William Van Bell, whose parents were Sarah Elizabeth Powell and Vandemore Bell, was born March 30, 1880, at “Bellview,” Hawkinsville, Ga., the home of his grandparents, Mattie Allen and Joshua Bell. After attending the Hawkinsville public school, he began business as a drug clerk, and later assisted in organizing and conducting the Brown-Bell Pharmacy. Then he engaged in a general insurance business and became a member of the F. H. Bozeman and Company Agency, finally succeeding this company and continuing its business for twenty-two years.
He is a member of the Methodist Church and has served as a trustee. He is also a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and a charter member of the Hawkinsville Country Club, and was one of the organizers and first president of the Ocmulgee Club.
Mr. Bell has served his city as alderman and five times as city tax assessor, and represented his county in the General Assembly at the 1925 session.
In 1915 he married Callie Christie, Dawson, Ga., and with his wife and mother now resides at the place of his birth.