Henry Ewalt Bedford was born March 8, 1859 in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Ewalt's father was a farmer and cavalry captain in the Confederate Army. Family pass-down states that as a young man Ewalt drove a herd of sheep across Texas that drown when he attempted to cross the San Marcos River. He became a driver of the stagecoach between San Antonio and Laredo. He met his wife Carlotta Stewart at Fort Ewell on the Nueces. They were married, June 9, 1884 in La Salle. Carlotta's father, William Allen Stewart, operated a store, post office and stage stop so Ewalt would have been a regular acquaintance. The last mention of Bedfords in La Salle County was January 22, 1890 when H.E. Bedford was mentioned in a Laredo newspaper as majordomo of a ranch in Encinal.

The Bedfords moved to San Antonio in the 1890's along with the rest of the Stewart family. In San Antonio Ewalt pursued a number of occupations including employment as a teamster, foreman of an oil mill and later in life as a night watchman at an army base. He was also an active participant in the politics of San Antonio at the county/district level. All but three of the 11 Bedford children have memorials on Find a Grave. Cemeteries for Joseph and Charles have not been found.

Obituary, San Antonio Light, March 25, 1942: "Ewalt Bedford Rites Set For Wednesday. Funeral services for Ewalt Bedford, 83, who died Monday, will be held at the residence, 346 Canton St., Wednesday afternoon. Bedford had resided in San Antonio 50 years and was a native of Bourbon Co., Kentucky. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. R W Owen of Houston; Mrs Gertrude and Margaret Bedford of San Antonio; five sons, Charles S. of Kansas City, Mo.; Lee A. of Dallas; William A. and John R. Bedford of San Antonio."