| Notes |
- Buffalo NY Morning Express - 5/6/1902
Ossian Bedell of Grand Island
died early Yesterday
Morning.
PARALYSIS THE CAUSE
HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH RE-
PUBLICAN POLITICS FOR 50
YEARS
A familiar figure will be seen no more
on Buffalo streets Rugged old Ossian
Bedell of Grand Island died yesterday
morning at 3:10 o'clock, after a battle
of seven weeks. Paralysis was the
cause of death. Little hope of life was
given shortly after the severe stroke
which visited him about the middle of
March. As the days advanced he steadily
weakened and for the last week the
end was expected at any moment. He
could take no nourishment except a
little beef broth. Only his remarkable
vitality sustained him. Mr. Bedell died
In his home adjoining the Bedell House
on the island.
Mr. Bedell Is survived by a widow,
Parmelia Zimmerman Bedell; a son.
John B.: two daughters, Mrs. S. S.
Staley and Kate Bedell, and two brothers
and two sisters, Dwlght Bedell of
Tonawanda, Horace I. Bedell of Chicago,
Mrs. Clara Marsh of Chicago and
Mrs. F. H. Hall of Plalntleld, .N. J.
Arrangements have been made so
that all of Mr. Bedell's many friends In
the city will have no inconvenience in
going to the island to attend the funeral.
The funeral will be held from
the family home on Grand Island tomorrow
afternoon at 2 o'clock. At 1:15
p. m. the steamer Silver Spray will
leave the foot of Ferry street to carry
Buffalo friends to the funeral. The
burial will be In White Haven Cemetery
on the John Nice farm. Opposite
Tonawanda.
George D. Emerson, secretary of the
Republican executive committee, yesterday
sent out notices for a meeting
of that body at Republican headquarters
In Elllcott Square this morning at
11 o'clock to take action on Mr. Bedell's
death. Mr. Bedell had been a member
of the committee for many years. It Is
expected the committee will attend the
funeral In a body.
For almost a half century. Ossian
Bedell waa one of the most prominent
figures in political affairs in Western
New York. He was a staunch supporter
of the Republican cause and was
often an active factor In the party's
conventions. His activity In behalf of
his party did not end from the time of
the Civil War. During Lincoln's administration
he was appointed Inspector of
customs for the district of Buffalo
Creek. In the political campaign of
1862. Mr. Bedell assumed the leadership
of the Republicans on Grand Island
and was elected to represent the
township in the Erie County Board of
Supervisors. He again held no office
until 1881 when he was appointed assistant
superintendent of public works
for the western division of the Erie
Canal. He kept the position three
years. For the next six years he held
no public office. Then, in 1890. President
Harrison appointed him United States
consul at Fort Erie. Mr. Bedell served
until 1893 and was again appointed to
the office In 1897 by President William
McKinley.
Mr. Bedell was born In Georgia. V t,
on June 6, 1882. When he was six years
old, his parents moved to Tonawanda.
He attended the public schools and also
studied at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary.
At eleven he began to drive a
towing team for his father on the Erie
Canal. Off and on. he followed the canal
for the next twenty years. He moved
to Grand Island In 1846. During the
canal season of each year he worked at
his business, but spent the rest of his
time at his Island home. He kept adding
to his land holdings until he owned
many acres. He was ever working for
the development of the island.
In 1874 he headed a company to operate
a ferry between the island and the
United States mainland. That service
has been maintained ever since. Two
years after the ferry was started. Mr.
Bedell built the Bedell House as a resort
hotel. At times, it has enjoyed
great popularity. It is now running.
Mr. Bedell had been a sufferer from
slight attacks of paralysis for a long
time. About three years ago. he was
confined to his bed for several days as
a result of a slight attack. At several
subsequent times, slight attacks had affected
various parts of his body. Recently,
his voice waa temporarily affected.
The first severe stroke, which
marked the beginning of the end. was
on Saturday. March 15th. He had to
take to his bed. Though he rallied
strongly within a few days so that he
was able even to walk about a little and
sit up several hours at a time, he soon
weakened and began to have periods of
unconsciousness that grew in duration
as the end drew nearer. Last Monday
evening he suffered a second pronounced
shock. At no time after that did
those that were near him believe he
would recover.
Dr. Arthur R. Bradbury of Grand Island
regularly attended Mr. Bedell during
his last illness. Nothing was left
undone. ° Dr. James W. Putnam and Dr.
De Witt C. Greene were summoned
from Buffalo to counsel with Dr. Bradbury,
but neither could no anything
more than had been done.
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1832 - 1902 (69 years)