Bio-Bedillion, NortonM

Norton Miner Bedillion
(1886-1965)

On Sept. 6, 1906, at South Canonsburg, Washington County, Norton married Mary "Margaret" Fisher (1888-1961).

Margaret was the daughter of James and Maria (Phillips) Fisher of Oak Forest, Greene County, PA. One of Nort's uncles, Elias Minor, resided in the Oak Forest area, and perhaps Nort met his future wife through this connection.

As a young girl, Margaret attended the St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, where services were held in the German language. She celebrated her first holy communion on June 2, 1901, and was confirmed into membership the same day.

The Bedillions had four children – John William "Jiggers" Bedillion, Walter K. Bedillion, Lloyd J. "Tater" Bedillion and Olive Ellen Bedillion.

Nort and Margaret resided at 385 Broad Street, and later at 865 Broad Street, in Washington. They were longtime members of the West Washington Methodist Church. Several of Nort's first cousins also belonged to the church, including Harry O. and Armena Miner, Ward C. Miner and Lester and Emma (Miner) White.

Left: Nort, Margaret and sons; and relaxing in his yard circa 1956.

Sadly, at age 17, their daughter Olive died in the spring of 1926 after a four-week battle with the flu and pneumonia. She had enjoyed singing in the choir of the West Washington church. The loss was devastating to the family.

Nort ( far right) at National Annealing Box in Washington, 1926

For nearly five decades, Nort worked as a laborer for the National Wrought Iron Annealing Box Company in Washington. In April of 1926, he and his co-workers completed a large project -- riveting a 16-ton piece of iron seen on this page. According to notes on the back of the photograph, the item was "40 wide, 48 deep and 32 feet long. Bottom and Ends 1 1/4 thick. 2-sided plates 1 3/4 thick. 4 x 4 x 3/4 angles on sides. 1 1/8 x 5 rivets corners rivets 1 1/8 x 6 1/4." Fellow riveters were B. Donley and Jim Hamrak.

Nort retired from National Annealing Box in 1953 after a long, productive career. He lived for another 12 years.

Nort, Margaret and their sons on their 50th wedding anniversary; Right: Nort at his parents' grave near Lone Pine

On Sept. 20, 1956, the Bedillions celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with an open house at their home. The special event was featured in an article in the Washington Observer-Reporter newspaper.

Nort outlived Margaret by nearly four years, and died on Nov. 22, 1965. They are buried together at Washington Cemetery.

Son John William "Jiggers" Bedillion served in the National Guard’s 110th Infantry.

Later, he worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Washington Tin Plate Co. and the Suwak Trucking Company. He also “owned and operated his own trucking business,” said the Washington Observer-Reporter.

Son Walter Kenneth "Dick" Bedillion ( ? -1999) married Elizabeth "Betty" Roach ( ? -2005). They had one daughter, Judith Dicks. (They are seen here together in 1945.)

Dick was a hammer driver for Jessop Steel Corp. in Washington. During World War II, he served in the 1st Division of the US Army in the European Theatre. At the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in Belgium in November 1944, he was hit in the neck with enemy mortar fire. The shrapnel severed key nerves controlling use of his legs and arms. He lay in a snowy foxhole for six hours until he was evacuated by a team of Army medics and taken to a barn for initial treatment. For the remaining 50-plus years of his life, Dick tackled life every day as a quadriplegic, always with grit, determination and a smile.

Later, despite a handicap as a quadriplegic, he used his mind, positive attitude and limited physical resources to become a life member of the North Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department, and become president, director and chief of police in North Franklin, near Washington.

Betty survived him by six years, and died in 2005. Images of Dick's remarkable recovery were featured as Minerd.com's "Photo of the Month" in February 2007.

Son Lloyd "Tater" Bedillion never married, and lived in the old family home on Broad Street in West Washington.

He was a championship bowler, and was inducted into a bowlers hall of fame. He is known to have taken part in the 60th Annual Petersen Classic, held in Hoffman Estates, IL in May 1970, where the photo seen at right was taken. Major national superstar bowlers such as the late Dick Weber are known to have bowled in the Petersen event during the years when Tater was involved.