BRADFIELD, George - 1912 Bio (1837-1926)

BRADFIELD, GOW, PARKER, ASHMEAD, HOFFMAN, IRELAND, GOODMAN

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 12/17/2003 at 17:30:18

From the History of Jefferson County - 1912, Volume II
Pages 62-64

GEORGE BRADFIELD

“George BRADFIELD, who for the past seven years has lived retired in Brookville, was numbered among the substantial and representative agriculturists of Jefferson county during his early manhood; later, he engaged in business as a huckster and painter of Fairfield. His birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 16th of January, 1837, his parents being Stephen and Nancy (BRADFIELD) BRADFIELD, both of whom were natives of Prince William county, Virginia, in which state their marriage was celebrated. The father came of English descent; the mother was of Scotch (sic) lineage. In 1831, they removed to Ohio, locating in Monroe county, where they continued to reside until 1849, which year witnessed their arrival in Jefferson county, Iowa. Stephen BRADFIELD operated a rented farm in Fairfield township for several years. Subsequently he purchased a tract land north of Abingdon, in Polk township, residing thereon throughout the remainder of his life. His wife survived him for seven years.

George BRADFIELD obtained his education in the district schools. After he had attained his majority, he worked on shares with his father, residing under the parental roof until thirty years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own. In 1863, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company F, Third Iowa Cavalry. He participated in the battle of Little Rock, Arkansas, and was then assigned to the Eastern department, taking part in the engagements at Oxford and Guntown, Mississippi. He was also in a number of skirmishes incident to Price's raid through Arkansas and Missouri, and on the Blue river. On one occasion, his horse was killed and fell upon him dislocating one of his ankles and shoulders. After spending four months in the hospital at Jefferson City, Missouri, Mr. BRADFIELD returned to his company at Louisville, Kentucky, and did active duty as a soldier until the cessation of hostilities, when he was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. Returning home with a creditable military record, Mr. BRADFIELD resumed farming. in association with his father. Following his marriage, he took up his abode on a farm in Wapello county, where he remained for one year; subsequently, he spent four years on the old GOW place in Fairfield township, Jefferson county. Removing to Kansas, he there remained for four years, on the expiration of which period he was obliged to leave the Sunflower state because of the ravages of the grasshoppers. In 1874, he returned to this county, locating in Brookville, where he made his home for twenty years. He next removed to Fairfield, where he resided for two years; he then spent four years in Brookville, and afterward again lived in Fairfield for five years. While a resident of Fairfield, he was successfully engaged in business as a huckster and painter, but, during the past seven years, has lived in honorable retirement at Brookville, owning an attractive residence and thirteen acres of land in section 11, Locust Grove township.

On the 19th of February, 1867, at the home of the bride's parents in Fairfield township, Mr. BRADFIELD was united in marriage to Miss Christina C. GOW, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Peter and Jeanette (PARKER) GOW, both of whom were born in Glasgow, Scotland. Emigrating to America, her parents first located in Ohio; later, about 1848, they took up their abode on a farm in Fairfield township, Jefferson county, Iowa. The last years of their lives, however, were spent in retirement at Fairfield.

The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. BRADFIELD is given below. Cora Eva gave her hand in marriage to Benson ASHMEAD, an agriculturist residing east of Bloomfield, by whom she has five children : Ethel, Edgar, Clifford, Fred and Carl. Harry E. operates a farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, just south of Brookville, in association with his son Bruce. In early manhood, he wedded Miss Nora HOFFMAN, daughter of Esham HOFFMAN, a well known farmer of Locust Grove township. Unto them were born four children, two of whom survive; Bruce and Bernice. Both Mr. and Mrs. H. E. BRADFIELD are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Brookville. The former served as assessor of Locust Grove township for one term. Frank BRADFIELD, who farms a tract of land northeast of Brookville, married Lilly IRELAND, of Locust Grove township, by whom he has two children, Hilda and Charles. The mother was twice married, her first husband being Nelson GOODMAN, by whom she one child: Marjory May GOODMAN.

In politics, Mr. BRADFIELD is a stanch republican, loyally supporting the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. For four years, he held the office of postmaster at Brookville, under President Benjamin Harrison. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Brookville, taking a helpful part in its work. Mr. BRADFIELD was a member of Abingdon post of the Grand Army of the Republic, until it was disbanded. Now, in the evening of life, he is living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.