George W. Bell (Former Slave, Served with Union Army and Settled in Waukegan)-- Part 1

One of the people buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Waukegan is George W. Bell and has been featured in the well-known annual Cemetery Walk.

He was born into slavery in Tennessee and captured by the Union Army during the Civil War and served with the army.  In the 1880s he and his family moved to Waukegan, becoming one of the first permanent black families to live there.

He is buried on Oakwood Cemetery.  Born 16 October 1816  Died 6 December 1910.

--Old Secesh