Bell, William Gilmor

Bell, William Gilmor a Presbyterian minister, was born at West Alexander, Pa., Dec. 11, 1812. His preparatory education was obtained in his native town, and he graduated from Washington College in 1836. He went directly from college to Princeton Seminary, where he studied between two and three years. He was licensed bv the Red Stone Presbytery in 1837, and ordained in 1840 by the Presbytery of Missouri, and on the same day installed pastor of the Church at Booneville, Mo., where he labored over fourteen years. During this period he had charge of a seminary for young ladies, which he organized in 1843, and presided over until 1858. After this he organized a Church at Union, fifteen miles from Booneville, and supplied it from 1848 to 1860. He then removed to Texas, and supplied the Warrensburg Church after his return. In 1869 he again removed to Texas, and engaged in the work of t.he American Bible Society, supplying the Georgetown Church. He next labored as a missionary, supplying various churches. In 1880 he was commissioned by the Board of Home Missions to labor at Fort Concho and vicinity, but was overtaken by sickness at Perkins Ranch, twenty-three miles west of Coleman, Texas, and died Sept. 23, 1880. See Necrological Report of Princeton Theol. Sem. 1881, p. 57. (W. P. S.)