William Alexander Bell (1831-1904), Builder-Architect
DBA: W. A. Bell
William Alexander Bell was born in New York City to George A. and Weltha Bell around 1831. His father George was listed in census records as a carpenter in Pennsylvania (1850), a builder in Galesburg, Illinois in 1860, an architect in Macomb, Illinois in 1870, and again a carpenter in York, Nebraska in the 1880s.[1][2][3][4][5] W. A. Bell married Ida J. Simcox in Knox, Illinois in 1856; lived in Illinois with Ida and their growing family in Aledo (1860) and then Oneida (1870), working as a carpenter; and serving in an Illinois regiment in the Civil War. William and Ida and their six children, and his parents George and Weltha, were all living in York, Nebraska by 1880.[[#References|[6][7][8][9][10][a] William was among several designers offering plans for the York Seminary building in 1880. His were not chosen but he was hired to superintend the construction, initiating a busy half-decade of building, superintending, and designing structures in and around York. He advertised frequently as "W. A. Bell, Architect and Builder" or "W. A. Bell, Architect and Superintendent." In October 1885 a York newspaper announced Bell's departure for southern California for his wife's health, and Los Angeles Times noted the Bells' arrival the next month.[11][12] He worked in the Los Angeles area as a builder and architect, designing campuses in "University Place" of Los Angeles and for a theological school in San Fernando. The 1900 Census found William and Ida in Saticoy, Ventura County, where he was listed as a farmer; the neighboring family was that of his son Charles and wife Aurelia, and their two young children. W. A. Bell died in 1904 and he was interred under a Civil War veteran's gravestone in a Los Angeles Cemetery.[13][14]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Educational & Professional Associations
Buildings & Projects
Dated (Nebraska) Projects
Superintendent for new Seminary building (1880), York, Nebraska.[11][15][26][d]
House for Rev. G. A. Smith (1880), York, Nebraska.[16]
New house for C. W. Beck (1882), LeCount's addition, York, Nebraska.[17]
New Congregational Church (1882), corner of Beaver Avenue and 7th Street, York, Nebraska.[18]
Commercial State Bank (1882), York, Nebraska.[11][19]
New house for Mr. Manville (1883), just east of the Universalist church, York, Nebraska.[20]
Commercial building (1883), for Wyckoff (6th Street) and Bell, Lundeen & Cook (Lincoln Avenue), York, Nebraska.[21]
"$8,000 house for F. O. Bell" (1884), York, Nebraska.[22]
National Bank (1885), Holdrege, Nebraska.[11][23]
New M. E. church (1885), York, Nebraska.[11][24]
Two-story brick veneer school (1885), 6th & Division Streets, York, Nebraska.[11][25]
Undated (Nebraska) Projects
York National Bank (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]
D. E. Sayre residence (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]
F. K. Atkins residence (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]
Mrs. Kate Harrison's residence (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]
California Projects
W. A. Bell residence (1885-1886), "within a stone's throw of the University," Los Angeles, California.[28][e]
Campus plan for University of Southern California (1887), Los Angeles, California.[29][f]
Campus plan for theological school (1887), San Fernando, California.[29][f]
Methodist parsonage for Rev. Dr. Warner (1887), "University Place," Los Angeles, California.[30]
Notes
a. Overlapping with the York residency of William A. Bell and his father George A. Bell was another builder Bell in that community--Thomas M. Bell. While it seems plausible that they were all kinfolk, no relationship has been found to date between the New York Bells (W. A. and G. A.) and Thomas M. The listing of George and Weltha's household in 1850 included six children--four daughters and sons William A. (then 18) and George A. (Jr., 8).(EFZ)
b. Rev. G. A. Smith's new house is described in a York newspaper as "64x28, with 19 feet posts, cruciform shape, with bay windows, piazza."[3]
c. Weltha (or Wealtha) Bell died in York in December of 1883 and George A. Bell died there in 1886; both are interred in a York, Nebraska cemetery.
