These images have been obtained from various archives, families and publications. Click on the image for a larger view and other details.
RESEARCH BY:
Research for this Album has been undertaken primarily by Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask. and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.
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1850s or 1860s - A young William Bell portrait
Probably taken in Ontario - Possibly the earliest known photograph of William (Bill) Bell, taken around the time that he enlisted in the military, or earlier.
SOURCES:
Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1860s - Capt. W.R. Bell in uniform (centre) with two companions
Probably taken in Ontario in the mid to late 1860s or early 1870s. - Major Bell, then a Captain, seated, with two companions during his military career. At one time he was a member of the Grand Trunk Railway Brigade. The photo was likely taken in an Ontario studio. Some of the insignia on the uniform were preserved by the Bell family, and donated to the Bell Barn Society of Indian Head in 2018. They currently reside with the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, Regina, Sask.
SOURCES:
Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
![1860s - Capt. [later Major] W.R. Bell next to a desk](_data/i/upload/2011/04/02/20110402042403-d57a0324-sm.jpg "1860s - Capt. [later Major] W.R. Bell next to a desk (5112 visits) This photograph of Captain Bell in military uniform was probably taken some time between 1865 and 18...")
1860s - Capt. [later Major] W.R. Bell next to a desk
This photograph of Captain Bell in military uniform was probably taken some time between 1865 and 1875, reportedly an officer of the Montreal Infantry. However, not record of him being a member of that regiment has been located in official government records. However, Capt. Bell was a member of the Grand Trunk Brigade.
SOURCES:
"The Story of Saskatchewan and Its People", Vol. 2, p. 743-748, by John Hawkes, 1924 Photo - p. 745
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1870s - Sherwood Ambler Bell
Son of Major W.R. and Catherine (Elwood) Bell - Sherwood Ambler Bell (1868-1870) was born in Elizabethtown, Ontario in approximately June 1868. He died less than two years later, and was the only child of Major Bell and his first wife Catherine Elwood.
It is not known if a photograph of the Bell's son was ever taken.
SOURCES:
Ontario Death Registration # 9029-1870. Sherwood Ambler Bell died 4 March 1870, age 1 year 9 mos., son of William A./R. Bell born Elizabethtown, ON. Cause of death - disease of the brain - 2 days. Informant: Wm. Robert Bell "G.L.R." Employee- Brockville, ON. Registered 6 July 1870. Religion: Wesleyan Methodist.
RESEARCH BY:
Blair MacAulay, Oakville, Ontario -
1870s - William Robert Bell as a young man
This photograph was likely taken after Major Bell left the military, as he seems more mature (moustache) than he does in his uniform images. The photo might have been taken shortly before he left Brockville to farm with Charles Kelso at Hallock, Minnesota in the late 1870s. The photographer's name is imprinted on the photo card: "A.C. McIntyre, Brockville, Ontario" (born 1822; died 1897)
SOURCES:
Details on photographer: http://tilife.org/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1390/Mr-and-Mrs-AC-McIntyre.aspx
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1871 - Capt. W.R. Bell at Wimbledon
Major Bell: fourth from left, front standing row, with badge on sash. Then Captain W.R. Bell was a marksman and participated in the Canadian contingent to shoot at Wimbledon, England in 1871.
SOURCES:
photo source: The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada pg 77 http://www.archive.org/stream/queensrifles00chamuoft#page/76/mode/2up (1872 date appears in this text also) http://www.archive.org/stream/canadianmagazin11unkngoog#page/n344/mode/2up Welcoming Volunteers from Canada http://www.archive.org/stream/cihm_12786#page/n23/mode/2up Princess Louise presents badges to the Canadian Team and purse to Colonel Skinner http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=BH18711011.2.26&e=-------10--1----0-all A bit of controversy, p. 103 and 1037 : Controversy Forest and Stream (pg 92) Sir Peter Tait Cup 1871: Forest and Streem Men and Women of the Time:a handbook of Canadian biography with living characters http://www.archive.org/stream/canadianmenwomen00morguoft#page/88/mode/2up 'Crack Shot Volunteers' photo source : Crack Shot
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask. and Frank Korvemaker, Regina. -
1880s - Duck Hunters - View # 1 - possibly on the Bell Farm
A hunting party with their canoe, dogs and catch of birds, possibly at the south edge of the Qu'Appelle Valley, north of the Bell Farm in the 1880s. However, on the back of View # 2 is written "Major Bell with W. Crawley Ricardo, Compliments". Ricardo lived in the Rocky Mountain Foothills, near Calgary.
SOURCES:
Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask., and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1880s - Duck Hunters - View # 2 - possibly on the Bell Farm
A second view of the Duck Hunters includes this inscription on the back: "Major Bell with W. Crawley Ricardo, Compliments" This notation could indicate that Crawley took the photo, and sent a copy back to Major Bell. However, it remains unclear if the photo was taken at the Qu'Appelle Valley or at Ricardo's ranch in the foothills west of Calgary, Alberta.
SOURCES:
Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask., and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1880s - Major W.R. Bell (left) and a friend
Photographed at the John Ross Studio, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Major Bell (left) and an unidentified man, photographed around 1882. Text on back: "Picture of Two Domesticated Buffalo [male species] date unclear - possibly 1886
SOURCES:
Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1882 - Major W.R. Bell around the time he established the Bell Farm in 1882.
Formal portrait of Major W.R. Bell in the 1880s.
