Laura Bedell spent most of her life in Ontario, where her poetry appeared in numerous periodicals and several volumes.
This author's life has been researched earlier for inclusion in the
Entry revised by Linnea McNally
Laura Amelia Whitmarsh was born in New York state to Canadian-born George Augustus Whitmarsh (c1839-1915) and Annie Foster. At the age of two, following the death of her mother, Laura returned to Canada to live in Merrickville, ON, with her paternal grandparents, postmaster Eleazar (b. 1810) and Laura Amelia Whitmarsh (1813-1903), who assumed responsibility for her upbringing.
All Laura's books appeared after her 1907 marriage to Dr. Thomas Casey Dorland Bedell (1874-1946) and were published under her married name. Like her friend, Anne Merrill, she combined journalism with a literary career, her primary commitment being to poetry. In addition to her four published volumes, she contributed to the
George Augustus Whitmarsh was Supervising Assistant Clerk in the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy.
Thomas Casey Dorland Bedell was a physician.
Journalist
Laura's maiden name is occasionally spelled "Whitemarsh," such as on her headstone.