grave import

Obituary

About six o’clock Sunday evening, after eating an unusually hearty meal, Wm. Bell, the well-known and substantial businessman suddenly died at his home on the Fort Madison road in the southern suburbs of the city. He was sitting in his chair in the dooryard, as was his habit much of the time, and was reading a newspaper. The paper fell from his stricken hand and before any member of his family could reach him, he had breathed his last. He had been a sufferer for a number of years from bronchial trouble and of late had been almost an invalid, his growing feebleness compelling him largely to retire from business and see rest and seclusion, but there was no cause to anticipate the paralysis of the heart that stopped it’s beating.
William Bell was born in or near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1818. His parents were well-bred and well-to-do to do and he had the advantages of the excellent educational institutions surrounding him to fit him for a busy and useful life. Early in the “fifties” he came to America and proceeded overland to Utah, having first married Miss Marion Benbow, daughter of the well-known gentleman of that name of Ft. Madison, who accompanied them. In Utah, he formed a mercantile partnership, the firm being styled Livingston, Bell, and Kinkead, and continued in business there until he finally returned to this city several years later. While living in Salt Lake City, he and his wife, in company with others, continued the overland trip to California on horseback, returning the same way. The Mormon war occurred while he was at Salt Lake and the firm of which he was a member made a good thing out of transactions with the government, through General Albert Sidney Johnson, the officer in command of the expedition sent to subdue the rebellious saints. Soon after reaching Burlington Mr. Bell became the financial partner of the wholesale grocery and dry goods house of Wright, Bell, Chamberlain & Co., his partners being DB Wright, E. Chamberlain, and JH Wyman and their place of business being on the southwestern corner of Main and Jefferson Streets. Mr. Wright’s death was followed by the winding up of the affairs of the firm, and the retirement, for a time, of Mr. Bell. He subsequently engaged in the wholesale dry goods business in the building now occupied by Mr. Guest. Here he was completely cleaned out by the disastrous fire of 1877, but his large resources and his insurance saved him from embarrassment in any shape. In 1880 he became the senior member of the firm of Bell, Tolerton & Co., wholesale grocers, which has come down through subsequent changes to the present Bell, Smith Grocery Co.
In 1868, Mr. Bell entered the council chamber as alderman from the fourth ward, and in 1869 he became mayor, a position to which he was wisely re-elected twice. He made a good, intelligent councilman and an able and efficient executive officer, manifesting in his handling of the affairs of the city the same prudence and business method that made him a successful and prosperous businessman.
Mr. Bell was born a Scotchman, and all through his life retained and manifested the characteristics of that thrifty, quick-witted people. He was the soul of good nature, although he was always quiet rather than demonstrative in his enjoyment of a joke or a good story, and he could relate chapter after chapter of the most entertaining, amusing, and interesting experience. He was always scrupulously honorable in all his dealings and his business and financial standing in the community was above suspicion or reproach. He was a republican from the time he landed on American soil and remained in active sympathy with that party till his death. He leaves to mourn him his wife, his son, engaged with the firm of which he was a member, and two daughters, both living at home. One son, the elder, was killed by the cars in this city many years ago.
Funeral will take place from his late residence, No. 1601 Madison Street, this morning(Aug. 9, 1887) at 10:00