Jesse T. Bradford
The Bradford family, of which Jesse T. Bradford, now retired, is the head, has long been prominent in Grant County, having been established here since October, 1843. Thus seventy years of identity with the county has given a wide acquaintance to the family in these parts, and each succeeding year has added its quota tot he well established position of the family in honor and esteem in which it is held by the public. Seventy years on the farm is the honorable record of Jesse Bradford, but his residence in Marion dates back only to the year 1906, when he retired from active life and settled down to the peace and quiet of a retired life in the city.
Jesse T. Bradford was born on January 20, 1836, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Chell) Bradford. The father was a native of West Virginia, born in that State in 1783, and the mother also was a Virginian by birth. In 1843 George Bradford came to this county, having been a visitor to Indiana some two years previous. when he bought apiece of land and made ready in some measure to transplant his Virginia family to Indiana soil. His farm was a quarter section in Washington Township, and here the family settled, making their home for some years. In 1855 the senior Bradford died, after having passed twelve years in his new home. The Bradford family is one of English stock, while the Chells are of German ancestry. John Bradford, the father of George, who established the family in Indiana, came from England where he was born, and settled in Virginia, where they settled in hardy County, now called Grant county, Virginia. George Bradford was twice married. he first married Mary Stingley and to them were born four sons, namely: John, George, Leonard and Daniel, none of whom are alive today. The second wife was Elizabeth Chell, the mother of Jesse Bradford. Sixteen children were born to this latter union, concerning whom brief mention is made here as follows: Rachel, who married John McNamara, is now deceased; Isaac, Henry, Moses, Casper, Joseph and William R. are all deceased; Catherine, who married David Schuff, is living in Washington Township, and is about eighty-five years old, as is her husband; Rebecca, married George W. Camblin, and lies at Falls City, Nebraska; Mary J. is dead; Elizabeth Ann is the wife of Amos Harlan, of Huntington County, Indiana; Jesse T., of this review; the remaining four, whose names are not available at this point, died in infancy.
Jesse T. Bradford was not what might have been called an educated man, his schooling being represented by sixty-five days attendance in the common schools of his home community. He lived on the home farm a quarter mile distant from the home place, located on Section fifteen, in Washington Township, and there he lived for forty-seven years. He still owns a share in the old home farm in Section sixteen, but it is long since he took an active interest in the work of the place.
Mr. Bradford like his father, has been twice married. His first wife was Lucy J. Gaines, who was reared in Washington Township, Grant county, and to their union, which was solemnized on November 4, 1860, were born four sons: Elmer, deceased; Walter J., of Marion; Oscar C., of whom mention is made at length in another Bradford sketch to be found elsewhere in this work; and another child, who died in infancy. On the fifth day of March, 1874, the wife and mother passed away, and on April 11, 1875, Mr. Bradford married Angeline Silvers, who bore him five children. One of the number died in infancy and the others were: Frank S./, now living on the home farm; Clarence W., an attorney of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Ernest B., of Laporte, Indiana; and Clinton B., a resident of Grant County.
Mr. Bradford was for many years a stanch Republican in his political faith, but he later embraced Prohibition, although his support, in the main, is given to the man he regard most fitted for service, regardless of party affiliations. He is one of the honored and honorable men of the county, and his position has long been a prominent one in his community and wherever he is known.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.