William Brown Bell (1879 - 1950)

Born 16 Feb 1879 in Stroudsburg, Monroe, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 20 Dec 1950 at age 71 in Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, French Morocco

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Biography

William was a Friend (Quaker)

"For those of us who have come to have a sincere respect for the Society of Friends, William Bell seems to have epitomized the strengths and virtues of the Quaker religion." - Kenneth C. Towe^[1]

William was born 16 Feb 1879 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania the youngest son of Thomas Alsop Bell and Elizabeth Dunn Bell.^[2][3]

He attended Haverford College, received an MA in political science and an LL.B. from Columbia University and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1903. He was later personal counsel to James B. Duke, assistant to the president of American Cyanamid and then in 1922 became President of American Cyanamid where he planned and implemented extensive vertical diversification. He was instrumental in bringing to light the shortcomings of the National Recovery Act, a main component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. His view that the Act was unconstitutional was later adpoted by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Schechter Poultry Corp case^[1] Roosevelt's court packing legislation was in response to Schechter's holding.

His public service included Trustee of Haverford College, trustee of several charitable and educational trusts, numerous posts with the National Association of Manufacturers, two years as Finance Committee chair of the Republican National Committee, Director of the Guaranty Trust Company of New York, and so forth.^[1]

He married Susan Kite Alsop, daughter of Samuel Alsop and Esther Kite Alsop, 7 Nov 1903 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[4][5]

He passed away from a heart attack on 20 Dec 1950 in Marrakech, French Morocco^[6] and was returned to the United States for interment at Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, New Jersey.^[7]

Children

• William Brown II - 27 Feb 1905(?) - 27 Feb 1905^[8]
• Philip Alsop - 1905 - 1905
• Helen Griscom b 19 Dec 1906^[9], d May 1983, m Alan David Hole Jr

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Towe, Kenneth C., William Brown Bell, Quaker-Laywer-Business Leader, "Molding the Future through Chemistry", The Newcomen Society of England in North America, New York, 1953
2. ↑ Hinshaw, William Wade. William Wade Hinshaw's Index to Unpublished Quaker Records. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College. Monthly Meeting: Frankford Monthly Meeting; Archive Reference: EE 138
3. ↑ Passport Application, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 2155; Volume #: Roll 2155 - Certificates: 239476-239849, 27 Dec 1922-29 Dec 1922
4. ↑ Quaker Periodicals, Haverford College; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The American Friend; Volumes: 1903 Jan - 1903 Dec (Vol 10)
5. ↑ Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
6. ↑ The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, 21 Dec 1950, Page 1
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #203389785
8. ↑ New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948, Certificate Number: 7014
9. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania (State). Birth certificates, 1906–1913; Box Number: 57; Certificate Number 168793