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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

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Philip J. Bradfield. Prominent among the enterprising and popular men of this section is Philip J. Bradfield, a well- known merchant and farmer, and the son of John H. and Sarah E. (Burnett) Bradfield. He was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., May 19, 1861. John H. Bradfield was also a native of Tennessee, his birth occurring June 16, 1830. He was reared a farmer, and made that his life’s work; a man of common school education, for years he held the position of magistrate, being a Democrat, politically, but not an enthusiast. He was married September 10, 1857, to Miss Burnett, and they were the parents of ten children, five of whom survive, as follows: William C. (a farmer of Jefferson Township), J. L. (a farmer, but now a student of Benton Collegiate High School), Louisa E. (living with her mother on the old homestead in this county), Leon L. (also at home) and Philip (the subject of this sketch). Mr. Bradfield, Sr., came with his family to this State, by rail as far as Memphis, thence on board the “Thomas H. Allen,” a river steamer via the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers, landing at Little Rock, February 20, 1871. From the latter place Shaw Township, Saline County, was easily reached, and after a residence there of two years they moved to Jefferson Township, where the father bought a tract of 182 acres of partly improved land. He added to this from time to time until he owned 253 acres, improving it to a great extent, and at the time of his death, in 1881, was preparing to build a new residence. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife still lives at the old homestead, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Philip J. was reared to farm life, and spent his younger days in the common schools of Saline County. When in his twentieth year he took the management of his mother’s farm. On February 5, 1884, he led to the hymeneal altar Miss Faithie A. Roberts, daughter of T. J. Roberts, and a native of Saline County. To this union two children have been born: Ida May (born March 6, 1885) and Essie Maud (born April 17, 1888). After his marriage Mr. Bradfield resumed farming and homesteaded 120 acres adjoining his mother’s place, which he immediately began to improve. He also owns a part of the old homestead. In 1887, purchasing a fine stock of goods, he opened a store on his farm, and since that time has conducted his mercantile business with encouraging success. In 1886 he was elected justice of the peace in his township, and still holds that office, to the entire satisfaction of those concerned. He is president of the school board and a member of the board of equalization for Saline County, in session at Benton. He is a member of Paran Lodge No. 309, A. F. & A. M., also of Jefferson Lodge No. 55, I. O. G. T., in which latter he has held nearly every office. Mr. and Mrs. Bradfield are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Bradfield votes with the Democrats, and exerts considerable influence in the township and county politically. He has given not a little attention to journalistic work since 1881, attaining an enviable reputation in that line. He first began this work as local correspondent for the Benton Courier, and is still holding that position. In January, 1885, he wrote an article for the “Farmer and Mechanic,” entitled “Our Neglected Resources,” which was published in the regular edition of that paper. It was re-published in the 50,000 edition of the paper, and the attention it received, together with the criticisms, which were all that one could desire, combined to show that the writer was of unusual ability and an honor to the literary world. He was appointed April 2, 1887, as special correspondent of the Daily Arkansas Gazette, both by mail and wire, and was sent by that paper to visit Montgomery County, Ark., during the mining excitement there in 1887. He also prepared the article for the Bear City edition of the Gazette, and has contributed largely to other papers, the Benton Review, and Farm and Fireside, of Springfield, Ohio. He has served as a member of the Democratic central committee for the last six years. Mr. Bradfield is one of those young men rapidly coming to the front, and the citizens of Jefferson Township have just cause to feel proud of such a one in their midst. He is public-spirited, and takes an active part in, and gives his earnest support to all enterprises for the good of the public.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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