My Genealogy Hound

James Benjamin Bradshaw, an old settler of Lafayette Township (known as Benjamin B.), was born in Prince Edward County, Va., February 6, 1834, a son of Richard and Mary (Pinnich) Bradshaw, natives of Virginia. Richard Bradshaw was born in 1805, a son of Benjamin Bradshaw, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Richard Bradshaw was a slave trader by occupation of Richmond, Va. He came to this State in 1850, locating in this township, and entered a large tract of wild land. He died in 1886. The mother of our subject died in 1877, leaving ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor, and Mr. Bradshaw then married (in 1878) Mrs. Martha Posey, nee Hays, of this county. She is still living in this county, the wife of Mr. Robinson, of Stephens. James B. Bradshaw came to this county at the age of seventeen years. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced work for himself, being employed in brick-making for a while, and then engaged in farming, which occupation he has since continued. He purchased his recent farm in 1878, comprising 300 acres of land, with about 100 acres under cultivation. In 1862 he enlisted in the infantry service, then detailed in the ordnance department, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Bradshaw was married in January, 1861, to Miss Frances Franks, who was born in Louisiana in 1845, and is a daughter of McCanby and Rebecca (Ross) Franks, natives of Louisiana, and the fruits of this union have been nine children, seven of whom are still living, viz.: Andrew Lee (now married and farming on his father’s land), James McCanby, Joseph W., Prudena Ulma, Utilla, Oscar S. and Claud, all at home. Mr. Bradshaw is a prosperous farmer, and devotes his time chiefly to the cultivation of cotton. Both he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bradshaw is a Democrat in his political views, and takes an active interest in political matters, as well as in all work for the good of the community.