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WARREN RANDOLPH BELL
BIOGRAPHY and GENEALOGY
(1839-1908)
Talladega County, Alabama
Warren Randolph Bell, merchant and real estate dealer, of McFall, Alabama, was born in Chester County, S. C., Sept. 20, 1839. His parents were George Washington and Jeannette (Curry) Bell, both of whom were natives of the Palmetto Sate. His father died in South Carolina, July 17, 1856, and soon after his death the mother migrated with her family to Talladega County, Alabama, where she died in 1866. They had six children. Those living are Mrs. H. C. Harden, W. Thomas Bell, Warren Randolph Bell, and Alexander Washington Bell.
Warren R. Bell received his education in the common schools, which he supplemented by a course of self-study until he is a well-informed man on the current topics of the day. Shortly after leaving school he embarked in the business of merchandising and continued in this enterprise except for the time he served in the Confederate army. His first location was at Munford, where he remained until 1868 when he removed to Eastaboga, and still later came to McFall, where he was also interested in farming and real estate operations.
In May 1861, he enlisted in Dr. Kent’s company, the Independent Blues, of Selma, Alabama, which was attached to the Eighth Alabama, in Wilcox’s brigade. Mr. Bell was made regimental color bearer, was wounded at Gettysburg, and replanted the colors after the “crater” at Petersburg. He served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged.
Politically he was a Democrat and for over thirty years he held the positions of justice of the peace and notary public. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, though his wife was a Baptist.
He was twice married. His first wife was Mary Susan Burns, oldest daughter of Benjamin F. Burns, to whom he was married November 18, 1868. To this marriage were born the following children:
- John G. Bell – was in the wholesale commission business at Atlanta, Ga
- Benjamin F. Bell – was in the wholesale commission business at Atlanta, Ga
- Alex W. Bell, a physician, deceased 1900
- Margaret Curry Bell, living at home in 1904;
- Alice Bell, was a stenographer for the Anniston Mercantile company.
Mary Susan (Burns) Bell died Feb. 15, 1886, and toward the close of the year, Mr. Bell married Alice Catherine Burns, a sister of his first wife. Two children were born to this union:
- Mary Jane Bell, born Sept. 18, 1893
- David Randolph Bell, born Sept. 5, 1903.
Benjamin F. Burns married Mary J. McCullough, daughter of D. M. McCullough, of South Carolina. He died in 1891, aged seventy-two years, and his wife died in 1898, also aged seventy-two. They were among the pioneer settlers of Talladega County.
William Randolph Bell died 1908 and is buried in Eastaboga Baptist Church Cemetery in Talladega County, Alabama
SOURCES
- Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 1 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
- Find A Grave Memorial# 43243310# 12588429# 12588451# 12588453# 12588427# 12644781
If I’m correct, My 3x Great Grandfather was the sibling of George Washington Bell, his name was Robert H Bell.