BIO:  George W. Bell, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 5

GEORGE W. BELL, superintendent of Weigle's planing-mill and sash factory, was 
born in New York City, February 28, 1851, to George S. and Julia R. (Slawson) 
Bell, and is of Scotch-Irish origin.  The father of Mr. Bell was born in Boston, 
Mass., in 1820, and his mother in Rensselaer County, N.Y., in 1824.  His mother 
died in New York City in 1873.  The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
Edward A. Bell, a native of Boston, Mass.  His great-grandfather came from 
Ireland to America, and settled in Massachusetts.  Mr. Bell was educated at the 
public schools of New York City, and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, 
and studied architecture, and at this continued for some years.  In 1878 he came 
to York and accepted the position he now occupies.  He superintended the 
erection of the York City Market House, in 1878 and 1879, and the York Opera 
House in 1881 and 1882, and also designed some of the best business houses and 
private residences and churches in York.  We would mention particularly the new 
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, just finished, and the banking house of 
Weiser, Son & Carl.  In 1880 Mr. Bell was married to Miss Mary Kissinger, 
daughter of Prof. E. J. Kissinger.  To this marriage were born two children:  
Emma D. And Mary E.  Mrs. Bell died in 1883.  Politically Mr. Bell is a 
Republican.  In 1884 he was elected to represent the Ninth Ward in the borough 
council.  In the famous flood of 1884, Mr. Bell, as one of the members of the 
health committee, did effective service, and also, as one of the members of the 
relief committee, spent much time and labor in helping all those that were in 
distress, and by his energy many people were helped, and their homes put in a 
comfortable position once more.