Theodore Bedard

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
May be copied for non-profit purposes.
USGENWEB Montana Archives

Theodore Bedard, one of the prominent early settlers of 
Frenchtown and one of the proprietors of the 
Western Hotel, was born in St. Mary's Canada,August 22, 1843 
and I of French extraction. His ancestors 
were among the early settlers of Canada. His father, Flavian 
Bedard, married Miss Celes, a daughter of 
Peter Ponton, and they had five children. The mother died at 
the age of thirty six years and the father 
survived until forty seven years of age.

Theodore Bedard was reared to manhood in his native country, 
where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. 
In 1865 he crossed the plains from St. Louis to Montana with 
ox teams, consuming five months on the journey. 

After arriving at Alder Gulch, Mr. Bedard was engaged in making 
tools for the miners until 1869 afterward 
conducted a blacksmith shop in this city for a year and a 
half and then in company with Edmond Hamel, embarked 
in the stock business in Grass Valley. The firm have become 
prominent breeders of horses and cattle, also 
own 3,000 acres of valuable land and are proprietors of the 
hotel and flouring mill. The hotel was built in 
1870 and since 1882 has been owned by Mr. Bedard and Hemel. 
They have become the leading hotel men of Frenchtown, 
are obliging and liberal in all their dealings and are 
deserving of the prosperity they now enjoy.
July 10, 1869 Mr. Bedard was united in marriage with Miss 
Maggie Fanthaume, a native of Pennsylvania, but 
her ancestors were from Paris. They have had eight children: 
Theodore, Maggie, Henry, Addie, Alma, Florence, 
Joseph and Freddie.

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