Of the old-time residents of San Mateo county, none was better or more favorably known than the late Frank Bell, who during his active years was prominently identified with the hotel business at San Gregorio. The business has been carried on by Mrs. Ellen R. Bell, his widow. Mr. Bell was born in San Francisco on the 8th of August, 1855, and was a member of an old pioneer family. His parents were James Walker and Jane (Dickson) Bell, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and of Scottish parentage. They were married on the Emerald Isle. After coming to the United States they started on the long journey across the plains to California, arriving in 1849. They first located in Sacramento, here they bought property on what is now K Street. They were twice flooded and once burned out, and soon after the latter event they went to San Francisco where Bell again bought property. For awhile he ran a dairy, which he later exchanged for a ranch in San Mateo County, since known as the Bell ranch at Bellvale. At that time this section of the county was very wild, and it was not an uncommon thing for bears to come up to the farmyard and steal pigs from the pens. Mr. Bell developed a good farm and he gave his efforts and means for the improvement and development of the neighborhood. He built a long schoolhouse on his property and gave it to the county. He paid and boarded the first district teacher. He was influential in securing the establishment of a postoffice, which was named Bellvale in his honor. He was one of the leading members of his community to the time of his death at the age of eighty-one years. His widow passed away at the advanced age of ninety-six years, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emma Sears, in San Francisco. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born eight children, namely: Mrs. Emma Sears of San Francisco; Mrs. Mary Roe of San Gregorio; James and George of Redwood City; Mrs. Tillie White, Dickson, William, and Frank, who are deceased.

Frank Bell was reared and educated in San Francisco, and later lived on the home ranch in San Mateo county. He entered into a partnership with Jesse Palmer and bought the old San Gregorio House, which they ran together for some years and after Mr. Palmer's retirement, Mr. Bell ran it until his death.

In 1893 Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Ellen R. Palmer, who was born at the old Mountain Mill, near Woodside, San Mateo County, and was the daughter of Jesse and Emily (Osborne) Palmer, both of whom were natives of England. Mr. Palmer came to San Mateo County in the early '60's and worked for the McEvoys at Redwood City for some time. Later he returned to England and was married, after which he brought his bride on the long journey to Redwood City. He went to work at Mountain Mill, near Woodside, but later moved to La Honda, where he became foreman of Hanson's Mill, living there until the terrible epidemic of diphtheria in the early '80's, when he left and located in San Gregorio, where he soon took over the old San Gregorio House in partnership with Frank Bell. He died in December, 1920.

To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were born seven children, two died in infancy, while four died during the diphtheria epidemic at La Honda, leaving Mrs. Bell the only surviving child. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born Lottie Jane, who died at the age of fourteen years; Frank Palmer, who served in the Aviation Corps of the United States Army during the World War; Richard Osborne, who graduated from the University of California and is practicing law in Redwood City; and Jack Walter, who is a graduate of the high school at Half Moon Bay.

The San Gregorio House, or the Bell Hotel, was built in the early '60's and is one of the old land marks of San Gregorio. While wiring the hotel in recent years, it was necessary to open some of the walls, which were found to be lined with newspapers, some of which contained much interesting matter, including the names of men conscripted for service in the Civil War. The hotel has been in possession of the Palmers and Bells for over forty years and in early days it was a station for the stage coaches and hunting and fishing parties which came to this locality. On the old registers in possession of Mrs. Bell are the names of many prominent people, including early county and state officials, society people from the East, members of the nobility from Europe, and other distinguished persons who visited the coast in pioneer days. Mrs. Bell has always been deeply interested in the civic affairs of her community and is a charter member of Ano Nuevo Parlor, N. D. G. W., at Pescadero. Representing two of the prominent old pioneer families of this locality, in which she has spent practically her entire life, she is widely known and commands the respect and friendship of all who know her.