My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES S. BRADLEY, a well-known citizen of Phelps county and a native of Vermont, was born in Williston, October 1, 1833, and is the fifth of a family of ten children born to Eli J. and Sarah Bradley. His father was a farmer, followed farming throughout life, and was an intelligent, upright citizen. He accomplished much good during his life, and died in his eighty-third year, regretted by a large circle of friends, who loved and revered him as an upright, and very earnest christian man.

The mother of C. S. Bradley bore the maiden name of Sarah Cooley, and is now living in Nebraska with her son, our subject, and is in her ninetieth year.

Charles S. Bradley was reared in the place of his birth, being brought up on his father’s farm, and was early trained to habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. He attended the common schools, and received a good common-school education. He then began to study for the ministry and to teach, and was first licensed in 1854 by the quarterly conference of the Methodist church. He went to Ohio, taught school there one year, and then returned to Vermont. From Vermont he went to Missouri, and there he was engaged in teaching and preaching. While there he married, taking for a life companion Miss Matha Williamson, a daughter of Thomas Williamson, of Cooper county, Mo.

After a residence of five years in Missouri, Mr. Bradley returned to Ohio, and remained there till coming to Nebraska in 1876. When he came to Nebraska he settled in Seward county, bought railroad land and began to make improvements. Being disabled by the “grasshopper raid,” from fully meeting his annual obligations, the railroad company sold him out for a small amount of unpaid money, although he had paid them as much as $1,200. In 1878 he came to Phelps county, and located a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 18, township 5, range 19, and a timber claim on the northwest quarter of section 19, township 5, range 19. He has also added, by purchase, another quarter section, now owning four hundred and eighty acres of good land, he has one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, and raises mixed crops, mainly corn. His chief line of business is raising corn, cattle and hogs. He now owns one of the finest farms in Phelps county, with good building improvements, groves, and a fine orchard. The success he has met with is the result of good management, and has been obtained by a life of unremitting industry and perseverance, united with frugal habits, and to his estimable wife who has so long aided and counseled him in all his praise-worthy efforts, much of his success is due. He is a man of truly religious principles, and lives up to all his professions; is scrupulously honest in all his dealings, cautious in his conversation, never speaking aught to the detriment of his neighbors, and is much respected by all who know him.

Mr. Bradley has been twice married. He lost his first wife by death, July 27, 1864 August 24, 1865, he married Miss Rosanna Creamer, a daughter of C. C. Creamer, of Fayette county, Ohio. Mr. Bradley is the father of eight children, two by his first marriage and six by his last. The children by the first marriage are — Eli W., and Charles H. (deceased). By his second — Henry C., Minor (deceased), Abblex, Charles A. (deceased), Ancel M. and Myron W.

Mr. Bradley’s work being mission work, he has traveled almost constantly since 1862, but now has a short vacation. In politics he affiliates with the prohibition party, and is specially interested in all reform movements.