Washington County ArArchives Biographies.....Bell, W. F. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 August 16, 2009, 9:57 pm

Source: See Full Citation Below Biography
Author: S. J. Clarke

W. F. BELL.
    Business enterprise at Prairie Grove finds a worthy exponent in W. F. Bell,
who is here engaged in the lumber business. At the outset of his career he
recognized the eternal principle that industry wins and he has made industry the
beacon light of his life. Directing his labors along approved commercial lines
he has met with a gratifying measure of success. His birth occurred April 12,
1866, about seven miles north of Prairie Grove on the farm of his parents, John
M. and Elizabeth C. (Hale) Bell. His grandfather, J. C. Bell, was a native of
North Carolina and became one of the earliest settlers of Arkansas, establishing
his home in Hempstead county, this state, in the '20s, or almost a century ago.
He took up his abode in Washington county about 1826; and obtained land from the
government—land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made.
He was closely associated with the early agricultural progress of this section
of the state and his remaining days were passed on the old homestead. The
maternal grandfather of W. F. Bell was Jaber Hale, a native of Tennessee, who
came to Arkansas in 1856, living in Benton county. The birth of John M. Bell
occurred just across the boundary of Arkansas in the Indian Territory in July,
1829, and his life record covered the intervening years to 1891. It was in 1833
that he came to Washington county and throughout his life he followed the
occupation of farming. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company K,
Thirty-fourth Arkansas Infantry, and for three years was with the Confederate
army. His wife was born in Tennessee and came to Arkansas in 1856. They were
members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Bell belonged to the Masonic
fraternity, faithfully following the teachings of both the lodge and the church.
He always voted with the democratic party and kept well informed on the vital
questions and issues of the day. To hi,m and his wife were born four children,
of whom three are living: W. F.; Minnie, who is the widow of J. N. Woodruff and
lives at Prairie Grove; and Samuel E., whose home is in Gonzales county, Texas,
where he is engaged in business as a decorator.

    W. F. Bell obtained his education in the common schools of Washington county
and started out in life as a farmer, having been early trained to the work of
the fields. He soon acquainted himself with the best methods of tilling the soil
and caring for the crops and he continued successfully to engage in farming
until 1902, when he sold his land and removed to Prairie Grove. Here he
purchased a lumberyard which he conducted for three years. He then merged his
yard with another in Prairie Grove and became manager for the Prairie Grove
Lumber Company, in which position he has continued. This company sells lumber
and all kinds of building materials and its trade extends largely over this part
of the county. Mr. Bell is winning success in his connections with the lumber
trade and as the years have passed he has made judicious investment in realty
and today holds considerable city property.

    In 1912 Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Nattie Cox. who was born in
Green county, Arkansas, a daughter of George W. Cox, also a native of that
county. Her father was a trader and live stock dealer and also engaged in the
real estate business. He is still living at Prairie Grove. Mrs. Bell is a
consistent member of the Christian church, while Mr. Bell belongs to the Masonic
fraternity and has served as master of his lodge. Both he and his wife are
identified with the Order of the Eastern Star. Politically he is a democrat,
active in the work of the party and has been called to fill various public
positions. He served as a member of the town council and has also been mayor of
Prairie Grove, his administration resulting in benefit along many lines of
general upbuilding and definite improvement. He is also the head of the
Community Club and thus in various ways cooperates in all that tends to be of
specific worth and value to the district in which he lives.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922



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