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A biography of John K. Bell is included in "Montana, Its Story and Biography", Vol 2, page 971.
John was born, 6 Jun 1867, near Pettigo, County Donegal, IR, son of John and Mary (Kennedy) Bell. They were farmers and parents of 13 children, 10 who reached maturity. Those who came to the US were: The youngest, John K.; Bella (Mrs. David Kennedy), Saco, MT; Annie E. (died at Bellingham, WA, as Mrs. David Kennedy); David and Thomas (Windsor, Ontario); James (died at Tilbury, Ontario); Jane (Mrs. John Moore) died at Detroit, MI. William and Mary (Mrs. John Irwine) remained in County Donegal.
John K. Bell left school at an early age and for five years was a merchant's clerk. At age 18, he sailed from Londonderry, aboard the Peruvian, to Quebec. He took the train to visit relatives in Tilbury, Ontario. After seven months he crossed over to the US, came by train from Detroit, MI, to Devil's Lake, ND, then by stage to Bottineau, ND, where he worked on a cattle ranch for two years. He then placed the cattle on shares and came to Great Falls, MT, where for two years he worked as a cook for the B and W boarding house connected to the B and W smelter.
His cattle were brought to Saco country and John ranched there for three years. He closed out his cattle business and bought sheep and ran them until 1916 when he sold them and went into merchandising hardware, implements and lumber. Twenty acres of his homestead adjoining Saco was platted and include in the Saco townsite as the Bell Addition. John served as first president of the Bank of Saco. His final citizenship papers were given to him in Glasgow, MT.
On 22 Nov 1899, St. Thomas, Ontario, John Bell married Miss Margaret Courtenay, born 1877, Belfast, IR, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Walker) Courtenay. John and Margaret Bell had no children.
John K. Bell made four trips to Ireland.
I am not related.
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