U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
Seth Beden
Seth Beden, son of Smithfield Beden and Rebecca Melvin Beden of Hadley, Michigan, remained at home until he attained his majority, after which he went away from home and worked for his board while attending district school, and then studied at the Fenton Schools until able to obtain a teacher's certificate.
The young man taught six terms very successfully and entered the State Normal School of Ypsilanti when it first opened. Lack of funds obliged him to drop out for a while and he became Principal of the Howell schools until he could earn means to resume his studies at the Normal.
In order to make up time and graduate with his class he had to take seven studies each term during the last year, and was allowed to undertake this unusual curriculum on condition that when his standing should fall below one hundred on any study he should drop that branch from his list, but he was enabled to continue throughout the year with a grade of one hundred in every branch.
After graduation Mr. Beden taught in Romeo, Hadley, and other towns until the breaking out of the war, and then enlisted in 1862, in Company K, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and was in every engagement where it took part, and it is the record of this regiment that it was in four more engagements than any other Michigan command, being under fire more than eighty times. During all this time Mr. Beden was never excused from duty during a single day and for the last six months he was on Gen. Wilson's staff, as Topographical Engineer.
Since the war our subject has largely engaged in teaching and civil engineering and surveying and has twice completed a term as County Surveyor, but has made his home upon his beautiful farm since 1865. It was during that year that he was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Stearns of Vienna Township, Genesee County, and they have had one child - William S., who was born January 25, 1874, and died in his fourth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Beden are people of devoted Christian character, his connection being with the Congregational Church and hers with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He is connected with the Bradley Post, No. 194, G.A.R. at Clio, and has been a Republican since the formation of that party. His connection with educational matters and his deep interest in them, as well as his native talents have made him very valuable to the township in regard to all school matters and he has served as School Inspector. He was one of the charter members of the Michigan Engineering Society and has prepared papers and read them before the society. The first Solar Transit ever brought into Michigan was brought hither by this intelligent gentleman and used by him in his surveying and he still has this valuable instrument.
Taken from: 1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros. as seen <http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/tuscola/book/803-805.htm >