When Martin Van Buren Bedwell was born in February 1856, in Iowa, United States, his father, Leftwich Bedwell, was 35 and his mother, Rebecca Elizabeth Howard, was 37. He married Aldora or Dora L. Burkhead on 8 May 1873, in Warren, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Greenfield Township, Warren, Iowa, United States for about 10 years and Osceola, Polk, Nebraska, United States in 1880. He died in July 1901, in Spokane, Washington, United States, at the age of 45, and was buried in Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington, United States.