HENRY BEDELL, deceased, formerly occupied a prominent position among the extensive landowners and successful stockraisers of Padua Township. He was born in Greene County, N. Y., May 9, 1806, and departed this life at his home in Padua Township, this county, March 21, 1884.

He was the son of William Bedell, also a native of the Empire State, who spent his entire life in Greene County, where he followed agriculture for many years and then retired from active labor to enjoy the fruits of his early industry. He lived to an advanced age, dying in Athens, N. Y.

The mother died when her son, Henry, was but a youth. He started out early in life to do for himself and after arriving to years of manhood was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Searles, of New Baltimore Township, Greene County, N. Y., their wedding occurring on the 29th of January, 1840. Mrs. B. also was born in Greene County, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1814. After marriage the young people settled in their native county and there their seven children were born: Hannah J. became the wife of George W. Bingham, a farmer of Blue Mound Township, this county; William S. married Miss Cornelia A. Rowley, and is carrying on a farm in Padua Township; Caleb S., who married Miss Delia Brown, of Padua Township, owns and operates an eighty acre farm but lives upon the old homestead with his mother, cultivating also a part of this; Palmer, unmarried, is farming in Nebraska; Lawrence L. is located on a farm of fifty-three acres in Padua Township, having been married to Miss Estelle C. Fuller; Henry, Jr., married Miss Anna Horine, and is carrying on agriculture on his own homestead of fifty-five acres in Padua Township; Philena C. married Andrew T. Dorland, and lives in Nebraska.

Mr. Bedell came with his family to Padua Township in 1801, and established a permanent homestead upon which he remained until his death. The homestead consists of 320 acres of finely cultivated land, a handsome and commodious residence and all the buildings necessary to the completion of a first-class, modern farm estate.

Mr. B. was an active member of the Society of Friends and in politics a stanch Republican. He in all respects fulfilled the duties of a good citizen and assisted materially in building up the business and agricultural interests of this section.

Portrait and biographical album of McLean County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of the United States.  (Chicago:  Chapman Brothers, 1887), 253.  Transcribed by Judy Rosella Edwards.