Bell Prairie was the plantation home of Henry Falvel Gillette, a native of Connecticut who came to Texas in 1840 at the urging of his cousin Ashbel Smith. Gillette became a noted educator in Harris, Washington, and Polk counties and married Lucinda Maxey of Washington County in 1842. From about 1848 until 1859, the family lived on the plantation of Lucinda's father, William Maxey, in present San Jacinto County, and in 1859 Henry bought property on Galveston Bay and named his plantation home Bell Prairie. The plantation included a two-story brick home, a matching carriage house, slave quarters, and a wharf used for the importation of cattle from England. In addition to operating his plantation, Gillette was superintendent of the Bayland Orphan's Home on nearby Goose Creek and a founding member and worthy master of the Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge. After Henry Gillette's death in 1896, Bell Prairie remained in the family until the mid-20th century; the plantation home was severely damaged in the 1900 hurricane and burned to the ground after being struck by lightning in the 1915 storm.