P. B. Bradley (1809-1890)

BRADLEY, BRIGGS

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/29/2009 at 11:46:39

Jackson Sentinel
April 3, 1890

Died.

Bradley. – At his home in Andrew, Thursday morning, March 27, 1890, of pleurisy, Hon. P. B. Bradley, aged 71 years, 2 months, 22 days. The funeral occurred Sunday afternoon and was very largely attended by loving friends and relatives.

The deceased had for many years been one of Jackson county’s most prominent and widely known citizens, having held many positions of honor and trust. He was descended from a New England family of eminence and high governmental positions.

Philip Burr Bradley was born in Ridgefield, Conn, Jan. 5, 1809. He was reared in his native town and was graduated from the High School when but sixteen years old. In 1826 he was entered as a student in the classical course in Union College in Schenectady, N. Y., from which institution of learning he was a graduate with honors in 1829. After leaving college he commenced the study of law in Danbury, Conn., under the instruction of Hon. Reuben H. Booth. He remained in Ridgefield with his mother until the spring of 1834, when he started westwards and landed at Galena, where he established himself in his profession at the August term, 1836. He was appointed Prosecuting – Attorney for the term by Gov. Ford, and in 1837 was commissioned Postmaster. In the fall of 1839 he resigned his position, having decided to take up his residence in the Territory of Iowa. He purchased 300 acres of land in Van Buren Township, Jackson county, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1840 an attempt was made to draw him back to the bar, and his friends elected him Probate Judge of Clinton county, but he did not care for the office and did not qualify. In 1843 he was appointed District Clerk of the Court for Jackson county, and removed with his family to Andrew. He held that office until the spring of 1845, when he was elected to the Territorial Council on the democratic ticket. In 1846 an admiring constituency sent him to represent them in the State Senate, and be served with honor four years. In 1850 he was elected Secretary of that body, and served in that capacity, or as assistant secretary, every session except one, during his connection with the senate, until the capital was removed to Des Moines. In 1857 he was elected to the State Legislature as representative from Jackson county in the first session of the law-makers at Des Moines after it had been made the capital of the State. In 1861, Mr. Bradley was elected County Judge for a term of two years, and in 1863 he resumed his practice before the bar. In 1877 he was again elected Representative of the State Legislature to assist in the deliberations of the 17th session of that honorable body. At the end of that term he retired to private life, having earned a rest from the weary exactions and demands of public life by thirty-seven years of earnest and tireless effort in behalf of the people and state He retired with honor and a stainless record after a brilliant and useful career, in which he had unselfishly labored for the good of the greatest number, irrespective of party; and as a statesman, judge and politician he was always true to himself and others, and was faithful and incorruptible in the discharge of his duties. He was for many years a power in the democratic party, and in 1852 was Chairman of the Iowa delegation in the national Convention that met at Baltimore, and cast his vote for Stephen A. Douglas until the last ballot, when Franklin Pierce was nominated for the Presidency of the United States. The Judge was Gov. Brigg’s right-hand man during his administration, and had great influence in the management of the state government.

To them were born eight children, three daughters and five sons, of whom two daughters and four sons are still living.