Biographical Sketch of

Timothy Bedell

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 429 - 430

Timothy Bedell, deceased. Among the prominent early settlers of Green Lake County, who labored with untiring zeal 
for the up building and advancement of the community, none deserve more praise or credit than our subject. He was 
born in Grafton, N. H., Feb 9, 1812 and is the son of Timothy Bedell, a Soldier of the War of 1812. His grandfather 
was Gen. Moody Bedell, who served his country during the struggle for independence and won his title. Timothy Bedell 
married Sybil Lund. He was killed in the war and upon his wife then devolved the care of their two little children. 
At the age of nine years, our subject was thrown upon his own resources and from that time forward made his own way 
in the world. He was bound out to a wheelwright with whom he remained until fourteen years of age, receiving as a 
compensation for his services his board and clothing, the latter being made from the cast-off garments of the older 
members of the family. 

After attaining his majority, Mr. Bedell in 1836, was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Barrington, a native of 
Canada, born Nov 15, 1818. Her mother died when she was a babe of a year, after which she was taken to the home of 
her grandmother with whom she remained until her marriage. The young couple began their domestic life in Grafton, 
N. H., where they remained until the spring of 1851, when they started for Green Lake County, Wis. On the 8th of May, 
they reached their destination, and located on a farm near the Union Church, where a small house had been built and 
thirty acres of land cleared. With characteristic energy he began the development of the home and made one of the best 
farms in the community. He was truly a self-made man, his success being due entirely to his own efforts. He passed 
away May 17, 1885, a respected and honored citizen, and his loss was deeply mourned. In political sentiment Mr. Bedell 
was a stanch supporter of the Democratic Party, but was never a politician in the sense of office seeking. He had come 
to the county when it was almost an unbroken wilderness but lived to see the great transformation and progress which 
placed it in its present advanced position. He was not only a witness but was one of the active participants in the 
development, growth and up building which led to its present prosperity and he certainly deserves to be enrolled among 
its honored pioneers.

Mrs. Bedell still survives her husband and is now living in Markesan, where she has many friends.  They were the parents 
of three children, but only one is now living: Elizabeth J., she was the wife of Nathaniel Dudley and had three children, 
Addie M., Edwin L., and Solon E., Evan R., who married Miss Minnie Wadleigh died at the age of thirty two, leaving two 
children, Timothy H. and Eva, who share the loss of their mother; Esther A., the only living child, is now the wife of J. 
W. Flack of Milwaukee, and unto them have been born three children, Edwin R., Bertie B. and Nellie N. 






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