NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Augustus Wood Bell
Morris Co. Up

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Augustus Wood BELL, one of the well known real estate men of Morristown, New Jersey, was born in that town, July 16, 1855, son of Augustus Wood and Caroline Louise (CONCKLIN) BELL, grandson of Robert P. and Charlotte (STOLL) BELL, and a descendent of Abraham PIERSON, one of the founders of Newark, New Jersey, a cousin of his by the same name having been the first president of Yale College. Not only has Mr. BELL been thoroughly identified in his lineage with this region of New Jersey, but he is one of about a dozen men in business now in Morristown who were born there and have lived there for over half a century.

Robert P. BELL (grandfather) was a man of considerable means and prominence, and for a number of years was engaged in business in Stanhope, Morris county, New Jersey, and served as one of the commissioners of the old Morris canal. He married Charlotte STOLL, of Sussex county, New Jersey, and among their children was Augustus Wood, of whom further.

Augustus Wood BELL Sr., was born in New York City, died, April 21, 1881, aged fifty-seven years. When about eighteen years of age he came to Morristown ,New Jersey, and entered upon the study of law under the supervision of Judge SCOFIELD, and after his admission to the bar established himself in the practice of his profession, continuing along that line for the remainder of his life. He was one of the able legal practitioners in Morris county, and in criminal law he stood in the front ranks, being retained as counsel in many of the leading cases. During his later years he devoted a considerable portion of his time to the real estate business. He served as the first president of the truck company of the fire department, in which he retained membership until his death. He was one of the promoters and contributors to the Morris Female Seminary. He was a staunch Democrat; was candidate for mayor at the first election for that office, and later was again a candidate for the same office. He was always ready to forward any movement for the public good, contributed according to his means, but being of a retiring disposition his benefactions were known only to the recipients of his bounty. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Caroline Louise CONCKLIN, of Morristown, daughter of Zebulon W. CONCKLIN, her grandmother on the maternal side having been the daughter of William JOHNES and the granddaughter of the Rev. Timothy JOHNES, the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown. Mrs. BELL died March 25, 1865.

Augustus Wood BELL Jr. acquired his early education in the private schools of Morristown, where he was prepared for Yale College. Matriculating at that institution, he was graduated with the class of 1879. He then entered upon the study of law, but it became necessary for him to devote a considerable amount of attention to the management of his father’s real estate, owing to the latter’s death in 1881. This experience in that line of endeavor led him to relinquish his study of law to engage in real estate as a business. He has become one of the most extensive real estate dealers of the neighborhood, handling in large measure his own property. He has been one of the pioneers in the beautifying and improving of Morristown, contributing in various ways towards that end. He was one of the prime movers in securing the establishment of the fire alarm system in Morristown, and is an exempt fireman, having been an active member of Independent Hose Company, No. 1, of Morristown, for seventeen years, during which time he filled all the offices in that organization. He published a history of the Morristown fire department beginning with its organization in 1797 and covering a period of almost 100 years. He was an active member of the Young Men’s Christian Association, in which he filled the office of treasurer, and was one of the members of the board of directors. He is one of the managers of the Market Street Mission. He is a member of the South Street Presbyterian Church, and the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he holds the degree of past master. In his political preferences he is a Republican. He is public-spirited to a degree, charitable to a fault, yet he gives in such a quiet and unostentatious manner that few are aware of the extent of his charities.

Mr. BELL married, December 14, 1881, at Newburgh, New York, Ella Martha, daughter of Alfred BRIDGEMAN, of New York City, who was the second oldest seedsman in the United States, he having come from England when a boy and started in business in New York City in 1825; he married a daughter of Gamaliel KING, who died in 1898. Mr. BRIDGEMAN died in 1902. Children of Mr. and Mrs. BELL:

  • 1. Alfred A., born October 1, 1884, now connected with his father in the real estate and insurance business; married in April, 1912, Louise Marie HAZELTINE, of Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
  • 2. Carrie Louise, born May 22, 1886; resides at home.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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