John W Bedford

Pioneer Life On The Canadian Border John W Bedford

"While James Madison was serving his first term as President of the United States, my father left Sackett's Harbor and went to Canada to follow his profession there. He here met and married a young, Canadian-Scotch lady, Miss Christiana Powers, at the home of her parents in Marysburgh, Prince Edward's District, U. C. where I was born December 6th, 1810." Thus begins the memoirs of John Bedford's growing up between the Canadian and US borders between 1810 and 1844. For anyone ever desiring to be that, "Fly on the wall" this is your opportunity. John's father was one of the first school teachers in the area. We see his influence within John's writings as he covers many aspects of early life whether: Early Education, Wildlife, Farming, Early Politics, Early Border Relations, Religion, Superstitions, Philanthropy, Economics and Usery, Social Gatherings, Recreation, Early Law, Wars, and Natural Phenomenons. He describes how the area was populated with French Immigrants brought in by Count Vincent LeRay de Chaumont, who purchased a large track of land in hopes of reclaiming some of his family's money spent supporting the American Revolution. It is an excellent read for anyone interested in life within the early 19th century, beginning before the war of 1812 and ending during the migration to the 'then' West (Illinois). A great supplement to any History Class and a great addition for any History Buff's collection. Included is a short story by Samuel H. Lapp, another ancestor. Written within the same time period, it lends a further perspective on thoughts, beliefs and childhood within the early 19th century.