Benjamin Franklin Bedinger, M. D.(27)
[The following biography was written by Ruth Wade Cox Brunings a well-regarded and highly respected Bedinger family and Kentucky historian. Mrs. Brunings writes with great feeling, knowledge and respect for her great-great- grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Bedinger. Mrs. Brunings is also the author of the page on this webiste Bedingers in Kentucky During Slavery.]
Biography of Benjamin Franklin Bedinger, M.D.
By
Ruth Wade Cox Brunings
By
Ruth Wade Cox Brunings
Benjamin Franklin Bedinger (1797-1871), called Franklin, was a son of Major George Michael Bedinger and Henrietta Clay Bedinger. Most of George Michael Bedinger's sons stayed in Blue Licks, Kentucky and operated various business ventures: saw mills, grist mills, the first store, the first ferry, salt production, bottled mineral water
and a 300 room hotel resort at Blue Licks Springs (which was burned by the Union
Army after the Civil War). Franklin studied medicine at Surgeons College in
Philadelphia. After graduating in 1818, he practiced medicine under the famous
physician Dr. Daniel Drake in Cincinnati. His oldest brother Henry Clay Bedinger
married Dr. Drake's daughter. Franklin gave up the practice of medicine early in
his career, to the disappointment of Dr. Drake who had a high opinion of his
medical skills. Pre-Civil War medicine was not without pain and Franklin was too
kind hearted to do surgery without benefit of anesthesia which was not then
available. After Franklin gave up the practice of medicine, he became active in the
building of toll roads and politics. He was influential in getting the charter for the
Lexington Turnpike Company of which he was President for many years and on
the Board of Directors throughout his life. He also acquired a great deal of land
and in the 1850 census was listed as one of the two wealthiest men in Boone
County.
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Franklin was 6 feet 8 inches tall and became so used to stooping to go through cabin doors on house calls that he would stoop to go through a gate. His son Everett Wade Bedinger described him lias large in mind and heart as he was in body". In 1820 Franklin married Sarah Everett Wade daughter of David Everett Wade, a prominent Cincinnati businessman, city alderman and Presbyterian Church Elder. Her father had doubts about his daughter marrying a young country doctor and paid two of the workmen at his tannery to throw Franklin into the tanning vat. But Franklin, a very powerful young man, threw both of theminto the vat instead.
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Benjamin Franklin Bedinger, M. D. and his wife Sarah Everett Wade
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Another of Mr. Wade's daughters also married a doctor and Mr. Wade eventually came to like and respect both of them. Sarah was intelligent,educated and dedicated to her perceived duty and to the church. She was known by all as deeply religious. Throughout their marriage, Franklin's respect for his wife's wisdom was apparent.
Franklin lived in Covington, Kentucky until 1834 when he moved to Cincinnati for eight years in order for Sarah to care for her father who had a stroke and was bedridden. Franklin told his father-in-law that he needed to return to Covington and his medical practice in order to support his family. David told Franklin that if they would stay and care for him he would put Sarah in his will to inherit equally with her brothers. Franklin agreed only if David would include Sarah's two sisters as well, which he did. Following her father's death in 1842 they returned to Covington for 3 years and then in 1845 they bought Forest Home in Richwood, Kentucky where they lived for 16 years. Franklin carried on a family tradition and provided each of his 6 children a farm and a newly built home at the time of their marriage. When his.son David Bedinger married, Franklin gave him the remaining 300 acres of the original 2,100 acres of land of Forest Home and the family home. Franklin and his wife moved to Erlanger and bought the Bartlett Graves farm, Walnut Grove, and renamed it The Elms. Franklin lived in Erlanger until his death {1797- 1871} and Sarah lived there until her death (1880-1880). The lives of Franklin and Sarah are well documented in the Centennial History of Erlanger, Kentucky.
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin was prominent in politics but declined public office due to a promise he made to his wife to never enter this dangerous life. He was an ardent Whig, holding the same political views as his father, U S Congressman George Michael
Bedinger. Franklin was an influential member of the National Convention which nominated General Zachary Taylor from Kentucky for the presidency. Abraham Lincoln was a member of this same convention. Zachary Taylor became president
in 1849 and favored free rather than slave status for new territories. He knew that Franklin was of the same opinion and as a fellow Kentuckian asked him to be the Governor of the Territory of Oregon. Due to the promise he had made to his wife, Franklin declined but suggested his friend and neighbor Major John Pollard Gaines who accepted the appointment. Sarah said they would lose half of their children on such a long and dangerous journey. Major Gaines not only lost two of the daughters he took with him but his wife as well. There is a letter in the Boone
County historical archives by a granddaughter of Franklin's describing the December 1849 dinner which the Bedingers gave in farewell to Major Gaines and invited the whole community. An ad was placed in the newspaper which read "Any friend of Major Gaines is invited to have dinner with him at Forest Home before he leaves for Oregon." More than 500 people attended, coming from far and near.
