WI BIO - Dane Co - BELL, Almon
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 462-464

Almon BELL, one of the prominent residents of Rutland, [Dane County], WI, was 
born in the town of Independence, Warren County, NJ, on 15 Feb 1818. His 
father, Joseph BELL, was born in NJ, but Grandfather Issac BELL was a native 
of MA, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Warren County, 
NJ, on the farm which his son Joseph worked, and which Grandfather PARKER had 
given to Joseph's wife. Joseph also worked for others, lived a quiet and 
peaceful life and died in his native State about 1879, aged 85 years. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth PARKER, who was born 
in NJ, a daughter of Jonathan PARKER. She spent her entire life in NJ and 
reared a family of seven children: [p 463] Lewis, Almon, Micajah, Delilah, 
Theodore, Abner, Catherine and Elias.

Almon BELL was reared and educated in his native county. In his youth there 
were no free schools, and as his father was in limited circumstances, he grew 
up with very limited school advantages. He was obliged to assist in the 
caring for the family, and gave his wages to his father until he was 20 years 
of age, when his father permitted him to take charge of his own affairs.

After marriage Almon BELL removed to Sussex County [NJ], where he rented land 
and remained there until 1848, when with his wife and four children he came 
to WI. The long trip was made with teams to Morristown [NJ], then by rail to 
NY, by steamer to Albany, by canal to Buffalo, on by steamer again to Racine 
[Racine County], WI, and then by team again to Cooksville, Rock County, WI, 
where our subject rented a room for his family and started out to seek a 
location for a home in the wilderness. At that time Madison was a small 
village, and the surrounding country was but little improved. Soon he found 
a suitable locality and bought 120 acres of land on section 21, in Rutland 
Township, paying $450 for the whole tract. There were 20 acres of timber 
deadened; the land was broken and a log house constituted the improvements. 
The last of Jul [1848] found the family located on the new home. For seven 
years after there was no railroad near enough to be of benefit to this 
section, and the most available market was Milwaukee, and he made the trips 
there with an ox team.

In 1852 Almon BELL went to CA. He started 07 Apr, and made an overland 
journey with oxen. At that time there were no white settlers between the 
Missouri River and CA except the Mormons at Salt Lake. In Sep our subject 
reached Whiskey Diggins in CA, near the locality known as Gibsonville. He 
engaged in mining in various parts until Feb 1855, when he returned by way of 
the Isthmus [of Panama] and NY, and arrived home poorer than when he went 
away. Since this experience he has been engaged in farming, finding that the 
sure results of agriculture, although slower than the gain sometimes made in 
other lines of business, are more reliable. Mr. BELL has improved his place 
and has erected good buildings, making of it a comfortable and pleasant home.

Almon BELL married, 20 Mar 1841, Miss Mary SHAMPNOR, who was born in Warren 
County, NJ, 10 Nov 1821. Her father, Thomas SHAMPNOR is supposed to have 
been born in NY State, and became a boot and shoe manufacturer both in NY and 
NJ. He died in Tarrytown, NY, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The 
name of the mother of our subject [submitter correction: the name of the 
mother of our subject's wife] was Mary SUTTON, and she died in the town of 
Rutland, [Dane County], WI. She reared 10 children: Mary, now Mrs. BELL; 
Samuel, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Steward, Elizabeth, Adeline, George, Emeline, 
and Silas.

Almon and Mary (SHAMPNOR) BELL have had a family of 11 children: John S., 
Winfield S., Theodore F., Aaron, William, Adeline, Laura, Almon H., Orson H., 
Eva, and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. BELL are members of the Free Will Baptist 
Church. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and has filled various offices of 
trust, and for 20 years served as Justice of the Peace. He was three terms 
Tax Collector, a member of the Town Board, being Chairman of the same, and 
has also been superintendent of schools.

Two of the sons of Almon BELL served in the late war. John S. BELL belonged 
to the 2nd [p 464] WI Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battle of Bull Run, 
where he was captured and imprisoned in Libby prison for almost 11 months, 
having been severely wounded in the head. Winfield S. BELL served in the 7th 
WI Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in the arm in the battle of the 
Wilderness. Another son, Theodore F. BELL, served in the 42nd WI.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly