Blog

James Madison Bedichek, no date. Guessing he is about 30 years old, here. Last year, I visited locations that represented the “bookends” of my great-great-grandfather James Madison Bedichek’s Civil War story: Lawrence, Kansas and Camp Chase, Ohio. At 19, James joined William Quantrill’s August 21, 1863 guerrilla attack on Lawrence, Kansas. He was one of 450 guerillas (along with Jesse and Frank James) who ambushed the town, indiscriminately killing over 160 people. The museum

Back to my Bedichek First Arriver and my 3rd great-grandfather, Frederick Augustus (1809-1891). Frederic Bezdíček arrived in New York in...

The Bedicheks were part of the US homesteader story . The larger story is a sad one to me, white (and a few black) folks given land...

So, the family story becomes much richer! Roy and Lillian's adventure was amazing, and now we have the just-as-amazing story of his parents'

As we prepared to leave Kentucky on our way to Des Moines, Iowa, I realized we could easily swing through Newmansville, Ill, the...

Roy Bedichek's friends and colleagues wanted him to write a book. They had spent years receiving his eloquent letters and enjoying...

In Karankaway Country, Great-Granddaddy Bedichek has a chapter called "Dust" where he talks about topsoil. He explains the role that...

Hello, Adventurers! I have started to dig into and organize the photos I took of Bedichek documents at the Briscoe Center. I found this...

My first Adventures with Bedichek road trip is in the books. It is great to be home and it is now time to reflect and digest. I'll...

Great-Granddaddy wrote about the Cliff Swallows that made mud nests on the Congress Avenue Bridge. I have yet to see the swallows -- if...

Today, I decided to take a hike along Barton Creek -- farther upstream to see if I could find running water. I had to walk 2 miles, but I...

Personally, if I have to fight for this country, I will not fight for the flag, or the American “way of life,” or democracy, or private...

I stumbled upon the perfect place for this first Adventure with Bedichek. My lodging is on a simple urban homestead with chickens, a...

Great-Granddaddy wrote and wrote and wrote! I am truly grateful! Here are some more bits and bobs that I particularly enjoyed. (Titles...

Friday Mountain -- Picnic with Great-Granddaddy #3 When Great-Granddaddy's friends implored him to write a book, they found funding for...

Today was an amazing day. I was able to touch the very papers that Great-Granddaddy wrote. Our family is immensely lucky that there are...

Today, I spent several hours in Eddy, Texas -- where Great-Granddaddy Bedichek spent his formative years and where he was buried. I have...

Great-Granddaddy tells the story of his father's passing. Although he loved and admired the man greatly, he said when he learned of JM's...

Today I got to actually look for places Great-Granddaddy worked and lived. His first stop after high school was Waco, Texas -- where I...

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...