Elisha Bradley, b. 4 May 1831

RODGERS, KINGSLEY, BUTTOLPH, SHARP, WRIGHT, BRINK, CURRY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/22/2004 at 09:58:26

Elisha Bradley, of whom we write, is a resident of section 34, Monmouth Township, where he settled when he first came to this county, in September, 1865. Mr. Bradley was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., May 4, 1831. He is the son of Samuel and Phoebe (Rodgers) Bradley; the father was born in Chittenden County, Vt., and the mother in St. Lawrence County, N.Y. The grandfather of our subject, Elisha Bradley, Sr., born in England, came with two brothers to the United States and settled in New England. He was a farmer and resided in Vermont, where, after a well-spent life of ninety years his death occurred. He at one time served in the Revolutionary War. There were ten children in this family, viz.: Statira, Sylvester, Peleg, Truman, Samuel, Russell, Rachel, Lovella, Marie, and Lucius.

Samuel, the father of our subject, was born in 1794, and married Phoebe Rodgers in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., and there passed his remaining years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He made his home in a timbered country. Samuel Bradley was a Universalist in religious belief, and was a strong supporter of that denomination. He lived to the age of eighty-six years. His wife died when but forty-six years of age. They had become the parents of five children, only three of whom grew to maturity. James, now a resident of Woodbury County, Iowa; Asenath, wife of Harmon Kingsley, living in St. Lawrence County, N.Y.; and Elisha, the subject of this sketch.

Elisha grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1861 was married to Alice Buttolph. She was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., March 10, 1842, and is the daughter of John and Jane (Sharp) Buttolph. John Buttolph, the father of Mrs. Bradley, was born in Lower Canada, and came to New York when but nine years old, and married in St. Lawrence County, where he resided until 1864. Impelled by the spirit of the times he removed westward and settled in Clinton County, this State, where he purchased 100 acres of land. John Buttolph was accompanied to this place by his brother Noah. He was living in Clinton County at the time of his death, which sad event occurred in the year 1875. His wife is still living and makes her home with her children. There was a family of twelve born to them, only six of whom grew to maturity. These were named respectively: Alice, now Mrs. Bradley; Jane, wife of William Wright, residing in Breckenridge, Wilkin Co., Minn.; John, living at Fergus Falls, Minn.; Myra, wife of Chester Brink, living in Sac County, Iowa; Hattie died at the age of eighteen years; Mary, wife of Jacob Curry, resides in Jones County, Iowa.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Elisha Bradley was born in New York, and died at the age of eighty-four years. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Bradley, Philip and Elizabeth Sharp, are also natives of New York. Mrs. Sharp is still living at the age of eighty-nine years. Mr. Sharp served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

Mr. Bradley, our subject, resided in New York after his marriage until 1865, when he came to Iowa and purchased forty acres of his present farm, which was then but little improved; he now owns sixty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have had three children - Cora, Bertha, and Floyd. Mr. Bradley has been in poor health for several years and has thus been prevented from accumulating much of this world's goods. His two daughters are teachers, and contribute much to the support of the family. The elder one has attended school at the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso; they are excellent teachers and very kind to their parents. In politics, Mr. Bradley is a Republican, and has been a strong supporter of this party since 1858. He was drafted during the war, but was excused on account of disability.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)