Edwin Bell, veteran editor and lawyer, died in Hagerstown, Monday morning of general debility. He was in his 88th
year. He was very well known here where he was a frequent visitor.
Surviving are a brother, Henry Bell, Philadelphia, and two sisters, Miss Lutie Bell, Hagerstown, and Miss Susan Bell, St. Joseph, Mo.
Mr. Bell was born on the day before Christmas in 1819, on the public square in Hagerstown. Mr. Bell was the eldest son of William Duffield Bell, founder of the Hagerstown Torch Light, which later became the Herald and Torch Light.
Mr. Bell was educated at the old Hagerstown Academy. He entered his father's printing office at the age of 16 years. He studied law under William Price and was admitted to the bar.
He was associated with his father as editor of the Torch Light in 1841 and conducted the paper until 1849, when he went to California.
Arriving in San Francisco, Mr. Bell was engaged in the practise of law. It was not long, however, before he drifted back into newspaper work.
He was connected with the San Francisco Daily Herald, first as reporter of legislative proceedings and then as City editor for nearly two years. He resigned his position to become joint editor and proprietor of the San Francisco Daily Placer, Times and Transcript, with which he continued for nearly two years after which, until his removal from the Pacific coast, he was on the staff of the Sacramento Daily Union as general editor.
In 1858 he organized and conducted until the war broke out in 1861 the correspondence by pony express and telegraph of the San Francisco Union, which thus had a monopoly of eastern news.
Returning to Maryland, he purchased in 1867 a one-third interest in the Hagerstown Weekly Mail, which experienced several changes of proprietors with the exception of Mr. Bell, who remained in the different firms and was last associated on the paper with T. J. C. Williams, now of the Baltimore Sun editorial staff. He continued as one of the editors of the Mail until 1891.
Mr. Bell never married. He was a Democrat and attended the Presbyterian church. He was not a member of any secret orders, but he took an active part in all public enterprises for the promotion of Hagerstown and Washington County. He used his influence in helping the Western Maryland railroad extended to Hagerstown.
He preserved his remarkable physical and mental vigor until the end and was walking about on the streets Friday last.
Published Waynesboro Record, December 11, 1907
Steve Bell (#47785061) contributed this Bio.
Edwin Bell, veteran editor and lawyer, died in Hagerstown, Monday morning of general debility. He was in his 88th
year. He was very well known here where he was a frequent visitor.
Surviving are a brother, Henry Bell, Philadelphia, and two sisters, Miss Lutie Bell, Hagerstown, and Miss Susan Bell, St. Joseph, Mo.
Mr. Bell was born on the day before Christmas in 1819, on the public square in Hagerstown. Mr. Bell was the eldest son of William Duffield Bell, founder of the Hagerstown Torch Light, which later became the Herald and Torch Light.
Mr. Bell was educated at the old Hagerstown Academy. He entered his father's printing office at the age of 16 years. He studied law under William Price and was admitted to the bar.
He was associated with his father as editor of the Torch Light in 1841 and conducted the paper until 1849, when he went to California.
Arriving in San Francisco, Mr. Bell was engaged in the practise of law. It was not long, however, before he drifted back into newspaper work.
He was connected with the San Francisco Daily Herald, first as reporter of legislative proceedings and then as City editor for nearly two years. He resigned his position to become joint editor and proprietor of the San Francisco Daily Placer, Times and Transcript, with which he continued for nearly two years after which, until his removal from the Pacific coast, he was on the staff of the Sacramento Daily Union as general editor.
In 1858 he organized and conducted until the war broke out in 1861 the correspondence by pony express and telegraph of the San Francisco Union, which thus had a monopoly of eastern news.
Returning to Maryland, he purchased in 1867 a one-third interest in the Hagerstown Weekly Mail, which experienced several changes of proprietors with the exception of Mr. Bell, who remained in the different firms and was last associated on the paper with T. J. C. Williams, now of the Baltimore Sun editorial staff. He continued as one of the editors of the Mail until 1891.
Mr. Bell never married. He was a Democrat and attended the Presbyterian church. He was not a member of any secret orders, but he took an active part in all public enterprises for the promotion of Hagerstown and Washington County. He used his influence in helping the Western Maryland railroad extended to Hagerstown.
He preserved his remarkable physical and mental vigor until the end and was walking about on the streets Friday last.
Published Waynesboro Record, December 11, 1907
Steve Bell (#47785061) contributed this Bio.
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