Family of Solomon Singleton Bedinger and Mildred Berry Washington
Solomon Singleton Bedinger, the son of Henry Clay Bedinger and Judith Rust Singleton, was born in Lewis County, Kentucky in 1828. Henry Clay Bedinger was the son of Major George Michael Bedinger and Henrietta Clay. Henrietta was the daughter of Dr. Henry Clay and Rachel Povall and second cousin of the American statesman Henry Clay. On February 9, 1854 at the Washington home Cedar Lawn in Jefferson Co., Virginia, (now West Virginia), Solomon Singleton Bedinger was married to his second cousin Mildred Berry Washington, daughter of John Thornton Augustine Washington and Elizabeth Conrad Bedinger. John T. A. Washington was the grandson of Col. Samuel Washington, younger brother of George Washington the President. In 1856, Solomon Singleton and Mildred Bedinger, with Solomon’s brother and several brothers and sisters of Mildred, moved to Johnson Co. in western Missouri where Solomon acquired government land and built a home, “Sunnyside”. There in May 22, 1857, Henry Clay Bedinger, younger brother of Solomon, married Susan Ellsworth Washington, sister of Mildred Berry Washington.
By 1862 four children were born to Solomon and Mildred. They were Henrietta Gray, Lavinia, Henry Clay, and Arthur Singleton. The fertile lands of Johnson County, Missouri brought prosperity to Solomon and Mildred and a bright future seemed to lie ahead. This encouraging picture was to be blotted out not only by the disastrous Civil War but also raids on farms in western Missouri by gangs of lawless renegades. Solomon and his brother, Henry Clay Bedinger, gave their services to the southern cause, serving in Company E of the 10th Missouri Cavalry and taking an active part in the struggle until its close. Mildred and her four children went to live with her sister, also living in Johnson Co. during the war. A modicum of safety from pro-union raiders was afforded because her sister, George Anna, was the wife of Union Army officer Major John Wheeler Smith.
Following the close of the war, Solomon and Mildred Bedinger, having lost most of their personal estate, sold or bundled the remains and moved to Conway Co., Arkansas. Solomon Bedinger filed to homestead 80 acres southwest of present-day Morrilton, overlooking the Arkansas River floodplain. Solomon owned and operated the ferry on the Arkansas River below Petit Jean Mountain and entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, John Wheeler Smith. The partnership acquired 300 acres of Arkansas River bottomland where Solomon managed the cotton farming enterprise. In 1871, bright days appeared to be ahead in Conway Co. for Solomon and Mildred Bedinger and their children, Henrietta Gray, Lavinia, and Henry Clay. Their few years in Arkansas had been saddened by the death of their youngest child, Arthur Singleton at age seven years, eight months in 1869, but Mildred was expecting her fifth child in November. The joy of the birth of Singleton Berry Bedinger on November 7, 1871 was soon followed by tragedy of Mildred’s death. Bad climate caused crop failures in the following years. On February 8, 1873 Solomon died leaving four children, aged 14 months to 18 years. Solomon Singleton Bedinger and Mildred Berry (Washington) Bedinger are buried in Oakland Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas in the same plot with their son Arthur Singleton Bedinger.
Henrietta (Netta) Gray Bedinger and her siblings -- After the deaths of Solomon Singleton Bedinger in and his wife Mildred Berry Bedinger, the oldest daughter Henrietta (Netta) Gray Bedinger, at age 18, was left to hold the family together. She and her younger sister Lavinia, now 15, cared for the infant, Singleton Berry, and the young son, Henry Clay, age 13. The children kept the homestead near Lewisburg. In 1875, the homestead was proved and title of the homestead was vested with Henrietta, her sister and two brothers. The children stayed together and lived as a family in Conway Co., Arkansas.
Henry Clay Bedinger grew up in Conway Co. and in 1888 married Nancy Sultena Meeks. They lived in Polk Co., Arkansas before relocating to Texas where they raised three boys: Henry Clay, Jr., Charles Arthur, and William Elbert Singleton.
Henry Clay Bedinger grew up in Conway Co. and in 1888 married Nancy Sultena Meeks. They lived in Polk Co., Arkansas before relocating to Texas where they raised three boys: Henry Clay, Jr., Charles Arthur, and William Elbert Singleton.
Lavinia Bedinger in 1882 married Edward Henry Morrill. He was the son of E. J. Morrill, prominent merchant of Conway County. Edward Morrill’s untimely death in 1888 left Lavinia with four young children, Edward Henry, Netta Washington, Edna Lavinia, and Mildred Antoinette. Lavinia and her children lived in Morrilton until the early 1900s when they moved to Terrell, Kaufman Co., Texas
Singleton Berry Bedinger was raised by Netta and Lavinia in Conway Co. He later also settled in Terrell, Texas after attending Tulane University, New Orleans and working at various jobs in south Texas. In 1904 Singleton Berry Bedinger married Nina John Terrell, daughter of John Love Terrell and granddaughter of Robert Adams Terrell after whom the town of Terrell, Texas is named. Singleton and Nina Bedinger had five children, John Terrell, Singleton Berry Jr., Nina Celeste, Edward Rentfro and George Terrell. Nina (Terrell) Bedinger died soon after the birth of her son George Terrell in January of 1917. From 1907 to 1914 Singleton was Superintendent of the Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas. Singleton traveled over much of the state of Texas as sales representative for various companies.
