Death of Pike Bell

A. O. Bell, familiarly known as "Pike" Bell, died very suddenly Thursday night at his home on Rock Creek. The cause of death was heart disease. Mr. Bell had been into town during the day and was apparently as well as usual. He had been to bed only a short time when a groan was heard, and on going to his bedside his wife found him dead. Deceased was a character and had resided in Placer County and most of the time near Auburn for over 40 years, coming to California in 1852. He mined a year in El Dorado County and then came to Auburn where he has since resided. He was a phenomenal miner and made several fortunes and lost them again. His "strikes" were not all luck for we doubt if there was ever a better prospector than Pike Bell. The most notable of Mr. Bell's finds was the famous Green Emigrant Quartz Mine struck by Pike Bell and Ben Mitchell. We believe a man named Lowery was also interested. The find was a pocket of nearly solid gold found in slate rock near Pike's present home. The Black Lead Mine on Rock Creek was a later find, and all remember the strike at Weimar a few months ago. We believe he also discovered the great Church Mine in El Dorado. He possessed many good qualities and had but one fault -- generosity. A. O. Bell and wife were married in 1869, and their wedding tour was a trip across the plains to California on horseback. Twelve children have been born to them, six of whom are living, viz: Joe, Ben, Ed, Alma, Lester, and Annie. The funeral will be held today at 1 o'clock from the residence on Rock Creek. Interment in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

[Placer Herald, Auburn, Saturday, 12-21-1895

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Pike Bell's gold strike, a fortune in three days. "The richest strike made in this county for many years, and as rich as perhaps was ever made, we here have the pleasure of recording. A.O. Bell, commonly called Pike Bell, who with his family has resided many years on Bald Hill, a few miles north of Auburn, as many know is the dauntless prospector...he searched for gold without luck, sank deeper into poverty, pawned the ring off his wife's finger to obtain money for necessities, until his lucky find which netted Mr. Bell (it is now "Mr." since he has lots of gold), between $30,000 and $35,000 in short order. He said he would get away with over $50,000. and that was money enough for him. At a depth of 30 feet he had taken out a estimated $1,500. As he went deeper, the gouge got richer. He was digging in "decomposed rock", chunks of almost pure gold were taken out from the intersticers."
Placer Herald-May 12,1877

Married wife in 1869.

Alexander Owens Bell is listed as a registered voter for Placer County in 1890.

Bell, A.O.-residence Ball Hill-Farming and mining-Nativity Tennessee-came to State and County 1852-Post Office; Auburn-160 acres

Local Poet:
Squawkin Miller wrote a series of lines to Pike Bell, the legendary pocket gold hunter of the Auburn area.

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August 30, 2013
From Great Grandson

TRUE WEST Magazine December 1967 pages 18 and 19 title of article is Best of the Pocket Hunters. You will find a very interesting article about Pike Bell. The gold chain was missing for may years and it was found by the President of the Bank of California in about 1960 and offered to my dad George Bell for the sum of $50,000.00 he was told to weigh about 18 pounds of gold.

Mike Bell