This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: oastwd Surnames: Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.washington.counties.king/7451/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am posting this article about William N. Bell for those interested in the founding of Seattle. The Seattle Times Thursday, December 18, 1958 Page 23, Column 1 Just Cogitating: W.N. Bell Was One Of First to Profit From Claim Seattle's founding fathers were a sterling group and William N. Bell was no exception. Bell was born on a farm in Illinois in 1817 and was a member of an old American family. With his wife and four children, he traveled to the Pacific Northwest by ox team in 1851. In Portland he joined the little band of Seattle pioneers on the schooner Exact for Puget Sound. There were 12 adults and 12 children in the party. They landed at Alki Point, being landsmen and not realizing the necessity of having a harbor. In the following spring they moved across the bay and settled in the wilderness that is now Seattle. Bell took up a 320 acre claim in the north end which became known as Belltown. For four years he struggled to clear the land and make a living farming, but after the Indian War in 1855 he moved with his family to Napa, California. There Mrs. Bell passed away, leaving him with five children, a son named Austin having been born in Seattle. Austin was the second white boy born in Seattle. The first Bell home was on First Avenue between Bell and Battery Streets In 1860 Bell returned to Seattle and was among the first to subdivide his claim into town lots. In 1872 Bell visited his old home in Illinois and there married a sister of his first wife. He early glimpsed the future of Seattle and contributed to it to the best of his ability. He donated a two block waterfront site for one of Seattle's first industries, a barrel factory and gave the site for one of Seattle's first churches. Bell was universally respected and never failed in the duties of good citizenship. He died September 6, 1887 and was laid to rest in the old Odd Fellows Cemetery. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.