La Marque in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Frank Bell Jr.
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, February 2, 2008
1. Frank Bell Jr. Marker
Frank Bell Jr. (1893–1963) was the son of early La Marque settlers Flavery and Frank Bell, Sr. Although he received little formal education, he was able to achieve business success and became a respected civic leader in La Marque’s African American community.
Bell served in the U. S. Army during World War I and later was stationed in this area. He retired from the army and began working in the oil industry in Texas City. In 1938 he began a real estate career with the purchase of land in La Marque which he and partner Will Mentor subdivided into residential lots. As a partner in the B A & P Realty Company Bell helped develop a number of residential subdivisions in La Marque’s African American communities in the 1940s.
Bell gained a reputation for fairness in his real estate dealings and as owner of a neighborhood store and gas station. A behind-the-scenes force in local affairs, he served on Galveston County’s Negro Chamber of Commerce and was often referred to as La Marque's unofficial African American mayor.
Bell played a vital role in the creation of Carver Park and in obtaining needed funds to
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Erected 1995 by Texas Historical Commission on the Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845–1995. (Marker Number 65.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.
Location. 29° 22.118′ N, 94° 58.303′ W. Marker is in La Marque, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of Cedar Drive and Bayou Road, on the right when traveling west on Cedar Drive. Marker located in NE corner of intersection of Cedar and Bayou Road. You can see the marker when standing on the East side of Bayou road looking West down Cedar. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 Bayou Rd, La Marque TX 77568, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. La Marque (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1887 Frank Sr. and Flavilla Bell House (approx. one mile away); Settlement Community (approx. one mile away); 1926 Frank, Jr. and Ollie Caldwell Bell House (approx. one mile away); The 1867 Settlement Historic District (approx. one mile away); Paul's Union Church
Photographed By Jim Evans, February 9, 2012
2. Frank Bell Jr. Marker
The marker is located in front of La Marque City Hall. It faces away from the street
Photographed By Jim Evans, February 9, 2012
3. Frank Bell Jr.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,778 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on February 3, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
