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.
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