BIOGRAPHIES - BEDFORD, Benjamin Franklin Sr., Bourbon County, Kentucky From: Bob Francis http://www.shawhan.com Date: 07 Feb 2000 The biographies are taken primarily from William Perrin's "The History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky" and E. Polk Johnson's "The History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," Vol. III. Many Bourbon County, Kentucky, researchers have pointed out mistakes and they are notated. Name: Benjamin Franklin BEDFORD Sr. _________________________________________ Birth: August 23, 1830, Bourbon County, Kentucky Death: October 28, 1897, Bourbon County, Kentucky Age: 67 Burial: Paris Cemetery, Paris, Kentucky Occupation: Farmer Father: Benjamin Coleman BEDFORD (1807-1876) Mother: Caroline B. MORAN (1812-) Spouses _________________________________________ 1: Elizabeth Quisenberry “Bettie” EVANS Birth: September 1837, Kentucky Death: April 24, 1925 Age: 87 Burial: Paris Cemetery, Paris, Kentucky Father: Silas EVANS Mother: Parmelia QUISENBERRY Marriage: September 23, 1859 Children: Caroline Moran “Carrie” (1860-1936); Silas Evans (1863-1946); Richard Edward (1867-1928); Benjamin Franklin (1869-1930) BENJAMIN F. BEDFORD,1 farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Paris; the proprietor of “Sweet Valley” farm; was born August 23d, 1830, in this precinct, on the farm now owned by John T. Woodford. The father of our subject was Benjamin Coleman Bedford; he married Caroline B. Moran, daughter of Edward B. and Letitia (Clay) Moran, both natives of Bourbon County. The father of our subject was born Aug. 17th, 1807, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Patsey Clay, which was first settled by Littleberry Bedford, the grandfather of Benjamin F. Two children were born to Benjamin C. Bedford and wife, of whom Benjamin F. is the eldest; Edward L., the younger brother, died in his 19th year. Benjamin C. was twice married; his second wife was Ann M. Garrard, born in this precinct, daughter of Gen. James Garrard. This union was crowned with four sons and two daughters, viz: Jephthah T., James, Thomas, Alpheus L., Nancy and Margaret; of the above, Jephthah and Thomas reside in Missouri; Alpheus located in Texas; James died, aged nineteen; both the girls,reside in Illinois, Macon County; Margaret married J. H. Pickrell, a prominent farmer and short-horn man; Nancy resides in Harristown, wife of Dr. J. L. Conelly. After the marriage of Benjamin C. Bedford, he located on the farm adjoining the homestead, where he remained but a short time, when he removed near Paris on the Houston, to a place settled by Johnnie Hamilton. Here he lived until 1865, when he located in Monroe County, Mo., but remained there but two years, then moved to Harristown, Ill., where he spent the remainder of his days, passing to his rest in 1877, having for many years been a consistent member of the Christian Church; was received into the church by Elder John A. Gano; and a member of the Masonic Order. He was for many years engaged in raising blooded stock, and encouraged by example and precept the growth and propagation of short-horn cattle: In 1833, by the death of his mother, Benjamin F. was left motherless at an early age. At the age of nineteen he embarked in business upon his own account; several of his boyhood years being spent with G. M. Moran, afterwards making his home at his father’s. Sept. 6th, 1859, he formed a matrimonial alliance with Bettie Evans, born in Athens Precinct, Fayette County, daughter of Silas and Parmelia (Quisenberry), both natives of Kentucky. Silas was a son of Richard and Sarah Pullum. Ten children were born to Silas Evans, of whom eight grew to maturity. Silas Evans was born Sept. 4th, 1820, and died 1878., April 11th; his wife was born 1819, died Sept. 28th, 1858; both were members of the Baptist Church. Since 1859 Mr. Bedford has been a resident of the farm he now owns, consisting of 392 acres; original settler was Washington Kennedy. Mr. Bedford, since 1860, has been engaged in the breeding and growth of short-horns, of which he has a large herd. Has four children, Carrie M., Silas E., Richard E. and Benjamin F. Sources 1. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed. by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. pp. 449-450. ------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.