The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-19

1t was modelled by W. II. Mullins. Of Sa-
lem, O., and is an artistic piece OF work,
The base of the memorial is sandstone and
granite and the statue from the pEntE 10
the top or the unified right Eand II a
scroll upon which are the 9os1s, "Univer-
sal Mental Liberty" and under me ieft ro05
he seemingly tramples upon another scfou
bearing the word superstition"
The scroll IN the right hand is undouot-
%erations of Mr.. Bedeiis early life. when.
as he puts il, his father-in-law, Henry
Hartzell. tried to force him INTO reiigioh
by joining the Presbyterian Church
Mr.. Bedell resided in Berlin Center. in
the western part of Mahoning county. anu
is probably the wealthiest farmer In north-
located in western Mahoning and eastern
Portage counties, and is in easy circum.
stances financially. Although a man past
with an elastic step and enjoys the best OF
health. His farm property is all In a nlgh
state OF cultivation. and we'll stocked with
cattle
Mr.. Bedell is one of the most kindly of
men,; a man OF even temper and sunny as
position His family, which consists OF sew
en- children, all grown. is his chief interest
and therein probably lies his true re!iglon.
Mr.. Bedell says that throughout his hfe ne
has based all his actions on the principles
laid down by the founders Of our govern,
ment. that all men We're created free ana
have the right to life. liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness, and that lie believes these
ends are attained through reason, a better
guide than faith. Reason tells him that 10
believe and be damned" is downright fraud.
and has no place in the scale OF reason.
He adopted the principle that the time
10 be happy was now and the place TO De
happy was here.
and says all things moved pleasantly until
two children were born Then his father
in-law informed him that he must join the
church and have the children baptized II
he expected any consideration from him.
He could not brook the idea OF being
forced into the church against his own
judgment. Church matters waved warmer
and a feud sprang up between MI. beoei ,
family and the Hartzell : family and
close to twenty years, and on which MI.
Bedell has written a book, entitled "Iwen-
I ty-one Battles Fought by Chester BeaeA
with Relations and Presbyterian lntoier-
ance."
He has been victorious in his numerous
lawsuits. which followed the des snG for
which, he says, a band Of conspirators
tried to hold him responsible; He has
eutors 10 seT rse t sGms in IN the ONO peniien-
tiary. and another commit suicide, rather
than face the indictment for perjury: he
ally refers to these affairs to show the
dangerous dement's in religious intoier-
ance.
ship, Sussex county, New Jersey, Dec. s.
1876, and his father, Isaac Bedell, and ms
wife, whose maiden name was Corneha
Decker, were both born about the close Oh
the eighteenth century in the same town
ship in Sussex county, near a little ham,
let now called Latin, on a small stream
named Big Flat brook. Mr.. Bedell came
to Mahoning county in 1885. and. with the
exception of about two years., during Wnicn
time he lived elsewhere, has resided at
Berlin Center continuously. In 1851 he mar
ried Mary HartZell. daughter OF Henry
Hartzell. His marriage engendered a re-
ligious feud which lasted many years, but
is now a thing of the past One OF Mr..
Bedeirs recent kind acts mas been the tax
ing of a colored boy. whom he found on the
streets. to his home. where he is keeping
him and providing well for him. Mr.. Bedell
has been an extensive traveller and has
seen much of the world.