLIAM S. BELL, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Antis Township,
Blair County, Pa., comes of one of the prominent pioneer families of the
county, and is extensively engaged in the lumber industry in connection with
general farming. He was born September 16, 1860, on his present farm, which
is the old John Bell homestead, and is a son of Samuel Hunter and Sarah E.
(Shomo) Bell, and a grandson of John Bell, who was born in 1799. His paternal
ancestry is as follows: John Bell, great-great-grandfather of William S., came
from England and located in what is now Scotch Valley, from there moving to
Pottsgrove Mills, where he resided until about 1800. He then located on the
site of the present town of Bellwood and spent the remainder of his life in
this locality. He married Mary Hunter, whom he met on shipboard while on his
way to this country.
     Edward Bell, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Scotch Valley
and was a millwright by trade. He was also a surveyor and assisted in building
the first capitol building erected at Harrisburg, while later he built and
operated the Elizabeth Furnace and Mary Ann Forge in Antis Township. He was
an able financier and was at one time the owner of 40,000 acres of land. He
married Mary Martin, whose father was a Scotchman, and of their union were
born six sons and two daughters, among whom his property was divided at the
time of his death.
     John Bell, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on the
old Edward Bell homestead in a substantial log home. His father built a fine
brick home in 1832, and John Bell, after his marriage with Elizabeth Boyle,
began housekeeping in this house now owned by our subject. Here he operated a
forge which had been built by his father, and lived here until the time of his
death. He had seven children, namely: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of
Fleming Holliday; Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of M. B. Riddle;
Elizabeth, now deceased; Samuel H.; Katherine K., deceased, who was the wife
of Dr. Isaac Kay; Ellie B., wife of Thaddeus Stewart, of Bellwood; and John
E., now deceased.
     Samuel Hunter Bell was born on the old Bell homestead and operated the
Cold Spring Forge and the Elizabeth Furnace from 1861 to 1865. He then
entered into the lumber business, but during the last ten years of his life
was engaged in surveying. Politically a Democrat, he served some years as
justice of the peace. He married Sarah E. Shomo, a daughter of William Shomo,
whose family came here from Lebanon County, Pa., and three children were born
of their union, namely William S., Mary, and Elizabeth, the two last
mentioned residing on the old Samuel H. Bell homestead. Mr. Bell died in
1895, and was survived by his widow until 1908. Their remains rest in the
cemetery at Bellwood. They were both members of the Presbyterian church.
     William S. Bell was reared on his present place, and has spent all his
life so far in the vicinity of Bellwood, where for ten years he was engaged
in shipping and selling coal. For the past six years he has resided on the
Bell homestead, where he deals extensively in lumber in connection with his
farming interests. The old Bell homestead is 105 years old and was first
owned by a man named Johnston. Mr. Bell is the owner of 140 acres of land
which he has under good cultivation, and also owns 1,600 acres of timberland.
He is a stock holder of the Bellwood Bank, and is fraternally a member of the
Masonic Lodge of Altoona. He was married June 30, 1904, to Christine Mundorff, 
who was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., a daughter of Samuel Mundorff, 
of Bellwood. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have three children: Sarah Ellen; Samuel H.; 
and Bertha A. The family hold membership in the Presbyterian church.