Catherine
(Miner) Bedillion
(1850-1903)
Catherine
"Kate" (Miner) Bedillion was born on June 1, 1850 (or 1855), presumably on the family farm at
Hexebarger near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Henry
and Polly (Younkin) Minerd.
As a young girl, after a fire burned their farmhouse to the ground, Kate moved with her parents to Beeler Station, Marshall County, WV. She is shown as a 10-year-old in her parents' household, as enumerated in the 1860 federal census. Within a few years, they moved again, just across the state line into Greene County, PA.
When Kate was age 15, in 1865, she and her sister Susan were admitted to membership of the Enon Baptist Church in West Finley Twp., Washington County, PA. This occurred on Sept. 1, 1865, at a meeting held by "Bro. D.G. Zook," pastor of the church. Her brother Andrew joined the church three years later. These records were published circa 1990 by the church's Historical Committee in the History & Biographical Record of the Enon Baptist Church.
In 1869, when she was 19 years of age, Kate gave birth to a daughter Elizabeth. For many years until she married, Kate lived with her parents in and around Greene County and Washington County.
Kate
was said to be a tall, large woman. On
Oct. 21, 1883,
she married John M. Bedillion (1856-1921), and they had four children: Norton Miner Bedillion,
Golie Cephas Bedillion, William
R. Bedillion and Lucy Estella
Martin.
Two years later, when teenage daughter Elizabeth sought to marry an older Civil War veteran, Kate signed her legal consent, a document that is still on file at the Washington County courthouse.
The
Bedillions lived in Washington County, PA, in South Franklin and Amwell
Townships, where she was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sadly, Kate passed away on Aug. 29, 1903 at age 54 of lung trouble. She died at home near Lone Pine, Washington County. Leaving behind four young children, she was eulogized in a local newspaper as "a kind mother and good neighbor." She is buried at the Lone Pine Cemetery. Her grave marker gives her birthdate as 1855, but the actual date was 1850.
John outlived his wife by 18 years. He died in 1921, and was laid to rest beside Catherine. No other details are known.
In 1935, when widespread research was being done by Catherine's Younkin cousins coast to coast, to determine how everyone fit into the massive clan, and to organize a national home-coming reunion, Catherine was mentioned in a letter authored by Charles Arthur Younkin. Click to see this letter, dated Feb. 19, 1935. Charles wrote: "I have learned the whereabouts of several of the Farabees also Burches and Bedillions but as yet have not come into contact in person but hope to do so in the near future." It's unknown if Charles was successful in meeting or interviewing any of Catherine's children or grandchildren as future letters and records as late as 1940 are silent on the matter.
For more information on this family, contact great-great grandson Bil Dicks.
Copyright © 2000, 2002-2005 Mark A. Miner