Chauncey Bedell, vice-president of the First National Bank of Hempstead, was born November 7, 1833, on a farm south of this village, in the town of Hempstead. The family of which he is a member ranks among the oldest in the town of Hempstead, the first of the name to settle here being Daniel Bedell, who came hither in 1665. Since that time the family have taken an active part in affairs of the town and have been known as honorable, enterprising men, largely mariners by occupation.

Gen. Daniel Bedell, our subject’s grandfather, was a soldier in the War of 1812, where he gained the title by which he was known. The parents of our subject were Elisha and Lydia (Bedell) Bedell, the latter being a daughter of Stephen Bedell of Freeport. The father, who was born February 16, 1803, was a seafaring man and for some years was captain of a coasting vessel. He died December 2, 1885, having long survived his wife, who passed away May 20, 1854.

The family of which our subject is a member consisted of nine children, but only four are now living. The others besides himself are Gilson, a seafaring man who lives in Brooklyn; John, a bookkeeper in Brooklyn; and Eugene F., who is with the Edison Electric Light and Power Company of New York. Educated in the schools of Hempstead, our subject added to the information gained in text books by thoughtful reading and by close observation. At an early age he became interested in the insurance business in New York, where he carried on the work connected with his office, although his home was in Brooklyn for twenty-four years. In 1875 he purchased his present home in Hempstead, and here he has since resided. When the First National Bank was organized, he was made its vice-president, and has since held that position, August Belmont being president of the institution. The influence of his name, standing as it does for substantial worth and sound financial dealings, has added prestige to the bank, which ranks among the important moneyed concerns of the county.

The first wife of Mr. Bedell was Phebe Cortelyou of Brooklyn, a descendant of Dutch forefathers, who were represented among the first settlers of New Utrecht, N.Y., one of them being surveyor-general of New York from 1657 to 1671. This lady died June 7, 1865, leaving one child, Susan C., wife of J. S. Allen, one of the attorneys for the Erie Railroad, with office in New York and residence in Garden City. In 1874 Mr. Bedell married Emma J. Howell, who was born in Trenton, N.J. Her father , Charles, was a prominent business man of that city, and her grandfather, John Howell, was a physician of note there for many years. She has a brother, John, who is retired from active business and makes his home in Virginia. In religious belief she is identified with the Presbyterian Church, and, having no children, she gives much of her time to aiding benevolent and religious projects, originated for the betterment of the people.

With most successful business men their own affairs engross them so entirely that they have little time and less inclination for public affairs. The duties of citizenship they neglect for personal matters. It is to the credit of Mr. Bedell that in the midst of the gravest business responsibilities he has always shown an intelligent interest in public affairs and has sought to perform his duties as a citizen. He has always been interested in political affairs, but it has been the interest of a citizen, not that of an office-seeker or an officeholder. In the Democratic party he finds embodied the principles most nearly in accord with his own opinions, and he therefore gives his support to its men and measures, believing that if carried out in their entirety they would prove the foe of gigantic monopolies and the friend of the workingman.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York"
(Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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