William Bell was born around 1801 in New York. He lived in Montezuma, New York, and he earned a living as a farmer. By 1860, he owned $9,000 of real estate and $1,800 of personal property. He had at least six children: Sarah, born around 1842; Mary, born around 1842; Cornelia, born around 1846; Martha, born around 1848; Hiram, born around 1848; and William, born around 1856. He apparently briefly served as an officer in the Union army. By 1870, he owned $2,500 of real estate. A decade later, he was suffering from “paralysis.” He died sometime after 1880.

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