Bedinger. Franklin was an influential member of the National Convention which nominated General Zachary Taylor from Kentucky for the presidency. Abraham Lincoln was a member of this same convention. Zachary Taylor became president
in 1849 and favored free rather than slave status for new territories. He knew that Franklin was of the same opinion and as a fellow Kentuckian asked him to be the Governor of the Territory of Oregon. Due to the promise he had made to his wife, Franklin declined but suggested his friend and neighbor Major John Pollard Gaines who accepted the appointment. Sarah said they would lose half of their children on such a long and dangerous journey. Major Gaines not only lost two of the daughters he took with him but his wife as well. There is a letter in the Boone
County historical archives by a granddaughter of Franklin's describing the December 1849 dinner which the Bedingers gave in farewell to Major Gaines and invited the whole community. An ad was placed in the newspaper which read "Any friend of Major Gaines is invited to have dinner with him at Forest Home before he leaves for Oregon." More than 500 people attended, coming from far and near.
Franklin's active role as a political advisor continued. His son Everett wrote in his
autobiography: "I was with my father when he and Lincoln met in 1858 at a hotel
in Bloomington, Illinois. They spent the greater part of the evening discussing the
political situation, Dr. Bedinger warning Mr. Lincoln of the dreadful results that
would follow the success of his new (Republican) party. Mr. Lincoln little thought
that the loss of his own life would be one of those dreadful results." After the
Civil War, Franklin became a Democrat because of the way the Republican
Congress mistreated the South, including Kentucky. During the post war period
the Republican Congress impeached the Democratic president, Andrew Johnson,
but failed to remove him from office. Although Dr. Bedinger and Major Gaines
were neighbors, friends and political allies in the Whig party, they had very
different views on the issues of war and slavery. In a letter to Major Gaines
during the Mexican War Dr. Bedinger wrote: "You know how much I disapprove
of this war and whilst I feel for the brave men and poor soldiers who are suffering,
pining and dying from sickness, wounds and exposure and whilst I wish success to
the aims of my country, J still doubt the propriety and patriotism of Whigs uniting
with and risking their health and lives lifting this infernal Administration out of its
difficulties and covering the one man's power and the one man's war with the
glorious results of their suffering and valor thus sanctifying the usurpations of that
last of little men, James K. Polk, and enabling him and his army of plunderers at
Washington to fatten on the spoils of the nation, to triumph over the
constitution, the liberties of the people, and the prosperity of the country. Would
that all good Whigs were at home and out of danger, I think it would not be long
before Democrats would be damning the man who got them into a scrape in
which they, unassisted by the Whigs, would never obtain either honor or glory."
autobiography: "I was with my father when he and Lincoln met in 1858 at a hotel
in Bloomington, Illinois. They spent the greater part of the evening discussing the
political situation, Dr. Bedinger warning Mr. Lincoln of the dreadful results that
would follow the success of his new (Republican) party. Mr. Lincoln little thought
that the loss of his own life would be one of those dreadful results." After the
Civil War, Franklin became a Democrat because of the way the Republican
Congress mistreated the South, including Kentucky. During the post war period
the Republican Congress impeached the Democratic president, Andrew Johnson,
but failed to remove him from office. Although Dr. Bedinger and Major Gaines
were neighbors, friends and political allies in the Whig party, they had very
different views on the issues of war and slavery. In a letter to Major Gaines
during the Mexican War Dr. Bedinger wrote: "You know how much I disapprove
of this war and whilst I feel for the brave men and poor soldiers who are suffering,
pining and dying from sickness, wounds and exposure and whilst I wish success to
the aims of my country, J still doubt the propriety and patriotism of Whigs uniting
with and risking their health and lives lifting this infernal Administration out of its
difficulties and covering the one man's power and the one man's war with the
glorious results of their suffering and valor thus sanctifying the usurpations of that
last of little men, James K. Polk, and enabling him and his army of plunderers at
Washington to fatten on the spoils of the nation, to triumph over the
constitution, the liberties of the people, and the prosperity of the country. Would
that all good Whigs were at home and out of danger, I think it would not be long
before Democrats would be damning the man who got them into a scrape in
which they, unassisted by the Whigs, would never obtain either honor or glory."
