Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 217.

CHARLES A. BELL

No citizen of the Hood River Valley was more widely or more favorably known than
was the late Charles A. Bell, who attained a large measure of success in his
operation of the Mt. Hood Hotel, at Hood River. A man of initiative ability,
progressive ideas and sound business methods, he was also big hearted and
generous, his kindly disposition and cordial manner winning for him a warm place
in the hearts of all who knew him. Mr. Bell was born at Taymouth, New Brunswick,
Canada, in 1860, and was a son of George and Jane (Norman) Bell, both of whom
died in that country. Mr. Bell was educated in the public schools of his native
town and followed the logging business in Canada until 1878, when he came to the
United States, locating near Duluth, Minnesota. He followed the same line of
work in that vicinity until 1886, when he was sent to Idaho by the North Powder
Lumber Company to break a big log jam in a river, which he successfully
accomplished. He was an expert river man and logger and was highly regarded by
the companies for which he worked. In 1890 he came to Hood River with the Oregon
Lumber Company, being in charge of a large train of oxen and camp equipment, and
during the following years, as foreman of the logging camp, he logged off
several thousand acres of timber on and around Mt. Hood, as well as across the
river in Skamania county, Washington. About 1893 Mr. Bell bought the Mt. Hood
Hotel, in Hood River, which he ran until 1901, when he sold it to C. L. Gilbert
and returned to the Oregon Lumber Company as camp foreman. He remained with that
concern until 1907, when he again bought the Mt. Hood Hotel, running it as it
was until 1912, when he made extensive improvements, building a fine annex of
forty rooms, the new part being of brick and modern in every respect. The hotel
now contains eighty-five rooms and is well equipped for the proper accommodation
of its guests. Mr. Bell continued to give his close attention to the operation
of the hotel up to the time of his death, which occurred April 15, 1925, and he
was more than ordinarily successful in its management.

Mr. Bell was married in 1889, at Pendleton, Oregon, to Miss Roselle Young, who
was born at Taymouth, New Brunswick, Canada, and who died in 1896, leaving a
son, Fred H., who was educated in the grade and high schools of Hood River and
Hill Military Academy at Portland. When the United States entered the World war
he enlisted for service in the artillery of the Forty-first Division, of Idaho
Volunteers, was sent overseas in 1917 and served in France until the close of
the war, after which he spent six months with the Army of Occupation in Germany.
He is a member of Hood River post of the American Legion of which he was
commander in 1921, as well as the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the
Knights of Pythias at Hood River. On November 19, 1907, Mr. Bell was married to
Miss Ola M. Stryker, who was born in Brownsville, Linn county, Oregon, and is a
daughter of Dr. David S. and Celia M. Stryker. Her father, who had received the
degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Scudder Medical College, at Cincinnati,
Ohio, came to Oregon in 1862, making the journey across the plains with ox teams
and covered wagon, and wintered at Boise, Idaho. He brought with him mining
machinery and the equipment for a gristmill, all of which he sold in Boise, and
in 1864 came on to Linn county, Oregon. Locating first at Brownsville, he
practiced medicine there for several years and in 1871 located at Dayton,
Washington, being there during the Indian troubles. Later he moved to Portland,
Oregon, where he continued the practice of his profession to the time of his
death, which occurred in 1899. His wife passed away in 1883. To them were born
six children, as follows: Dr. Stanton, who was a prominent physician in
Portland, was accidentally killed while climbing Mt. Hood, July 17, 1927; Mrs.
Ola M. Bell; Dr. George, who lives in California; Guy, of Portland, Oregon; Ray,
who is a practicing dentist in Los Angles, California, and Mrs. George
Wissinger, of Milwaukie, Oregon. All of these children were educated in
Willamette University, at Salem. Dr. Stryker was a prominent member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Bell and her
stepson, Fred H. Bell, are continuing the operation of the Mt. Hood Hotel,
which ranks among the leading hotels of this part of the state and has become a
favorite stopping place for the many tourists who annually visit this section of
the country.

Mr. Bell was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks. He was greatly interested in the welfare and progress
of his community, having served on the city council and the school board, and no
measure was proposed for the advancement or betterment of the city or county but
received his hearty support. He never turned a needy person away from his hotel
and many less fortunate than he were the beneficiaries of his kindness and
generosity. He gave food and money generously but he was entirely
unostentatious. in his giving and desired no credit for it. He was one of those
noble souls who do good for the joy of the act, and not for the hope of any
reward or praise. He was a friend to all men and all who knew him were his
friends, and his death was regarded as a distinct loss to the community which
had been honored by his residence.



Submitted to the OR. Bios Project in September 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. 
The submitter has no further information on the individual featured in the
biography.