Woman of the Century/Lou Singletary Bedford

BEDFORD, Mrs. Lou Singletary, author, born in Feliciana, Graves county, Ky., 7th April, 1837. She comes of a good and distinguished LOU SINGLETARY BEDFORD. family on both sides. Her father, Luther Singletary, was of English descent and a native of Massachusetts, born in 1796. He was educated and spent his early manhood in Boston. Her mother, Elizabeth Hamilton Stell, was born in 1802, in Dinwiddie county, near Petersburg, Va. Mrs. Lou Singletary Bedford is the fifth child and third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Singletary. Her father was a teacher, and his little daughter was placed in his school at six years of age. She had no special love for books, except for reading, spelling and grammar, but her ambition kept her at the head of most of her classes Nearly all of her education was received under her father's instruction in a country school, though she completed her course of study in Clinton Seminary. After leaving school she taught for a year or two. In 1857 she became the wife of John Joseph Bedford, a friend and associate of her childhood. There were six children born to them four of whom are living. The father, a grown daughter, and a son are dead. Of the three living sons two are married. The other lives in El Paso, Texas, and is assisting to educate the youngest and only remaining daughter. Mrs. Bedford's literary career has in a great measure become identified with Texas, her adopted home. Her first poems were offered for publication when she was in her sixteenth year, appearing under a pen-name. She continued to write until her marriage, from which time her pen was silent for nearly fifteen years. When home cares to some extent were lifted, the accumulated experience and deep thought of years of silence found vent in song. The result was two volumes, "A Vision, and Other Poems" (Cincinnati and London, 18S1), and "Gathered Leaves" (Dallas. 1S89). Mrs. Bedford has for many years contributed to various periodicals, and her influence is felt in social circles embracing many southern States. Her present home is in El Paso, Texas, where she fills the position of social and literary editor of the El Paso "Sunday Morning Tribune."