Frank W. Bedard, of LaSalle, Illinois, is secretary and general manager of the Peru-LaSalle Gaslight and Power Company, and is one of the trustworthy, self-reliant men who figure largely in the prosperity and growth of the municipality in which they reside. He was ushered into this life in this city, January 27, 1857, his parents being John and Mary M. (Chapin) Bedard. The grandfather, John Napoleon Bedard, was a native of France and later a resident of Ottawa, Canada, where he died in his sixtieth year. John N. Bedard, the father, was one of six children who grew to mature years. While yet in his 'teens he made a visit to the Mississippi valley but returned to Canada, where he remained until 1853, when he took up his residence in LaSalle. He was in the railroad business and also bought grain, but later opened a grocery store which he conducted for several years. During the civil war he was on a gunboat on the Mississippi river, but was not enlisted, and remained but a short time. He was a tax collector here at one time. His death occurred in 1878, when he was but forty-five years old, and surviving him are his widow and six children. The children are: Frank W.; Belle, wife of John W. Dugan, of LaSalle; Adelaide, the wife of Charles Ward, of Chicago; Charles, of LaSalle; George, of Boulder, Colorado; and Edith, wife of B. N. Rhodes, of this city. Mrs. Mary M. Bedard is a resident of LaSalle. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and a lady of noble Christian character. Her father, F. C. Chapin, was a native of New York, where he followed the trade of printer. He came west about the year 1853 and located at Toulon, where he worked at painting a short time and then came to LaSalle, dying in his eighty-eighth year. He was of French and English stock and left seven children to perpetuate his memory.
F. W. Bedard has always lived in LaSalle, attended the puplic schools when a boy, and here gained his business education. When he was seventeen he entered the gas works and may truly be said to have grown up with the plant. Becoming thoroughly conversant with every detail of the business he was placed in charge of the plant as superintendent about fourteen years ago, and so acceptably were the duties of the office discharged that he was still farther honored a year ago, by being assigned to the office of secretary and general manager. This plant employs from ten to twenty men, and its interests are carefully looked after by Mr. Bedard, who is very popular with those in his employ.
He was united in marriage, November 26, 1885, to Miss Margaret E. Lininger, daughter of Daniel and Emma (Slyder) Lininger, early settlers of Peru. Mr. Bedard is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and also of the Court of Honor. He has always given his support to the Republicans. During his forty-two years of life in LaSalle he has made a wide circle of acquaintances, all of whom hold him in the highest esteem.
Extracted 26 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 2, pages 458-459.
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