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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of William A. BELL 

[Surnames: BELL, GORDON, HUMPHREY] 

BELL, WILLIAM A. 

    
Since its establishment in Fulton County in 1864. the occupations of blacksmithing and farming have received decided impetus through the labor and good judgement of the Bell family. 
    
John R. Bell, the elder bearing this name, was born in Kentucky in 1832 and early in life journeyed to Greencastle, Indiana where he learned the black-smithing trade. He married Emma Gordon, who was born in 1836, and his son William A., now a prominent farmer was born in Greencastle, IN on 2 Sep 1862. 
    
In 1864 they removed to Farmington, Fulton County where the father plied the blacksmithing trade in town and county until moving to his present farm of 80 acres near Farmington in 1890. 
    
William A., until his 21st year, lived on the home place near Farmington, then rented a farm for one year, and next moved to Union Twp, where he conducted a rented farm for a time. He then bought 160 acres in Knox County but sold it after three years, when he then moved to Kansas. He returned the same year to Knox County and purchased 85 acres, and later, 125 acres. A few years later he sold this property and bought 125 acres in Sect. 31, Ellisville Twp. 
    
On 2 Dec 1895 Mr. Bell married Etta Humphrey, who was born in Knox Co IL on 11 Mar 1869. They have five children: 
Julian, Emory, Guy, Ora and Mamie. 
    
William A. Bell is a Republican, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.