Biography

02/18/1822 - 11/15/1908

William Peter Schell (D19) Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset Counties 1858-1860

Early Life:

William Peter Schell, born February 18, 1822, Schellsburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania; son of Peter and Eleanor Statler Schell; Marshall College (merged with Franklin College to become Franklin and Marshall College, 1853) studied law; admitted, Bedford County Bar, 1845; attorney; admitted, Fulton County Bar, 1851; district attorney, Fulton County, 1851; married, Margaretta T. Reamer Schell, children, Harry W., Ettie T., Frank R., Nancy (Nannie) Reamer, Oswald H., William P., Jr.; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1852-1853, elected, 75th Speaker, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1853 session; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1858-1860; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1877- resigned, May 3, 1878; died, November 15, 1908 (aged 86), Bedford County, Pennsylvania; interment, Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

Authored:

Schell, William Peter. The Annals of Bedford County, Pennsylvania: Consisting of Condensed Sketches of the Most Important Events which Occurred During the Century from January 1750-1850, (1907).

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Bedford, Fulton, and Cambria Counties, 1852-1853; January 4, 1853, elected, 75th Speaker, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1853 session; Act 141 established a permanent office of State Printer. The House initiated publication of the debates held on the floor of the House in addition to the House Journals that were already published. These volumes came to be known as the Legislative Record and the Legislative Journal.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 19th district, Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset Counties, 1858-1860.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1877- resigned, May 3, 1878

Elected, Pennsylvania Auditor General, 1878-1880.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

William P. Schell - PA House of Representatives - PA House of Representatives (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Schellsburg, Pennsylvania, founded by his grandfather, John Schell.

Father, Peter Schell, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Bedford County, 1820-1823.

First person admitted, Fulton County Bar, 1851.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

William Peter Schell (1822-1908) - Find a Grave Memorial