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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MARTIN S. BEDINGER. The philosophy of success in life is an interesting study, and affords a lesson from which others can profit. In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to labor should be considered, as any young man who has a disposition to become a respectable and useful citizen desires to succeed therein. On the 4th of January, 1848, a boy was born in Darke County, Ohio, who grew to sturdy manhood ambitious to excel, and possessing much energy and determination, attributes which are essential to success in any calling. This boy was Martin S. Bedinger, his parents being Adam and Rachel (Christopher) Bedinger, who were natives of the Keystone State and of German parentage.

The father was born in 1808 and the mother in 1809, and from their youth up they had been members of the German Church. In 1851 they left their native State for Michigan and settled in Berrien County, where the father followed farming until his death in 1881, His wife followed him to the grave in 1889. In 1862 Mr. Bedinger was filled with a patriotic desire to assist his country, and enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Michigan Infantry, and was attached to the Army of the Tennessee. He participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh, and was crippled in the last-named engagement. He served as a private, and no braver soldier fought for the Stars and Stripes. To his marriage were born eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, and all grew to mature years. They were as follows: Mary J. is the widow of J. L. Gorham; Sarah (deceased) was the wife of Cornelius Gorham; Rachel A. is the wife of Henry Stemm; Catherine (deceased) was the wife of S. P. Davidson; James C. resides in this State; Isabelle (deceased) was the wife of Jacob Neidlinger; Susan is the wife of George Dungleberger; M. S. is our subject; Elizabeth is the wife of John Fisher; Eliza is the wife of Charles Lochinaw; and Adam H. is deceased.

Martin S. Bedinger secured only a common-school education, for when his father came to Michigan a poor man, young Bedinger passed the most of the time in helping to clear the farm, which was covered with a dense forest. Three months were the most he ever attended in a year, but when in the school room he applied himself with such energy that he was as far along in his studies as the majority of boys. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, and in the mean time learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed after leaving home. He commenced without any capital, but his trade brought him in considerable means, and in 1874 he engaged in farming on the place where he now resides. He rented the farm, consisting of eighty acres, which was the old homestead where his father had located on coming to this county. The original cost of this place was $1,000, and our subject paid $2,000 for it. He has seventy acres under a good state of cultivation, and a portion of it is devoted to raising berries of all kinds. He has five acres in orchard and several acres in vineyard. The remainder of the farm produces wheat, grass and corn.

In the year 1871 Mr. Bedinger was married to Miss Allie Murphy, a native of Michigan and a daughter of George and Mary (Madox) Murphy, early settlers of the Lake State. Mr. Murphy died in this State, but his wife survives him and makes her home in this county. Their children, six in number, are as follows: Allie, wife of our subject; May, wife of William Page; Murry, of Michigan; Frank, of Illinois; Lee, of Michigan; and Vedder, also of Michigan. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bedinger resulted in the birth of four children; Maggie, wife of Frank Horner; Paul, Claar and Frank. Both our subject and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a member of Western Star Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M., and of Oronoko Lodge No. 69, A. O. U. W. In 1891 Mr. Bedinger was elected Township Supervisor, re-elected in 1892 and served two years. In politics he is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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