William Bell (1840 - 1923)

Born 10 Sep 1840 in Grinton, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 19 Oct 1923 at age 83 in Darlington, Wisconsin

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Biography

In 1841, baby William lived in Feetham, Grinton Parish, Yorkshire, with his parents, John (age 30) and Elizabeth (age 27 or 30), and his siblings: Edward (age 8), John (age 5), and Mary (age 3). Elizabeth's mother, Mary Clarke Bonson (age 70) also lived with the family. The elder John worked as a lead miner at "The Surrender" mine. ^[1][2]

In 1851, William (age 11) lived in Kearton, Grinton Parish, with his parents, John (age 43) and Elizabeth (age 41), and his siblings: 17-year-old Edward (age 17), John (age 15), Mary (age 13), Elizabeth (age 9), Richard (age 4), and baby Bonson. The elder John, Edward, and the younger John all worked in "The Surrender". ^[3]

In 1853, William's father was killed in a mining accident.

On January 16, 1855, Elizabeth Bonson Bell and her children arrived from Liverpool on the schooner, E.C. Scranton. Of the 233 passengers, 50 were English, one was Scottish, 174 were Irish, and 8 were from other countries. One person, a sailor, had been washed overboard in a storm and died during the voyage.

Elizabeth bought a 40-acre farm in Wisconsin and the family was recorded in the 1855 Wisconsin State Census for Platteville, Grant County.

In 1860, William (age 20) lived in Platteville, Grant County, Wisconsin, with his mother, Elizabeth (age 50), and his siblings: Edward (27), John Clyde Bell (24), Mary (22), James (16), Richard (13), Bonson (9), and Woodward (7). William, John, and Edward were laborers. Edward had $200 in personal estate. His mother also had $200 in personal estate.

In 1870, William farmed in Darlington, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, with his mother, Elizabeth (age 61), and his siblings: James (26), Richard (22), Bonson (19), and Woodward (age 17). William, James, and Richard were naturalized U.S. citizens. James, Richard, Bonson and Woodward were farmhands. The family had $17,000 in real estate and $2,250 in personal property.

In 1875, William lived in Seymour, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, with one other male and five females. His brother James Bonson Bell was head of a separate household in Seymour.

In 1880, William (age 40) farmed in Seymour with his mother, Elizabeth (age 71), and his siblings: Richard (age 33), Bonson (age 29), and Woodward (age 27). Richard's occupation is listed "at home" - perhaps he was an invalid. Josephine Johnson, a Swedish-born servant, and Samuel Farrell (age 17), an English-born farmhand, also lived on the farm.

In 1900, William (age 60) farmed in Seymour with his brother Bonson (age 48), Bonson's wife Annie [Fanny] Ellen Hatfield (age 30), and their children, Joseph W. (age 3) and baby Elizabeth M. A Wisconsin man, Edward Nimberger (age 36) worked on the farm.

In 1905, William (age 65) farmed in Seymour with Bonson (age 50), Annie (age 32), and their children: Joseph (age 8), Elizabeth (age 6), and baby Herbert.

In 1910, William (age 69) lived in Seymour with Bonson (age 57) and Annie (age 39) and their children: Joseph W. (age 12), Elizabeth M. (age 10), Herbert B. (age 5), and baby Bertha M. Two other children had died at birth or in infancy. A hired man from Wisconsin, Russell H. Thomas (age 21), lived with the family.

On 19 Oct 1923, William was hit and killed by a Darlington High School football player who was driving home from a Darlington, Wisconsin-Warren, Illinois, game. William, Bonson, and Woodward are buried in Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington.

Wisconsin State Journal 20 Oct 1923: "Ball Players Car Kills Aged Darlington Man

Platteville- Following a football game at Darlington, in which Warren high school eleven defeated the locals, 28 to 0, Howard right halfback for Darlington, while driving a car home from the game struck down William Bell, a wealthy retired bachelor. The car passed over the form of the aged man. He was given prompt medical attention but died soon after."

Obituary: "William Bell was born September 10, 1840, in Swaledale, Yorkshire, England. He came to America in 1853 with his mother and nine brothers and sisters, his father having died in 1852. He, with his mother, assumed the cares and responsiblities of the entire family. They made their home first in the vicinity of Platteville, later going onto a farm at Big Patch. In 1862 the family moved to a farm in Seymour township, Lafayette county, where he made his home continously until about eleven years ago when in conjuction with his brother Bonson, he retired and came to Darlington to live. But he maintained his business activities and in spite of advanced years, was alert and resourceful up to the time of his death, which occurred the evening of Oct. 19th, the result of an automobile accident.

He is survived by three brothers, namely: Richard, Platteville, Bonson and Woodward, Darlington.

Deceased was a remarkably well preserved man for his years, quite strong and active. He lived a quiet, unobtrusive life, kindly and helpful. He was a good neighbor and a loyal friend. His tragic death has brought deep sorrow to his many friends.

The funeral service was held Monday at 2 pm. Interment was made in the Union Grove cemetery."

Sources

1. ↑ England Census, 1841: Class: HO107; Piece: 1246; Book: 2; Civil Parish: Grinton; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 47; Page: 12; Line: 15; GSU roll: 464230
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ5C-9TB : 23 May 2019), William Bell in household of John Bell, Grinton, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ England Census, 1851: Class: HO107; Piece: 2380; Folio: 312; Page: 31; GSU roll: 87670-87671

• Yorkshire Dales Families.

"Wisconsin State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMML-ZW1 : 20 February 2021), Elizabeth Bell, Platteville, Grant, Wisconsin; citing line 24, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,687.

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWMR-W3R : 18 February 2021), William Bell in entry for Elisabeth Bell, 1860.

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN9L-TC1 : 2 January 2021), William Bell, 1870.

"Wisconsin State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM9M-M6D : 19 February 2021), Wm Bell, Seymour Town, Lafayette, Wisconsin; State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,692.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN4Y-N25 : 20 February 2021), Elizabeth Bell, Seymour, Lafayette, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district ED 211, sheet 163C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,433.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMVZ-HDD : accessed 27 February 2021), William Bell, Saymour town, Lafayette, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 103, sheet 1B, family 14, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,796.

"Wisconsin State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM3F-LWH : 29 January 2021), William Bell in household of Bonson Bell, Wisconsin, United States; citing p. 293, line 17, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,453.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPKR-5P5 : accessed 27 February 2021), William Bell in household of Bonson Bell, Seymour, Lafayette, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 51, sheet 5B, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1717; FHL microfilm 1,375,730.

Wisconsin State Journal 20 Oct 1923 (article on his death)

"A Pioneer Mother", adapted from a college term paper authored on May 4, 1930, by Virginia Brodbeck, granddaughter of Richard Bell. The paper was contributed by Virginia's sister, Dorothy Sowls of Platteville. It was posted March 16, 2022, on the FamilySearch web page for Elizabeth Bonson Bell. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L7Z5-8Z6

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104521907/william-bell: accessed 16 July 2023), memorial page for William Bell (10 Sep 1840–19 Oct 1923), Find a Grave Memorial ID 104521907, citing Union Grove Cemetery, Darlington, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by Audrey Quinn Porter (contributor 47005894).