Eighth Generation

1037. Rev. David M. Bedwell^143,985 was born on 24 Feb 1845 in Sullivan County, Indiana.⁴¹¹ He died in 1927. He was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Sullivan County, Indiana.

From A History of Sullivan County, Indiana, Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor, Vol II, The Lewis Publishing Company, New York, page 160:

"DAVID M. BEDWELL.--Distinguished not only for the honored pioneer ancestry
from which he is sprung, but for his services as a volunteer soldier during the late Civil war, and as an excellent representative of the successful agriculturists of Cass township, David M. Bedwell is eminently deserving of special mention in this work. A native of Sullivan county, Indiana, he was born February 24, 1845, a son of Robert Bedwell, and a grandson of Thomas Bedwell, both of Indiana pioneers. Born, bred and married in Kentucky, Thomas Bedwell came from there to Indiana in early days, settling in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, where both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Holston, spent their remaining years.

... (see notes for father Robert Bedwell)

"Obtaining a practical education in the old log schoolhouse, with its home-made
furniture, David M. Bedwell began as a boy to assist his father on the farm,
continuing thus employed until ready to establish a home of his own. Beginning
then to farm for himself, he rented land and was busily employed in its cultivation until the early part of 1864. In February of that year he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and went south with his regiment, being with his comrades in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Being taken ill at Huntsville, Alabama, he was taken first to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, and after his discharge from that institution was granted a furlough of thirty days. Going then to Indianapolis to join his regiment, he was sent to New York city, thence by boat to Morehead City, North Carolina, and from there to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he joined his command. Marching then with the "boys" to Washington, he took part in the Grand Review, and was subsequently honorably discharged with his regiment. Returning home Mr. Bedwell resumed his agricultural labors, and on the death of his father succeeded to the ownership of the parental homestead, a part of which he had previously purchased. Here he has since carried on general farming with ability and success, and his added improvements have been of the best.

"Mr. Bedwell married in October, 1863, Emma Shepherd, who was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, a daughter of Eli and Lucy Shepherd, pioneers of Hamilton township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bedwell, namely: Carl, Burt, Ollie and Freddie. Carl married Alice Birch, and they have three children, Willie, Gladys and Jesse. Burt married Sarah Borders, and they are the parents of four children, Evert, Nora, Hazel and Theresa. Ollie, wife of Joseph Vaughn, has three children, Clarence, Alta and Harold. Politically Mr. Bedwell is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican Party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church."

• 1880 Census for Cass Township, Sullivan County, Indiana shows David Bedwell, age 34, a farmer, and his family: wife Emma, age 33; daughter Eravis, age 11; and son William, born Oct 1879.

Rev. David M. Bedwell and Emma Shepherd were married in Oct 1863. Emma Shepherd (daughter of Eli Shepherd and Lucy ?) was born about 1847 in Sullivan County, Indiana.³⁹⁷ She died in 1918 in Sullivan County, Indiana.⁴⁵⁴ She was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Sullivan County, Indiana. Rev. David M. Bedwell and Emma Shepherd had the following children:

+2811	i.	Carl William (Rabbit) Bedwell.
+2812	ii.	Bert Elmer Bedwell.
+2813	iii.	Ollie Mae Bedwell.
+2814	iv.	Rev. Fred Pearl Bedwell.