W. K. Bell reached Palo Pinto County in 1872 after a perilous voyage from his home on the Ken River, at Dalry, Scotland.  He was born September 21, 1850, at Kirkeudbrightshire, Scotland, and was the son of Gordon and Rachel Kelly Bell.  He lived for a time in England before leaving for America, November 27, 1867.

After coming here, he worked at anything he could find to do to make a livelihood.  He was constable in a sheriff's office for John H. Carruthers and S. P. Edmondson.  After Sheriff Wilson's death, and Mr. Edmondson was appointed by the Commissioner's Court to fill his unexpired term, Mr. Bell resigned as constable to accept the position as deputy.  During this time, he bought acreage and cattle on Dodson Prairie.  He encountered Indians in Loving Valley, near where Mark Dalton and his two companions were killed and Capt. McAdams' men lost their lives in a fight with the Comanche.  He took part in a fight on Ioni Creek in which Jesse Veal was killed and Al Bennett and Jim Warren shot down.  In 1874 he arranged to cultivate a portion of Mrs. Mark Dalton's farm, but in February of that year, Indians made a raid through the country, taking his best horse and leaving him only one horse and a team of oxen with which to make the crop.  He married Clara Head, in Rogers, Arkansas in 1890.