Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Mr. Bates employs about five men on an
average.
In politics, Mr. Bates is a Democrat,
actively interested in all public affairs, yet
does not seek to hold public office. Fra-
ternally, he is a member of Jerusalem
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and
of the New England Order of Protection.
Mr. Bates married Juliette Dimon,
daughter of Seeley Dimon, of Easton,
Connecticut. Their children are : I.Jen-
nie L, wife of Theodore E. Soderlund, a
native of Sweden. 2. Frederick D., married
Evelyn McAllister. 3. Viola F., mar-
ried William G. Abendroth, and they re-
side in Christobal, Panama, Canal Zone,
and have three children : Dorothy Bates,
Viola Helen, and William G., Jr. 4. John
S., Jr., resides in Bridgeport; married Mildred
G. Ayrault, and has two sons : John
S., 3d, and Walter. 5. Flora Mildred, mar-
ried Charles H. Bath, and resides in Chris-
tobal, Panama Canal Zone; he has three
children : Mildred Jennie, Charles H., Jr.,
and Flora Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Bates
are members of the Second Methodist
Episcopal Church, of Norwalk.
BELL, Captain Charles W.,
Oyster Planter, Legislator.
An important factor in the business in-
terests of Norwalk, Connecticut, is the
oyster industry. One of the pioneers in
this industry is Captain Charles W. Bell,
a scion of an early Colonial family. The
Bell family was founded by Francis Bell,
who was in Stamford as early as 1641.
Captain Bell's grandfather, Isaac Bell,
was born in Stamford, and was a black-
smith. He helped to make the chain that
was stretched across the Hudson river
at West Point in the Revolution. Mr.
Bell married a Quakeress, whose surname
was Clark, and subsequently went to live
on his wife's homestead, where he re-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
'65
mained as long as he lived. The place
has always borne the name of the Union
Farm.
Isaac (2) Bell, son of Isaac (1) Bell,
was born in Cornwall, New York, and
learned the trade of harness and saddle-
maker. At one time he was in business
for himself, and was located in Horse-
heads, New York. In his younger days
he followed the water, sailing up and
down the Hudson in a market sloop, and
later he gave up his saddlery business to
join his brother in sailing freighting craft
on the Hudson. He was thus engaged for
many years, until one unfortunate day
he was drowned opposite Sing Sing, New
York. Mr. Bell married Rachel Wandell,
daughter of Jacob Wandell, of New Wind-
sor, New York. The latter was proprie-
tor of a line of sloops, and was dockowner
there. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were the
parents of three children, two of whom
grew to maturity. They were: 1. Eliz-
abeth Ann, deceased, wife of John Mitch-
ell ; she was a resident of Friar Point,
Mississippi. 2. Charles W., of further
mention. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Captain Charles W. Bell, son of Isaac
(2) and Rachel (Wandell) Bell, was born
April 4, 1836, in New Windsor, near Cornwall,
New York, and was less than two
years of age when his father was drowned.
He was reared in New York City by an
uncle, and when he was about eight years
old, ran away with a cousin of the same
age. At that time the family were living
in Columbia street, New York City. The
lads hid aboard a Newburgh barge, and
went to sleep on a coil of rope. When
they reached Newburgh, they slipped
ashore and walked to the home of Cap-
tain Bell's people in Cornwall. Later
they went to City Island, New York, and
there two uncles of Captain Bell were
established in the oyster business. They