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Letter of B. F. Bedinger. "To The Editor of the Covington Journal; Forest Home, Boone County, KY, May 1st, 1849; Covington Journal; Covington KY; May 11, 1840.
“Gentlemen I notice in your paper of the 20th ult. A call upon me, signed as by authority of many voters of Boone County, KY., asking my views and opinions on the subject to Constitutional reform, and opinions on the subjects of Emancipation and Perpetual Slavery. It is true. As your correspondent says, that certain friends of the county of Boone, who concur with me in opinion upon the subject of slavery, have signified a desire that I should become a candidate for the appointment of delegate to the convention which is to assemble in October next, for the purpose of amending the constitution of our state. I have not yielded to the solicitations of those friends … For many years past I have determined neither to seek nor accept office, either under State or National Government, yet as one of the people, (a mere private citizen) having an interest in common with my fellow men in all that concerns the community in which I live, I do feel it my privilege, and sometimes my duty, to take a part in the discussion and consideration of matters by which the public welfare is likely to be much advanced or greatly prejudiced. … ... Doubtless there are defects in the constitution which require attention. These have been as yet, however, rather theoretical and abstract propositions than practical evils. But they are still viewed by many who study the ends, objects and aims of government and hold the means of safety to the people to depend on a just responsibility of their agents, as at least injudicious and liable to perversion if not dangerous to liberty. There is, too, contained in the present constitution of Kentucky, separate and apart from what belongs to government, involving as master and slave nearly one half the population of the state, which many of our citizens consider a crying evil, dangerous to liberty, opposed to good morals, injurious to the welfare of the white laborers of the State, prejudicial to the power and influence of the State as a member of the Union, incompatible with the rights and destructive of the true interests of man – bond and free, master and slave. |
As a postscript he adds: "Though my wife still insists that you deserve some
punishment for leaving the joys and comforts of home to go into such a war as
this and she says further that she doubts not that you have been fully punished
for it." On the issue of slavery, US Congressman John P. Gaines voted for the
extension of slavery into the western territories, unlike U S Congressman George
Michael Bedinger's determined opposition to slavery. Franklin's opposition to
slavery is documented in a letter published in the Covington Journal May 1, 1849
prior to the convention to revise the constitution of Kentucky. He wrote: "There
is, too, contained in the present constitution of Kentucky, separate and apart
from what belongs to government, involving as master and slave nearly one half
the population of the state, which many of our citizens consider a crying evil,
dangerous to liberty, opposed to good morals, injurious to the welfare of the
white laborers of the State, prejudicial to the power and influence of the State as
a member of the Union, incompatible with the rights and destructive of the true
interests of man - bond and free, master and slave."
Another aspect of Franklin's life was religion. He had been raised with religious
instruction, married a devout Christian, knew the Bible well and attended the
Presbyterian Church with his wife and children. He was extremely well read and
had an inquiring, scientific mind. He was in all ways a moral and ethical man but
had difficulty reconciling reason with faith. After the death of his only daughter,
he found God in his grief. In reading the Bible he found revelation and comfort
and became convinced the Bible was God's word. He was ordained an Elder in the
Richwood Presbyterian Church and built churches in several nearby Kentucky
towns. On his death bed he told his sons to read the Bible carefully and they too
would find it to be God's word. Few men were as well known or as well respected as Dr. Bedinger. His obituary in the local newspaper stated that his convictions were most decided and he would make no concession of principle or tolerate any concealment of opinion. To write under an assumed name is inconsistent with Dr. Bedinger's known character.
punishment for leaving the joys and comforts of home to go into such a war as
this and she says further that she doubts not that you have been fully punished
for it." On the issue of slavery, US Congressman John P. Gaines voted for the
extension of slavery into the western territories, unlike U S Congressman George
Michael Bedinger's determined opposition to slavery. Franklin's opposition to
slavery is documented in a letter published in the Covington Journal May 1, 1849
prior to the convention to revise the constitution of Kentucky. He wrote: "There
is, too, contained in the present constitution of Kentucky, separate and apart
from what belongs to government, involving as master and slave nearly one half
the population of the state, which many of our citizens consider a crying evil,
dangerous to liberty, opposed to good morals, injurious to the welfare of the
white laborers of the State, prejudicial to the power and influence of the State as
a member of the Union, incompatible with the rights and destructive of the true
interests of man - bond and free, master and slave."
