Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Bedford, John 1828 - 1880
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 5:00 pm

Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

JOHN BEDFORD, deceased, was a worthy member of the farming community of 
Plainfield Township, and during his busy career he was active in advancing its 
material interests, and we are pleased to be able to place this brief outline 
of his life on the pages of this volume. A native of Lincolnshire, England, he 
was born September 28, 1828, his father, bearing the same name, also being a 
native of England, and was there bred to farming pursuits and spent his entire 
life on his native soil. Our subject was reared to an agricultural life, and 
resided in the land of his birth until 1852. Then in the prime of a vigorous, 
self-reliant manhood, he set out for the New World, trying to see what life 
held for him in this land of promise, embarking at Liverpool in the month of 
March on the sailing-vessel "Lady Ashburton." He landed in New York and came 
directly to Illinois, where he thought he would be most likely to prosper as a 
farmer. He found employment on a farm in Will County, and was engaged there 
for some time. In 1855 he returned to his old home, and in the same year was 
married to Miss Ann Foulston, a native of Lincolnshire, England. Her father, 
John Foulston, was born in Nottinghamshire, his father, of the same name, 
being a native of the same shire, where he carried on farming until his death. 
Mrs. Bedford's father was reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits, 
spending his entire life in the land of his birth. The maiden name of his wife 
was Elizabeth Nicholson. They were the parents of eleven children, four of 
whom came to America—George, now deceased, resided in Illinois some years; 
James, lived in Canada some years, spending the latter part of his life in 
Manitoba; Francis came to Illinois and has since died; Charles lives in this 
county. In March, 1856, our subject again set sail for America, embarking on 
the vessel "Neptune," accompanied by his young bride, whom he was bringing 
with him to assist in the upbuilding of a home in his adopted country. Six 
weeks later they landed in New York, and came to Illinois and located at 
Lockport. Our subject was there engaged as an engineer, running a stationary 
engine for a few years. He then resumed the occupation to which he had been 
bred. In 1876 he bought the farm where his family now resides. This contains 
ninety-two acres of finely-cultivated land, provided with substantial 
buildings and every necessary improvement. It is very fertile, and is finely 
located four miles from Plainfield and eight miles from Joliet. Ere he had 
attained to old age, and while it seemed as though he had many years of 
usefulness before him, his honorable career was cut short by his untimely 
death, March 28, 1880. A man of sterling integrity, whose every day life bore 
testimony to the inherent uprightness of his character, by his demise the 
township lost one of its most respected and trustworthy citizens; his family a 
good husband and faithful father, who was always kind and considerate, and his 
neighbors, one who was always helpful in his relations with them. He deserved 
the prosperity that followed, his work, as he labored conscientiously and 
perseveringly, and exercised sound judgment and due discretion in all his 
dealings. In his wife, who survives him, he always found a faithful and ready 
assistant, one to whose aid he was greatly indebted for the coziness and 
comfort of a good home. To them were born four children—Albert F., who lives 
with his mother; Walter S., who resides in Joliet; Lizzie J., who is in St. 
Louis; and Sarah J. at home. The family occupies a good social position, and 
all are attendants at the Episcopal Church. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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