Frank Bell 1840 – 1927
Early pioneer of both the telegraph and telephone. He was builder of the first telegraph lines across the Sierra’s from Placerville to Genoa then on to Virginia City. He also had the distinction of telegraphing Nevada’s Constitution to President Lincoln prior to Nevada becoming a state in 1864.
Frank Bell served as the sixth governor of Nevada from September – December 1890. A mason.
Regarding Frank Bell. Born in Toronto, Canada on January 28, 1840, Frank Bell came to Nevada when he was supervising the construction of a transcontinental telegraph through Nevada in 1858 to 1860. He was one of the operators to telegraph Nevada’s Constitution to Washington, D.C. in 1864. Bell served as Acting-Governor when Governor Stevenson signed a disability certificate on September 1, 1890 until the inauguration of Governor Colcord. He was the first foreign born governor of the state. Bell died in his daughter’s home in Oakland on February 13, 1927.
Location. 39° 18.418′ N, 119° 39.054′ W. On C Street (Nevada Route 341), on the right when traveling south. At or near this postal address: 372 C Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America.