d. The Trustees of York seminary reviewed plans from five designers in 1880: "Plans were presented by George Garball, and A. J. Butler, of Lincoln, Mr. Rittenhouse of Hastings, and W. A. Bell and N. A. Sherman of this town [York]. Mr. Garball's plan was adopted as most suitable to the wants of such an institution." George Garball was listed in the Nebraska State Census of 1875 as a 29 year old carpenter, born in Michigan and living in the Rock Creek Precinct of Lancaster County, Nebraska. "A. J. Butler, of Lincoln" may have been the early Lincoln architect J. J. Butler. [26][27]
e. The Los Angeles Times" reported in 1885 "W. A. Bell, late of York, Nebraska, highly recommended as an architect, broke ground yesterday for a fine residence, within a stone's throw of the University. Mr. Bell, attracted by the climate of Southern California, has come to stay. and so they come."[28]
f. In 1887, Los Angeles Times" reported "Your correspondent has examined the plan of the campus, made by W. A. Bell, the architect, of this place. It shows the hand of a skilled master...The building, as every one having seen it knows, is very fine and the grounds should be commensurate....Mr. Bell has the contract for drawing the plan for the campus of the theological school at San Fernando, and went up on Saturday to view the situation."[29] The L.A. campus was for University of Southern California, where in 1886 "Prof. Edward Thompson, of York, Nebraska, son of Bishop Thompson, has been secured as a professor for the University."[31] Professor Thompson had been the founding president of the Methodist seminary in York, for which Bell had superintended construction in 1880.[32]
References
1. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census, s.v. “Wm A. Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
2. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census, s.v. “G Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
3. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. "George Bell," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
4. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census. s.v. "Geo. Bell," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
5. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885, s.v. “Geo Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
6. Ancestry.com. Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, s.v. "William A. Bell," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
7. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census, s.v. "William Bell," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
8. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. “William Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
9. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census, s.v. “William Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
10. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885, s.v. “W A Bell,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
11. "W. A. Bell who has been in business as an architect and superintendent here for the last six or seven years, leaves...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (October 21, 1885), 2.
12. "W. A. Bell and John Danee, of York, Neb., have just arrived here with their families..." The Los Angeles Times (November 19, 1885).
13. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Wm. A. Bell," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
14. "William A. Bell," FindAGrave database on-line accessed March 22, 2023 at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9622883/william-a.-bell
15. "Mr. W. A. Bell has been engaged to superintend the work on the new Seminary building," The York (Nebraska) Republican (August 11, 1880), 3.
16. "Rev. G. A. Smith is building a house...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (December 22, 1880), 3.
17. "C. W. Beck is building a new house...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (March 15, 1882), 2.
18. "Rev. C. H. McIntosh showed us the plan of the New Congregational Church...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 7, 1882), 3.
19. "The Commercial State Bank...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (September 13, 1882), 2; "The Commercial State Bank," The York (Nebraska) Republican (October 18, 1882), 2.
20. "W. A. Bell is building a new house...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (March 21, 1883), 3.
21. "The New Brick Building," The York (Nebraska) Republican (May 9, 1883), 2.
22. "Architect W. A. Bell is working on the plans for an $8,000 house..." York (Nebraska) Republican (January 23, 1884), 3.
23. "W. A. Bell, our architect, came up from Holdrege..." The York (Nebraska) Republican (April 1, 1885), 2.
24. "Architect W. A. Bell laid out the grounds to commence building of a new M. E. Church...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (May 13, 1885), 3.
25. Notice to Builders," The York (Nebraska) Republican (May 20, 1885), 3.
26. "The Board of Trustees of the Seminary met last Wednesday...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 2, 1880).
27. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885, s.v. "George Garball," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
28. "University Place Items," Los Angeles Times (December 18, 1885).
29. "University Place...The College Campus," Los Angeles Times (May 2, 1887), 10.
30. "Our Neighbors. University Place," Los Angeles Times (October 30, 1887), 3.
31. "The University. Commencement Exercises," Los Angeles Times (June 25, 1886), 2.
32. "The Nebraska Conference Seminary Located at York," The York (Nebraska) Republican (October 15, 1879), 2; "Programm of Commencement Nebraska Conference Seminary," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 14, 1882), 3.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “William Alexander Bell (1831-1904), Builder-Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 23, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 15, 2024.
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