Another aspect of Franklin's life was religion. He had been raised with religious
instruction, married a devout Christian, knew the Bible well and attended the
Presbyterian Church with his wife and children. He was extremely well read and
had an inquiring, scientific mind. He was in all ways a moral and ethical man but
had difficulty reconciling reason with faith. After the death of his only daughter,
he found God in his grief. In reading the Bible he found revelation and comfort
and became convinced the Bible was God's word. He was ordained an Elder in the
Richwood Presbyterian Church and built churches in several nearby Kentucky
towns. On his death bed he told his sons to read the Bible carefully and they too
would find it to be God's word. Few men were as well known or as well respected as Dr. Bedinger. His obituary in the local newspaper stated that his convictions were most decided and he would make no concession of principle or tolerate any concealment of opinion. To write under an assumed name is inconsistent with Dr. Bedinger's known character.
Obituary - Cincinnati, Ohio Death of Dr. Bedinger
We have already noticed the death of Dr. Benjamin F. Bedinger, of Kenton County, KY, who died at Port Sarnea, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday night, 7th September, aged seventy-four years. The deceased was well known in this city, where he married a daughter of the late David Wade, one of the old pioneers of Cincinnati. He will be remembered by the politicians of the Clay and Jackson times, who may still survive, as a prominent leading Whig, and a gentleman of the intellectual capacity and untiring will. Though educated to be a physician, he, many years ago, relinquished his profession and betook himself to farming. He never, however, relinquished his intellectual pursuits, nor remitted his interests in the political events of the day. He had most decided convictions, and was fearless in uttering them, which he had the capacity to do, with great force and clearness. Though no politician in the sense of being an office-seeker, Dr. Bedinger was well fitted for public station, conscientious, honest, with enlarged views of public duty, he would have honored any office to which he might have been called. In the later years of his life, Dr. Bedinger was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church. He leaves the wife of his youth to lament her loss, and also several children. One of his sons is a minister of the Gospel, and all are prominent and useful members of society. His remains were interred at Florence, KY., September 10, 1871. |
References and Resources:
Bales, Kevin; Disposal People - New Slaves in the Global Economy; University of
California Press; Berkeley, CA; 1999.
Bedinger, Rev. Everett Wade; A History of the Yale Class of 1851, Autobiography;
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; 1891.
Belue, Ted Franklin; The Hunters of Kentucky, A Narrative History of America's
First Far West, 1750-1792; Stackpole Books; Mechanicsburg, PA; 2003.
Brunings, Ruth Wade Cox; Slavery and the Tragic Story of Two Families - Gaines
and Garner; Northern Kentucky Heritage; Covington, KY; Volume XII Number 1;
2004.
Brunings, Ruth Wade Cox; The Bedingers; Boone County Historical Society;
presentation January 21, 1999.
Dandridge, Danske; George Michael Bedinger - A Kentucky Pioneer; The Michie
Company Printers; Charlottesville, VA; 1909.
Onkst, Wayne, Editor; From Buffalo Trails to the Twenty-First Century - A
Centennial History of Erlanger, KY; The Erlanger Historical Society; Erlanger, KY;
1996
Bales, Kevin; Disposal People - New Slaves in the Global Economy; University of
California Press; Berkeley, CA; 1999.
Bedinger, Rev. Everett Wade; A History of the Yale Class of 1851, Autobiography;
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; 1891.
Belue, Ted Franklin; The Hunters of Kentucky, A Narrative History of America's
First Far West, 1750-1792; Stackpole Books; Mechanicsburg, PA; 2003.
Brunings, Ruth Wade Cox; Slavery and the Tragic Story of Two Families - Gaines
and Garner; Northern Kentucky Heritage; Covington, KY; Volume XII Number 1;
2004.
Brunings, Ruth Wade Cox; The Bedingers; Boone County Historical Society;
presentation January 21, 1999.
Dandridge, Danske; George Michael Bedinger - A Kentucky Pioneer; The Michie
Company Printers; Charlottesville, VA; 1909.
Onkst, Wayne, Editor; From Buffalo Trails to the Twenty-First Century - A
Centennial History of Erlanger, KY; The Erlanger Historical Society; Erlanger, KY;
1996