Bell Family. Bell Family. Bell Family. Bell Family. Bell Family.
In 1892 Robert, Elijah and Luke Bell took up land about 2km south of Round Pool. This was named ‘Muckross‘ after their mother’s birthplace near the Killarney Lakes in Ireland. When their parents Richard and Johannah Bell left the Railway Hotel in Katanning they lived in the original home at ‘Muckross’ with their daughter Sarah who was to remain a spinster, and son John who was also unmarried when he died at the age of 32 in 1909. He was ripped by a boar pig and died of septicemia. It was here that Richard and Johannah were to spend their remaining days, both attaining the ‘very ripe old age’ of 91 years.
Elijah Richard Bell
Sons, Robert and Luke were to find brides around Round Pool to Wilhelmina Severin in 1899 and Elizabeth Haddleton (1902) respectively. Luke and Elizabeth’s wedding brought to light reminiscences of their mothers’ who had both arrived from Ireland as young girls some 40 years before.
The brothers prospered on their property, developing it to one of the finest in the district. In 1905, Robert left the partnership, preferring to strike out on his own portion ‘Westbury‘ to the north of ‘Bellevue‘. The Bell’s had purchased small holdings taken up by selectors like Barnett, Hogan and Whitfield. They consolidated these into ‘Bellevue’ which by 1915 consisted of 3,400 acres (1,376 ha) of prime farming land – owning all the land immediately to the south and south west of the Woodanilling townsite.
The family continued to purchase small farming properties and Luke and Elizabeth Bell eventually were able to place their four sons on properties of their own. In about 1920, Turner’s farm near Marracoonda was bought and Luke’s son, Albert (Bert), lived there and later Bert’s son Allan.
Richard (Dick) Bell, the eldest son, married Trish Johns and left to farm in the Dumbleyung area. He was captain of the Woodanilling cricket team, who were prominent in the association, also being an all-round sportsman. Second son, Esmond, took over the Trimming’s estate ‘Woodlands’. Third son, Frank, inherited the home property ‘Bellevue’ on his father’s death in 1948, but after several years he sold to Coombes and left the district. Lewis, the second youngest son, took over Sammy Robert’s property near Queerearrup.
Although the descendants of the Bell’s still farm in the shire, ‘Bellevue’, ‘Muckross’ and ‘Westbury’ have long since passed out of the family. The retirement of Elijah Bell caused the sale of a large piece of ‘Muckross’ to R. A. Wise and 674 acres (273 ha) were also sold to Maugher’s.
The Bell brothers built a stone house and stone sheds. A fine orchard was soon established across the creek which flowed past the homestead. Pools in this creek were used to wash sheep for many years. Luke later built a new house near the road. A plaque marks the site 30 metres east of the Great Southern Highway with a large lemon scented gum standing tall over the last remnants of the original homestead.
Robert and Wilhelmina Bell built a fine new house at ‘Westbury’ in 1915 which was indicative of their prosperity. The brick home was constructed by Buzz Miller who built many houses around Woodanilling at this time.
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Luke Saunders Bell, J.P.
Obituary
Great Southern Herald
14 January, 1949
The death of Luke Saunders Bell, of Katanning, occurred at his home after a long illness and sincere sympathy has been extended to his bereaved wife and family in their sad loss. The late Mr. Bell was a very old resident of Katanning and Woodanilling districts, and was widely and popularly known. He was born at Quindanning 73 years ago, and after leaving school came to Katanning, and selected land in the Woodanilling district, which he, and his brother developed to become highly productive country.
As the years passed, he acquired further property, giving him an extensive area of good country which he farmed up to five years ago, when he retired into Katanning, the property then being taken over by his sons. The late Mr. Bell was very keen on sport, and took a lot of interest in football, and particularly in cricket, and in later years participated in bowls and trotting activities.
He leaves a wife and grown-up family of three daughters and five sons to mourn his passing. The funeral took place on Friday, December 24, when a large crowd gathered at the Katanning Cemetery to pay their last respects.
Father Byrne, of the R.C. Church, performed the last rites, and the duties of pall bearers were carried out by E. S. R. Piesse, F. M. Bowden, C. Antonio, P. Johnston, A. Radford and H. Dowling. Chief mourners at the graveside were Richard, Esmond, Frank, Lewis and Albert (sons) and their wives. Michael (son-in-law), Robert (brother), Mary, Von (sisters), Nell (sister-in-law), Job and Tom (brothers-in-law, D. Gorman.
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Robert Saunders Bell
Death Notice
The West Australian
27 December 27, 1951
On Dec. 26, suddenly, at Westbury, Woodanilling, Robert Saunders Bell, dearly loved husband of the late Wilhelmina Maria, and loved father of Edna (Mrs. E. C. Dival, Claremont), Elsie (Mrs. J. Dinwoodie, Woodanilling), Dolly (Mrs. E. Bagnall, Toodyay) and Edith (Mrs. A. Braund, Katanning), fond father-in-law of Cecil, Jim, Ted and Archie; aged 82 years. To be interred in the Anglican portion of the Katanning Cemetery at 11 o’clock tomorrow (Friday) morning by Messrs. C. E. Courtis and Sons, Funeral Directors, Katanning.
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Elijah Richard Bell
After a protracted illness, there passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Gill, Woodanilling, on Saturday last an old and well-known identity of the district, in the person of Mr. E. R. Bell J.P., aged 66 years.
Mr. Bell was born at Boyup Brook in 1867 and was one of the few older living settlers who could claim the distinction of having been born and bred in this portion of the State. During his life he had watched the town and district grow to importance, and in public and private life played an important part in the development of the district’s resources. Continue reading
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References
Ref 1: The former Railway Hotel, Katanning’s second hotel, opened its doors in 1891. Richard Bell was the first publican in 1897, the Railway Hotel a wood and iron structure located directly across from the railway station, was changed to the Royal Exchange Hotel and was owned by J.C. Cook. In 1899, when Katanning was experiencing a building boom, A Stewart was contracted for a new Royal Exchange hotel building. The new hotel was badly damaged by fire and therefore in 1905 vast improvements were made to the hotel, the builder being Mr Alex Thomson. The two-storey hotel was constructed from bricks made from the F & C Piesse Brickworks.
Ref 2: Round Pool – The pool provided fresh water for early pastoralists, shepherds and their flocks of sheep. They were also a source of water for sandalwood cutters and carters in the early days of European settlement.