Bayfield County Photos

William Bell

Born in St. Thomas, Elgin County, Canada,William came to MI with his family, as a young child. He came from MI to WI as a young man. He had lost his first wife to childbirth in MI and the child was in the care of another family member. He was a fine carpenter and made a name for himself in Bayfield, Bayfield County, WI. In 1901 he married Kate Eddy, widow of the lighthouse keeper on Raspberry Island, Lake Superior. She had two daughters, ages 10 and 11. She gave William two boys, George Everett and Clark Gaylord. They were born when she was 46 and 48 respectively. William died 12 Jan 1946, age 83 years.

This photo is posted on the Dead Fred Genealogy Photo Archive website.

Grandpa Bell also built the waiting pavilion at the waterfront.

Bayfield Waiting Pavilion
May, 2005

My mom was Marie Blakely, whose father had a farm adjacent to Greenwood Cemetery. The terrible flood of 1944(?) washed out many graves, but he was so deaf he slept right through the rains. After the cleanup was over, there were body parts unidentified. He gave some of his orchard property for the burial of these parts. The American Legion in Bayfield took on the task of cleaning up and maintaining the site.

Donna Bell Cross