Maurice Bedaline’s biography, Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb 
Archives.  

 



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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY
PAGE 162
PHOTO OF MR AND MRS MAURICE BEDAINE

MAURICE BEDAINE

Maurice Bedaine, who is interested in general agricultural pursuits on section 9, 
Watertown Township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, was born 
in Ohio, on the 8th of January 1853, his parents being John and Mary (Carey)
Bedaine, both of whom were natives of France. The paternal grandfather also bore 
the name of John Bedaine and came to America one year prior to the emigration of 
his son John. The latter took up his abode in Brown county, Ohio, prior to his
marriage and in 1859 removed with his family to Lawrence County, Illinois, where 
both he and his wife passed away.

Maurice Bedaine was reared to the occupation of farming, no event of special 
importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. 
He acquired his education in the public schools and throughout his entire life was 
carried on general agricultural pursuits. From a comparatively early age he 
depended entirely upon his own resources and whatever success he has attained is 
attributable entirely to his own labor and enterprise. In 1880 he was married to 
Miss Josephine Kenley, a daughter of James Kenley, of Clay County, Illinois, and 
they have become the parents of six children: Mary J., James B., Henry S., Carrie 
J., Frank and Veda D.

In 1892 Mr. Bedaine removed from Champaign County, Illinois to Clinton County, 
Michigan, and settled on section 9, Watertown Township, where he purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of land of Samuel Clark. In 1905 he built a new barn
forty by sixty-four feet and forty-five feet from the ground to the peak. It is a 
model structure, being the best basement barn ever built in Watertown Township. 
There is a cement basement wall under the entire structure and the building is 
valued at fifteen hundred dollars. Since coming to this place Mr. Bedaine has 
cleared away the rush and carried forward the farm up to a high state of 
cultivation and now has one of the best properties of the township.

A democrat in his political views, Mr. Bedaine has never sought or desired office, 
serving only in connection with the schools, filling the positions of trustee and 
director, acting in the latter capacity at the present time. He has also been path 
master. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodman of America. In his 
business career he has worked hard and surmounted many obstacles and has so 
directed his labors that as the years have gone by he has won a good property that 
is the visible evidence of his life of thrift, perseverance and diligence.

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