William Nathaniel Bell

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William Nathaniel Bell (March 6 1817 - Sept 6 1887[1]), originally from Edwardsville[2] Illinois and later a resident of Portland, Oregon, was a member of the Denny Party, the first group of white settlers in what is now Seattle. He lived in Seattle from 1851 to 1856 and then again from 1870 till his death.

First wife: Sarah Ann Peter (daughter of Keziah Peter[3]) died of tuberculosis in June 1856.

Children:

Laura Keziah 1842-1887 (married surname: Coffman[4])

Olive Julia 1846 - ???? (married surname: Stearns[5]) and Stewart[6])

Mary Virginia 1847-1931 (married 1872[7] George W. Hall [8])

Alvina Lavina 1851-1857 [9],

and

Austin Americus 1854- 1889 [10] .

Second wife: Lucy Gamble (younger sister of Sarah Ann)[11]

His family is remembered in the name Belltown, a neighborhood north of Downtown; in Bell Street; in Virginia and Olive Streets, named for two of his daughters; and in Stewart Street, named for Olive's husband Joseph H. Stewart.