Biography

Doctor, real estate and industrial developer born at Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Dr William Bell, a London physician. He emigrated to Colorado (1867-1890) where met his business partner General W.J. Palmer (1836-1908) and together they undertook the Kansas Pacific Survey. Bell's botanical collections begin from this time. W.A. Bell was involved in the founding of several towns in Colorado including Manitou Springs where he built his home, Briarhurst Mansion, and founded a mountain resort and spa for easterners afflicted with consumption and asthma. He had many business interests including the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, the Colorado Cheese Company in Wet Mountain Valley and he was a Vice-President of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Road.