Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


R. D. BEDWELL 
 
was one of the first settlers of Downey, coming to this place April 16, 1866. He 
is a native of Tennessee, born April 20, 1820, his parents being James Bedwell 
and Susanna (Rawson) Bedwell, the latter of North Carolina. His father moved to 
Poinsett County, Arkansas, in the year 1840, and there farmed till his death, 
which occurred in 1860. The mother's death took place in 1866. The subject of 
this notice was married August 29, 1837, in Marshall County, Tennessee, to Miss 
Elizabeth Culver, of North Carolina. This union was blessed with five children:  
Hester A., Samuel C., Mary J., James K. Polk, and Susan Elizabeth. The mother of 
these children died April 1, 1847, and September 3, of the same year, Mr. 
Bedwell, in Jackson County, Arkansas, married Miss Louisa Ann Pierce, a native 
of Tennessee. The fruit of this union was one child, Emily C., now the wife of 
J. W. Potts, the well-known capitalist of Los Angeles. Mrs. Bedwell died March 
1, 1884. October 16, 1885, Mr. Bedwell was again married, choosing for his third 
companion Miss Susan C. McComic, also of Tennessee. Of this union one child has 
been born, Bob W. When first coming to the county Mr. Bedwell purchased 
twenty-five acres of land where he now lives, and great, indeed, have been the 
improvements that he has made, and that have been made around him. Where once 
the mustard grew rank and wild, may now be seen an orchard of the most beautiful 
oranges, and fruitful fields of corn and alfalfa. Mr. Bedwell is a Christian 
gentleman and a God-fearing man, was once a deacon in the Baptist Church, but at 
present is not a church member. Politically, he is a Republican, and was at one 
time deputy sheriff of Jackson County, Arkansas. He is one of the true pioneers 
of Los Angeles County, and of such men as he the county should ever be proud. He 
left his home in Western Texas, with his family, February 20, 1865, and by ox 
teams crossed the plains, landing in Los Angeles, April 16, 1866. Many, indeed, 
were the hardships they endured on that famous journey, and our forefathers who 
landed on Plymouth Rock, and other places on our Eastern sea board, and made 
homes, are deserving of no more praise than are the humble men who crossed the 
Rockies, seeking homes for their loved ones.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, Page 393
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler