Sixth Generation

200. Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell^85,139 was born on 20 Jul 1841 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.^5,139,297 He died on 4 Feb 1920 in Friendship, Crockett County, Tennessee.^5,139,298 He was buried in 1920 in Elizabeth Cemetery, Crockett County, Tennessee.²⁹⁹ He was a Methodist Circuit Rider, a school teacher, a farmer, and a wagonmaker. He served in the military in the in Co. C, 41st Tennessee infantry, CSA.²⁹³

• LAJ Bedwell was a Methodist Circuit Rider. In _Life On Sunny Heights Farm_, a self-published book of reminisence by his grand daughter, Erin Bedwell Leggett, she recalls his saddle bags containing a hymn book, a Bible and a change of clothing. She also recalls how she "fidgeted about during his sermons and thought he could pray longer than anyone." According to Mrs. Leggett, there were a total of seventeen children, including a set of twins.

• King, p. 11, says: "Mr. Bedwell was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church in several counties and West Tennessee districts of that church. The first entry of the record of his assignments reads: '1867 Admitted on trial in Tennessee Mission Conference; appointed to Springfield District, Indian Creek Charge'. Thirty five assignments later the record reads: '1902 Central Tennessee Conference, Withdrawn. Rev. Bedwell served in the Civil War."

• 1860 Census for Lincoln County, Tennessee shows L.A.J. Bedwell, 18, a "waggon maker", living in the household of his parents, M.M. and Polly Bedwell.

• 1870 Census for Hardin County, Tennessee, taken June 27. 1870, shows Leven Bidwell, 29, a school teacher, as head of household containing: Mary, 30; Joseph, 7; Mary, 6; Robert, 4; and Major J., 10/12. All were born in Tennessee except Mary, who was born in Illinois.

• 1880 Census for Carroll County, Tennessee shows Leven A. Bedwell (incorrectly shown as Bedmell in the ancestry.com index), 38, a "Minister of the Gospel", as head of household with: wife Mary F., 32; son Joseph A., 22, works on farm; daughter Mary M., 15; son Robert L., 13, works on farm; son Major I., 11, at school; daughter Elizie M., 6; son John L., 2; and son William E., 10/12 (born July 1879).

• 1900 Census for Crockett County, Tennessee shows Leven Bedwell, born July 1841, a farmer who owns his land, as head of household with: Mary F., born May 1848, his wife of 27 years who has had eleven children with ten still living; son Steven H., born June 1883, a farm laborer; son James C., born Mar 1884, a farm laborer; daughter Dora A., born May 1885; daughter Frances J., born (illegible); son Willard W., born (illegible); and daughter Flora B., born Aug 1891. All were born in Tennessee.

• 1910 Census for Crockett County, Tennessee shows LAJ Bedwell as "Elwin A. Bedwell". It seems likely that the census taker didn't understand the name Levan and turned it into something more common. He is listed as a 67 year old farmer. Also in the household are his wife of 38 years, Mary F., 60; son Willard W., 20; and grandson Liston A., 11. Daughter Frances J. and family live next door.

• 1920 Census for Madison County, Tennessee shows L.A. Bedwell, 71, living in the household of daughter Fannie Paschal and her three kids.

Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell and Mary Emaline Stewart were married on 24 May 1861 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.³⁰⁰ Mary Emaline Stewart^5,139,301 (daughter of A. J. Stewart and Melissa Jones) was born on 26 May 1840 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.³⁰¹ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Savannah, Hardin County, Tennessee.³⁰² She died on 25 Oct 1871 in Hardin County, Tennessee.^297,301

Mary probably died in Hardin County, Tennessee. Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell and Mary Emaline Stewart had the following children:

+704	i.	Joseph Asbury Bedwell.
+705	ii.	Mary Melissa Bedwell.
+706	iii.	Robert Leven Bedwell.
+707	iv.	Major Irvin Bedwell.

Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell and Mary Frances Spearman were married on 25 Jan 1872 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.¹³⁹ Mary Frances Spearman⁵ (daughter of James Spearman and Mary A. Poindexter) was born on 26 May 1848 in Shiloh, Tennessee.^5,303 She died on 5 Dec 1915 in Friendship, Crockett County, Tennessee.³⁰⁴ She was buried in Elizabeth Cemetery, Crockett County, Tennessee.¹³⁹ Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell and Mary Frances Spearman had the following children:

+708	i.	Elizabeth May Bedwell.
+709	ii.	Katherine Meranda (Kate) Bedwell.
+710	iii.	John Levan Andrew Bedwell.
711	iv.	William Ephraim (Willie) Bedwell305,306 was born on 17 Jul 1879 in Tennessee.305 He died on 16 Nov 1880 in Carroll County, Tennessee.307 He was buried in Palmer Shelter Cemetery, Huntingdon, Carroll County, Tennessee.307 • He is probably the "BEDWELL, Willie July 17, 1879 - November 16, 1880" found in the Palmer Shelter, Carroll County, Tennessee, cemetary. The family was was living in Carroll County at the time of the June 1880 census, and son William E. was shown as having been born in July 1879. King's book shows his birth-death dates as 1879-1880.
+712	v.	Elbert Priest Bedwell.
+713	vi.	Stephen Horace Bedwell.
+714	vii.	James Clark Bedwell.
+715	viii.	Dora Ann Bedwell.
+716	ix.	Frances Jane (Fannie) Bedwell.
+717	x.	Willard Wesley Bedwell.
718	xi.	Flora Bell Bedwell306,308 was born on 5 Aug 1891 in Tennessee. She died when struck by lightning on 1 Jul 1907.306 Struck by lightning, died as a child. [Source Ray H. Bedwell]

Rev. Levan Andrew Jackson (L.A.J.) Bedwell and Minerva [--?--] were married on 4 Jan 1917 in Crockett County, Tennessee.³⁰⁹