Brief History of
Bedford
Probably named for Bedford, Westchester Co, NY, the home of early settler Josiah
Gilbert. John Bertram entered the first land transaction, but the first settler is thought
to be Roswell Crane. The village of Bedford was begun by Matthias Hutchinson, who built a
sawmill there in 1837 and platted the village in 1838. The first postmaster was Erastus R.
Wattles. Early township officials included: Caleb Kirby (supervisor), John Meachem
(clerk), Isaac Sutton (treasurer), John P. Ames, John Meachem, George B. Hamilton, Noah P.
Crittenden (all justices of the peace), Schuyler Goof, John P. Ames, and Harvey Cooley
(all assessors). |
