William Bell was born in Quincy, Illinois; the son of James Bell and Nancy Payne. In 1854, when a young man, he crossed the Iowa plains and landed in Bellevue in Sarpy County. Later he moved to Fontanelle, Washington County, Nebraska; where he resided on a farm for several years.
When the Civil War broke out, William enlisted as a Private on 22 Oct 1862 at the age of 19. He mustered in Co A 2nd Nebraska Cavalry on 23 Oct 1862 and mustered out on 23 Dec 1863 at Omaha, Nebraska. The 2nd Nebraska Cavalry was organized to protect the pioneers of the Nebraska Territory from bands of hostile Indians.
After his discharge, William re-enlisted at Omaha, Nebraska, as a Private on 29 Feb 1864 at the age of 20 years. He mustered in Co D 5th Iowa Cavalry on 1 Mar 1864. William was promoted to Full 4th Corporal on 18 Apr 1864, to Full 3rd Corporal on 1 Jan 1865, and to Full 5th Sergeant on 1 Jul 1865. He mustered out as Full 5th Sergeant on 8 Aug 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.
William married Lydia Elizabeth Reid in 1869 in Fort Calhoun, Washington County. William and Lydia had seven known children: Maude Corene (Pflug), Edwin Reid, Frederick Bender, James D, David William, Albert, and Laura Elizabeth (Newton).
The family moved to Sarpy County about 1885, locating on his farm two miles south of Papillion, where he resided until moving to Dundee about 1899. *NOTE: Dundee was the first "suburb" of Omaha, developed in 1880 and located between 48th and 52nd Street, Capitol to California.
William was a successful farmer and business man. He spent many days in Papillion assisting his son, Fred Bell, in the construction of the Bell Drug Company. He was a member of the G.A.R. and while in Sarpy County helped organize and manage the Fair Association.
William was fatally injured by an Omaha fire truck that was responding to a small residential fire. William was crossing the street and failed to hear the approaching fire truck. He was struck and sustained a fractured skull, broken collar bone, and broken arm. He died at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, two days after he was injured, at the age of 71 years 4 months. William's wife, Lydia, died in San Antonio, Texas, in 1948 at the age of 97 years.
*Note: Daughter Laura (Newton) was a resident of San Antonio.
When the Civil War broke out, William enlisted as a Private on 22 Oct 1862 at the age of 19. He mustered in Co A 2nd Nebraska Cavalry on 23 Oct 1862 and mustered out on 23 Dec 1863 at Omaha, Nebraska. The 2nd Nebraska Cavalry was organized to protect the pioneers of the Nebraska Territory from bands of hostile Indians.
After his discharge, William re-enlisted at Omaha, Nebraska, as a Private on 29 Feb 1864 at the age of 20 years. He mustered in Co D 5th Iowa Cavalry on 1 Mar 1864. William was promoted to Full 4th Corporal on 18 Apr 1864, to Full 3rd Corporal on 1 Jan 1865, and to Full 5th Sergeant on 1 Jul 1865. He mustered out as Full 5th Sergeant on 8 Aug 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.
William married Lydia Elizabeth Reid in 1869 in Fort Calhoun, Washington County. William and Lydia had seven known children: Maude Corene (Pflug), Edwin Reid, Frederick Bender, James D, David William, Albert, and Laura Elizabeth (Newton).
The family moved to Sarpy County about 1885, locating on his farm two miles south of Papillion, where he resided until moving to Dundee about 1899. *NOTE: Dundee was the first "suburb" of Omaha, developed in 1880 and located between 48th and 52nd Street, Capitol to California.
William was a successful farmer and business man. He spent many days in Papillion assisting his son, Fred Bell, in the construction of the Bell Drug Company. He was a member of the G.A.R. and while in Sarpy County helped organize and manage the Fair Association.
William was fatally injured by an Omaha fire truck that was responding to a small residential fire. William was crossing the street and failed to hear the approaching fire truck. He was struck and sustained a fractured skull, broken collar bone, and broken arm. He died at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, two days after he was injured, at the age of 71 years 4 months. William's wife, Lydia, died in San Antonio, Texas, in 1948 at the age of 97 years.
*Note: Daughter Laura (Newton) was a resident of San Antonio.
