Biographical Sketch of Alexander M. Bedford - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

**********************************************************************

Alexander M. Bedford, subject of the following sketch, resides in Empire
Township, Andrew County, MO. He was born in Breckinridge County, KY.,
March 30, 1828, and is the son of John Bedford and Elizabeth Howard.
The father was born in Nelson County, KY., in 1798.  He engaged in 
farming and trading, was a very kind and generous man, and was 
universally respcted by those who knew him.  The mother was born in
Breckinridge County, KY., about 1804.  They were married July 22, 1823
and reared four sons and two daughters.  They both died in Meade County,
KY; he on January 4, 1838; she on June 26, 1848.  Of the children,
Alexander M. was the third.  His parents died when he was a small boy,
and he was intrusted to the care of an aunt, who gave him a fair
education in the country schools of Kentucky.  He has followed farming
as a vocation with the exception of two years' merchandising.  Although
he began the battle of life without capital, he has been very successful in
business, and is now one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of his
county.  November 4, 1851, he was united in marriage with Mary E.
Selecman, daughter of Henry W. Selecman.  They have four sons and
five daughters.  The eldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, is the wife of
A. D. Kent, living near Bolckow.  They have two children living and
two deceased.  Mr. Bedford's eldest son, William H., is married and has
two children, each of whom have a half section of land.  John T., the
second boy, is living with his family near King City, where he owns 280
acres.  George E. and wife have three sons and a daughter; he farms on 
362 acres near Whitesville.  Mattie A. married W.S. Wells, one of the
prominent citizens of this county.  Virginia L. married James B. Cole, 
and they have 240 acres of land.  Lucy S., Alexander L. and Maggie C.
are at home.  During the Civil War Mr. Bedford served in the Confederate
army nearly four years, and was promoted from a private to first 
lieutenant.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and
is a Master Mason, and also a Royal Arch Mason.  In politics he is Democratic.