William Samuel Bell was born 22 March 1840 in Henderson Co., Tennessee. He was the son of Leander Bell and Nancy Ann Smith. William married Martha Jane Smith 22 February 1859 in Bolivar, Hardeman Co., Tennessee. They lived in Texas from 1860 to ca. 1868 and by the year 1870 moved to Arkansas. William and Martha were the parents of six children. Ancestors of William immigrated to America from Scotland prior to 1755 and settled in Pennsylvania. Descendants lived primarily in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and elsewhere.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)