William Bell was born in Quincy, Illinois; the son of James Bell and Nancy Payne. In 1854, when a young man, he crossed the Iowa plains and landed in Bellevue in Sarpy County. Later he moved to Fontanelle, Washington County, Nebraska; where he resided on a farm for several years.
When the Civil War broke out, William enlisted as a Private on 22 Oct 1862 at the age of 19. He mustered in Co A 2nd Nebraska Cavalry on 23 Oct 1862 and mustered out on 23 Dec 1863 at Omaha, Nebraska. The 2nd Nebraska Cavalry was organized to protect the pioneers of the Nebraska Territory from bands of hostile Indians.
After his discharge, William re-enlisted at Omaha, Nebraska, as a Private on 29 Feb 1864 at the age of 20 years. He mustered in Co D 5th Iowa Cavalry on 1 Mar 1864. William was promoted to Full 4th Corporal on 18 Apr 1864, to Full 3rd Corporal on 1 Jan 1865, and to Full 5th Sergeant on 1 Jul 1865. He mustered out as Full 5th Sergeant on 8 Aug 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.
William married Lydia Elizabeth Reid in 1869 in Fort Calhoun, Washington County. William and Lydia had seven known children: Maude Corene (Pflug), Edwin Reid, Frederick Bender, James D, David William, Albert, and Laura Elizabeth (Newton).
The family moved to Sarpy County about 1885, locating on his farm two miles south of Papillion, where he resided until moving to Dundee about 1899. *NOTE: Dundee was the first "suburb" of Omaha, developed in 1880 and located between 48th and 52nd Street, Capitol to California.
William was a successful farmer and business man. He spent many days in Papillion assisting his son, Fred Bell, in the construction of the Bell Drug Company. He was a member of the G.A.R. and while in Sarpy County helped organize and manage the Fair Association.
William was fatally injured by an Omaha fire truck that was responding to a small residential fire. William was crossing the street and failed to hear the approaching fire truck. He was struck and sustained a fractured skull, broken collar bone, and broken arm. He died at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, two days after he was injured, at the age of 71 years 4 months. William's wife, Lydia, died in San Antonio, Texas, in 1948 at the age of 97 years.
*Note: Daughter Laura (Newton) was a resident of San Antonio.
When the Civil War broke out, William enlisted as a Private on 22 Oct 1862 at the age of 19. He mustered in Co A 2nd Nebraska Cavalry on 23 Oct 1862 and mustered out on 23 Dec 1863 at Omaha, Nebraska. The 2nd Nebraska Cavalry was organized to protect the pioneers of the Nebraska Territory from bands of hostile Indians.
After his discharge, William re-enlisted at Omaha, Nebraska, as a Private on 29 Feb 1864 at the age of 20 years. He mustered in Co D 5th Iowa Cavalry on 1 Mar 1864. William was promoted to Full 4th Corporal on 18 Apr 1864, to Full 3rd Corporal on 1 Jan 1865, and to Full 5th Sergeant on 1 Jul 1865. He mustered out as Full 5th Sergeant on 8 Aug 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.
William married Lydia Elizabeth Reid in 1869 in Fort Calhoun, Washington County. William and Lydia had seven known children: Maude Corene (Pflug), Edwin Reid, Frederick Bender, James D, David William, Albert, and Laura Elizabeth (Newton).
The family moved to Sarpy County about 1885, locating on his farm two miles south of Papillion, where he resided until moving to Dundee about 1899. *NOTE: Dundee was the first "suburb" of Omaha, developed in 1880 and located between 48th and 52nd Street, Capitol to California.
William was a successful farmer and business man. He spent many days in Papillion assisting his son, Fred Bell, in the construction of the Bell Drug Company. He was a member of the G.A.R. and while in Sarpy County helped organize and manage the Fair Association.
William was fatally injured by an Omaha fire truck that was responding to a small residential fire. William was crossing the street and failed to hear the approaching fire truck. He was struck and sustained a fractured skull, broken collar bone, and broken arm. He died at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, two days after he was injured, at the age of 71 years 4 months. William's wife, Lydia, died in San Antonio, Texas, in 1948 at the age of 97 years.
*Note: Daughter Laura (Newton) was a resident of San Antonio.
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