Singleton Berry Bedinger was raised by Netta and Lavinia in Conway Co. He later also settled in Terrell, Texas after attending Tulane University, New Orleans and working at various jobs in south Texas. In 1904 Singleton Berry Bedinger married Nina John Terrell, daughter of John Love Terrell and granddaughter of Robert Adams Terrell after whom the town of Terrell, Texas is named. Singleton and Nina Bedinger had five children, John Terrell, Singleton Berry Jr., Nina Celeste, Edward Rentfro and George Terrell. Nina (Terrell) Bedinger died soon after the birth of her son George Terrell in January of 1917. From 1907 to 1914 Singleton was Superintendent of the Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas. Singleton traveled over much of the state of Texas as sales representative for various companies.
To keep the family together, Henrietta (Netta) Gray Bedinger may have taught school in the early years after her father’s death. In 1858, when Netta was not yet four years of age, her aunt died leaving her property. As provided in the will of her aunt, Sarah (Salley) Eleanor Washington, the proceeds from the property were to be accrued until Netta reached the age of 18, when it was to “… be used to send her to school and give her both useful and ornamental education.” Her ownership of the property willed her did not survive the ravages of the Civil War. However, by her strength of character and fortitude Netta did attain the education her aunt wished for her. Netta’s education included the study of art in St. Louis. She became a teacher of art and attained wide recognition as a gifted artist. An early position she held was principal of the art department at Hiram and Lydia College in Altus, Arkansas. Her long career in teaching art took her to Pass Christian Institute, Mississippi and schools in Kansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. She was the first teacher of art at the University of Arkansas. Her artwork includes oil paintings on canvas, paintings fired on china and sculpture. She was especially well known for her outstanding talent at freehand silhouette cut art, two pieces of which reside in the Sue H. Walker collection at the University of Arkansas. In her later years she moved to Terrell, Texas where her sister Lavinia Morrill had made her home. Netta taught art at Toon College in Terrell. Netta G. Bedinger died at the home of her brother Singleton Berry Bedinger in Terrell on August 31, 1923.
Lavinia Bedinger and Edward Henry Morrill – Lavinia Bedinger, daughter of Solomon Singleton and Mildred Berry (Washington) Bedinger, married Edward Henry Morrill on February 22, 1882. Edward Henry Morrill was the son of Edward James and Harriet Morrill. E. J. Morrill, a native of Massachusetts, and his wife Harriet had in lived Perry Co., Missouri before coming to Conway Co. in 1841. They settled in Lewisburg, south of the present-day Morrilton. At the time of the 1850 census, E. J. and Harriet Morrill had two sons, Edward Henry and George Hall, and a daughter Josephine. When E. J. Morrill’s will was probated May 7, 1885, Josephine was not mentioned and was presumably deceased. E. J. Morrill made a bequest in his will, probated, to his granddaughter Lucy O. Griffin, possibly the daughter of Josephine.
Netta Washington (Morrill) Griffith, daughter of Edward H. and Lavinia (Bedinger) Morrill relates in a letter written in 1860, that when her grandfather, E. J. Morrill “ …. moved down the Arkansas River by flatboat to Lewisburg with his family. Lewisburg, on the bank of the river was a thriving little town .... had 10 or 12 stores, two hotels. Their only transportation was stagecoach or steamboat which brought their merchandise from New Orleans. Grandfather was a merchant and druggist. In those early days, there were few railroads. In 1871 or 1872, a company was formed in Little Rock and began building a road to Fort Smith. The first survey was through Sardis Gap through Lewisburg. They asked Lewisburg to donate $1,000 to help build the railroad. They thought little of the ‘Old train thing’ as they called it … felt they could get it anyway and wouldn’t donate … the company moved one (mile) north to where it is now. [The] Morrill and Moose [families] donated from their land which they owned, where the town of Morrilton was established. The first depot was a box car... The first residents of Morrilton, according to historic accounts, were Mr. and Mrs. George Morrill,…. They were the parents of the first child born at Morrilton, Julia ….” The city of Morrilton began to develop, to the demise of Lewisburg. The city was incorporated by an act of the county court January 16, 1880 as Morrillton. The spelling was later changed to Morrilton.
Edward Henry Morrill died at an early age apparently as a result of a prank. While on a deer hunt and staying in a cave, a bucket filled with water was set up to topple on the unsuspecting person who walked under. The douse in the cold weather was blamed for Edward catching pneumonia, causing his death in 1888 at the age of 43. He left his widow, Lavinia (Bedinger) Morrill with four young children, ages seven months to five years, Edward Henry, Netta Washington, Edna, and Mildred Antoinette. Lavinia (Bedinger) Morrill and her children lived in the Morrilton area for 12 or more years after the death of E. J. Morrill. The 1900 Conway Co. Census records show Lavinia’s sister, Henrietta (Netta) G. Bedinger, living with her and her four children. In the early 1900’s Lavinia Morrill and her children moved to Terrell, Kaufman Co., Texas to be near relatives.
At the historic depot in Morrilton, now a museum, there is now a plaque donated by the Morrill family which states: “In memory of Edward Henry Morrill, 1845-1888, for whom the city of Morrilton is named, for his foresight in recognizing the importance of bringing the railroad to this community and his generosity in donating land for that purpose, this plaque is dedicated. Given in loving memory by his grandchildren on this 10th day of April 1999”.
At the historic depot in Morrilton, now a museum, there is now a plaque donated by the Morrill family which states: “In memory of Edward Henry Morrill, 1845-1888, for whom the city of Morrilton is named, for his foresight in recognizing the importance of bringing the railroad to this community and his generosity in donating land for that purpose, this plaque is dedicated. Given in loving memory by his grandchildren on this 10th day of April 1999”.