Today as I listened to more of the audio interviews I was a bit taken aback by the way Great-Granddaddy shares some of the life events of his father, James Madison (JM) Bedichek, and his grandfather, FA Bedichek. These stories were all told to Great-Granddaddy by his father. No corroborative sources are ever mentioned. So, I wonder if JM "enhanced" his stories at all...
Born in Switzerland, FA immigrated to the US and married Matilda Jividen from Virginia -- whose southern roots were deep. Matilda died at 43 (after bearing 12 children!). FA was a maker of fine furniture, but his mill and factory burned to the ground. As a broke widower, FA moved with his three teen-aged children to Missouri. When the Civil War started in 1861, Missouri was home to both Union and Confederate sympathizers -- a dangerous place to be. The Bedicheks were Southern sympathizers and JM at the age of 16 enlisted as a Confederate soldier.
According to JM, he eventually joined Quantrill's Gang of Raiders (a Confederate guerrilla group) and participated in the Lawrence, KS Massacre in 1863. The massacre was reportedly retaliatory -- there were lots of atrocities committed by both sides. Evidently, the Bedicheks were neighbors of the James brothers (as in Jesse and Frank) and the Younger brothers who rode with Quantrill as well. (I guess I could check the census records to see if they really were from the same area.) JM was eventually captured and sent to a prisoner camp in Ohio. After the War at the age of 21, he was released in a prisoner exchange.
Some of the Civil War stories really do seem a bit "spruced up." For example, there is the one about him hiding under some floorboards in a house (to avoid Union soldiers looking for him) while digging a bullet out of his leg (nearly to the bone!) with a crochet hook. Maybe it is true!
Back to FA
After the War (I believe), FA was an older man living with his daughter, Mary, in Missouri. One day, two Union soldiers appeared at their house with the intent to kill FA in retaliation for JM's role in the war and raids. Not realizing their intent, FA let them inside. The men began to attack and while they were focused on FA, Mary snuck over to the kitchen and grabbed a "corn knife" -- basically a machete. She whacked the arm of one man and he left the cabin. Then, FA and Mary kept fighting the other man. Mary hacked at him with the corn knife as he and FA rolled around on the floor fighting. Eventually, FA was able to grab a long Swiss cane sword from the mantel and stabbed the man with it twice. Needless to say, they killed him. Gruesome!
Good Stories, but...
Now, as my Great-Granddaddy told these war stories of JM, he described them at one time as his "exciting war career." I admit, they kept me on the edge of my seat -- squirming -- but JM participated in horrible murderous raids. And although FA and his daughter acted in self-defense, it was still a horrifying experience where they together killed a man. ("Oh, he was hard to kill and they finished him right there.") Great-Granddaddy tells these stories like he is describing scenes in an entertaining movie! It just seems a little weird to me.
Karen, I too am a Bedichek. FA II was my ggf. The Bedichek family was from, at the time of marriage in 1766, France. Napeleon had seized Swiitrzerland from the West and incorporated this far eastern portion of Switzerland into France. Vaclav Bezdicek is the oldest ancestor I can find. I enjoy reading about Roy Bedichek and wish I could listen to his tapes if these exist. The orginal spelling of the name Bedichek was Bezdicek of which there are quite a few in Minn and upper States. If you deisre please contact me at jbedichek@gmail.com. Jery
Stories told well.
I love the stories! Even if they are filled with violence...