My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

William H. Bradshaw was born in Kentucky, June 9, 1830. He is the son of Benjamin and Nancy G. (Bailey) Bradshaw, natives of Kentucky, the former of English descent, and the latter of Scotch lineage. They were married in 1825, and ten years later came to Missouri. After a year in Marion County they came to this county, where the father died near La Belle. The father was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge. He was in the war of 1812. His political principles were Democratic. He died in 1852, at the age of sixty years, leaving a widow and four children. The mother makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. W. R. Bradshaw, and is now a hale old lady of seventy-eight years. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for over half a century. Our subject left home at the age of twenty, on account of the “gold fever.” He spent three years in California, with fair success at mining, and then returned to his farm in Lewis County, in 1853. In 1862 he became a soldier, and served at Kirksville. In 1864 he was discharged on account of ill health, from which he has never recovered. In 1855 he married Catherine, a daughter of Cyrus McCracken, of Marion County, and they had the following named children: Cyrus M., William A., John, Ella, Edwin, Nannie D. and Thomas W. The mother of these children died in 1885. Our subject has a fine home of about 200 acres. He votes the Republican ticket, and in religion he and his wife hold to the faith of the Christian Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.