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 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.


One of a family of seven children, Robert Bedwell was born in Kentucky, and was a small child when he came with his parents across the country to Sullivan county, oftentimes finding the way by means of blazed trees. Growing to manhood, he entered government land in Jefferson township, and having cleared an opening in the dense timber built the log cabin in which his son David was born, riving by hand the boards that covered the roof. There were then neither railways nor canals, and Vincennes was the nearest market and milling point. For a number of years thereafter deer, wolves, panthers and other wild beasts roamed at will in this vicinity and the energetic women of the household were accustomed to card, spin and weave and make all the clothing worn by the members thereof. After clearing a portion of the land he sold out and removed to Cass township, purchasing the land now owned and occupied by his son David M. A few acres of the land had been cleared and a log cabin, with a frame addition, containing one room, had been erected. Continuing his agricultural labors, he resided here until his death, September 3, 1878, in his seventy-third year. He married Rebecca Pitts, who was born in Virginia, and came to Indiana with her parents, Macey and Barbara Pitts, pioneer settlers of Sullivan county. She survived her husband, passing away September 25, 1892, in the eighty-fourth year of her age. Of the fourteen children born of their union, thirteen grew to years of maturity, namely: Elizabeth, Sarah, James, Polly Ann, George, Thomas, Rebecca, Robert, David M., Stephen, Alexander, John W. and Eliza.


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.