David V. Bell is occupying a position requiring marked executive force and administrative ability, being superintendent of the Union Pacific Railway's water companies, in which connection he directs the efforts and activities of about forty workmen. In retrospect one may see him a poor boy, struggling to gain a foothold in the business world. From his initial step, however, he has steadily progressed owing to his individual efforts, fidelity, earnestness and strong purpose, and today his position is an important one, ranking him with the representative business men of Wyoming. He makes his home at Rock Springs and from that point directs the important interests under his supervision.
    He was born June 14. 1863, near Elizabeth Furnace, in Blair county, Pennsylvania, and was the eldest in a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Their parents were John Pierce and Agnes (Greenland) Bell, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The Bell family was founded in Pennsylvania at an early period in its development, the progenitor of the family in America arriving in Pennsylvania during the early part of the seventeenth century, at which time he took up his abode in what is now Blair county. John Pierce Bell was a successful farmer and during the early excitement following the discovery of gold in Colorado he made his way to that state. He was born in 1835 and had reached the age of seventy-six years when death called him. His wife was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and represented one of the old families of the state of English lineage. She died in the year 1887, at the age of forty-five years.
    David V. Bell acquired a public school education, attending the schools in Antis township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and the high school at Huntingdon, from which he was graduated in 1880. After completing his course there he started out to earn his own livelihood, his first employment being that of a clerk in a general store at Elizabeth Furnace. This line of work was not to his liking, however, and a little later he entered the employ of John Whitehead & Company in engineering lines at Elizabeth Furnace. He served a three years' apprenticeship as an engineer and in mechanical work and afterward followed his trade there until July, 1883, when he came to the west, attracted by the opportunities of this great and growing section of the country. It was in that year that he made his way to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where he spent the winter and then removed to Rawlins and later to Oil City. In the latter place he went with the first steam drilling outfit for oil in the state. He was employed by the old Central Association in drilling oil wells, remaining in that service during 1884 and 1885. He was also active in the Seminole mining country in 1885, and from 1886 until 1880 he was engaged in well drilling and in mining pursuits in this state. In 1880 he returned to Rawlins, where he became an employe of the Union Pacific Railway Company in well drilling. He has since been connected with the company, covering a period of twenty-nine years–a fact indicative of his capability, his faithfulness and of the confidence reposed in him. He has drilled oil wells in Albany, Carbon, Lincoln, Uinta, Johnson and in fact two-thirds of the counties in the state, and has thus been most actively and helpfully connected with the development of the oil industry, which is today one of the important sources of wealth in Wyoming. He was likewise one of the organizers and stockholders of the Wyoming Supply Company of Rawlins. He is today superintendent of the Union Pacific Railway's water companies, comprising the Rattlesnake Creek Water Company, the Green River Water Works Company and the Union Pacific Water Company, in which connection he has charge of forty workmen. He is thoroughly familiar with various phases of mechanical life and engineering projects, and his pronounced ability has enabled him to advance step by step until he now occupies a position of leadership in his chosen field of labor.
    Mr. Bell has been married twice. On the 10^th of June, 1881, in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, he wedded Miss Anna Kelley. a native of the Keystone state and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah G. Kelley, who were early settlers of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bell passed away March 21, 1882, at Barre Forge, Pennsylvania, when but twenty years of age, at the time of the birth of her son, David V., Jr. On the 18^th of September, 1893, in Rawlins, Mr. Bell was again married, his second union being with Miss Mamie Morrison, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Roselle and Sarah (Bell) Morrison, the former now deceased. The mother is a representative of an old Pennsylvania family of Butler county, that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell have been born eight children: Orin R., who was born at Mountain Home, Idaho, August 22, 1894; Carl Simpson, whose birth occurred at Rawlins, Wyoming, January 1, 1897; Agnes, who is now attending the State University; Dorothy; Elizabeth; and Edna, Ada and Margaret, the last three born in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
    Mr. Bell was made a Mason, January 18, 1891, in Rawlins, Wyoming, and since that time he has taken the degrees not only of the lodge but also of the chapter, the commandery and the Mystic Shrine. His life is an exemplification of the faith and practices of the Masonic fraternity, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind. He is a man of many sterling qualities, possessed of ability in a business way, displaying fidelity to every cause which he espouses and to all of the duties of life. He holds friendship inviolable and by reason of his personal traits, his cordiality and his sincerity he has won a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.