SOURCES:
Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan: Bell Family Collection
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1883 - Major W.R. Bell (centre) and two other people at the Bell Farmhouse
Major Bell [centre] and others at the doorway of the Bell Farmhouse, 1883. Major Bell is wearing a pith helmet that is visible in several historic photos. Photo taken in 1883 by Hall and Lowe, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
SOURCES:
Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan: RA-4900-1
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1884 - Mrs. Catherine Ann (Elwood) Bell
Major Bell's first wife, photographed at the Bell Farmhouse, Indian Head, 1884. Mrs. Catherine Ann (Elwood) Bell (1851-1895) was born in Kemptville, Ontario, the daughter of James Galt Elwood and Mary Jane [Caldwell] Elwood. She married Major Bell on Dec. 17, 1867 in Prescott, Ontario. (According to the 1880 American census, her name was A. Catherine Bell. Also, some records spell her maiden name as "Ellwood") Catherine and Major Bell had a son: Sherwood Ambler Bell, who was born in Elizabethtown, Ontario in June 1868, and died on March 4, 1870. Catherine accompanied her husband when he moved to Hallock, Minnesota to establish the Bell-Kelso bonanza farm, and is documented in the 1880 American census for that community. Mrs. Bell later moved to Indian Head, North-West Territories, where her husband established the much larger Bell Farm. Catherine Bell was raised in the Presbyterian Church and was a member of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church at Indian Head, established on land donated by her and Major Bell. At the Bell Farm, she presided over various social activities, and accompanied Major Bell on many of his travels in North America and Europe. Mrs. Bell became seriously ill with appendicitis in mid October 1895 and Dr. Blanchard of Winnipeg was called in to minister to her; however, she died on Oct. 14th, 1895. Her remains were transported by rail to Brockville, Ontario for burial in the Old Protestant Cemetery. Many Winnipeg friends and associates of Major and Catherine Bell met the train as it passed through Winnipeg, including: Mr. & Mrs. J.S. Aikins, Mr. & Mrs. W.B. Scarth, Mrs. F.H. Brydges, Mr. Darby Taylor, Mrs. J. MacBeth, Capt. Donaldson, Dr. & Mrs. Blanchard, Mr. A.J.M. Aikins, Mr. Culver, and Mr. J. Patterson. (Further information on these people can be found elsewhere in this section of the website.)
SOURCES:
Photo: McCord Museum, Montreal - Notman Collection, image: V1385 Marriage: Livingston, Edwin A. "Leeds & Grenville Counties Marriage Register, 1858-1968", Vol. 27, 1988 (929.371373 at NYPL), page 39.i Ontario Death Registration: # 9029-1870. Sherwood Ambler Bell, died 4 March 1870 at age 1 year, 9 months. U.S.A. Census for June 1880: Kittson County, Minnesota, Township 161, Range 49. United Church of Canada Archives (Saskatchewan) - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Indian Head - Communion Roll and Communion Register: (1886-95) "Winnipeg Daily Tribune", Oct. 15, 1895 "Qu'Appelle Progress", Oct 17, 1895 "Qu’Appelle Progress", Oct. 24, 1895 Burial Register: Old Protestant Cemetery, Brockville, Ref. L&G-86-2 (County of Leeds, Township of Elizabethtown).
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask.; Libby (Bell) & Blair MacAulay, Oakville, Ontario; and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1891 - Jack McKee
Jack McKee was the nephew of Major and Catherine Bell. He lived at or near Barrie, Ontario, and is recorded by the "Northern Advance", published in Barrie, as going to the Bell Farm for the autumn in August, and returning in December, 1891, to visit his Aunt at Indian Head. Jack was the son of Catherine's sister, Sarah [Elwood] McKee.
SOURCES:
"Northern Advance", Barrie, Ont. - Aug. 13, 1891 and Dec. 31, 1891
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask. -
1893 - Major W.R. Bell posed in a Calgary studio photo
Major Bell, posing in a studio between 1893 and 1894, when Robert Randolph Bruce took a number of photos of important western personalities at his photographic studio in Calgary. Many of those photos, with the same chair and background, are currently housed at the McCord Museum in Montreal, Quebec.
SOURCES:
Photo: Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan: Bell Family Collection - Shelagh Whitaker Photo: The original negative for this photos is housed at the McCord Museum, Montreal, and is catalogued as: MP-0000.583.66 | Man with stuffed owl, Calgary, AB, 1893-94 http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/MP-0000.583.66 Biography for R.R. Bruce
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask., and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask. -
1894 - Major Bell's London, England apartment - 33 Wimpole St.
Major Bell's Apartment during his 1894 trip to England. Major and Mrs. Bell stayed at this apartment during their winter of 1893-94 trip to the United Kingdom. Wimpole Street in London was quite well-known for medical clinics and doctors' offices in the 19th century and still is today. Although we don't know who owned it in 1894, two physicians operated out of 33 Wimpole Street at about that time: J.M. Bramwell and R.T. Smith. As this is a five storey building there may have been a doctor's surgery and some holiday flats in the same building.
SOURCES:
"Winnipeg Tribune": Jan. 20. 1894 - "Major Bell,of Indian Head, is in London, Eng.,staying at 33 Wimpole St." "Winnipeg Tribune": March 6, 1894 - "Major Bell, of Indian Head, and Mrs Bell, who are on their way back from England, left for Toronto this morning." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimpole_Street https://archive.org/stream/britishjournalof52roya#page/n13/mode/2up British Journal of Psychiatry, John Milne Bramwell 1875 Richard Thomas Smith,M.D. Physician to the Hospital for Women, Soho Square; 33 Wimpole Street http://www.sullivanthomas.co.uk/property-details/MLB120054/greater-london/w1g/wimpole-street#
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask.