Brady, Gabriel

BRADY, JONES, HARTMAN

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/4/2020 at 11:13:52

Gabriel Brady, retired farmer, section 7, Jackson Township, was born near Connersville, Ind., in 1808. His father, Joseph Brady, and his mother, Rachel (Jones) Brady, were both born in Culpepper County, Va., in which county they were married, and from which they crossed the mountains on pack-horses, settling in Kentucky, in which State two daughters and two sons were born, two of whom died, Lucy and John survived, and went with their parents to Indiana in about 1807. The family moved to Springfield, Sangamon County, Ill., when there were but two stores in that city. There the mother died, and also the son John. She had a large family, there being besides those already mentioned, Betsey, Wilson, Robert, Fanny, and one unnamed, who died in infancy. The father moved back to Indiana after the death of his wife, and died there later.

Our subject had to make a living the best way he could, and worked by the month until he could buy a few acres of land in Mercer County, Ill., which he sold in 1856, and in the winter of that year he came to this county and purchased 120 acres upon which he yet resides. He was always a hard worker, and after he came here improved his land, of which only ten acres had been broken. He never married, and is perhaps the oldest bachelor in this county. He kept bachelor’s hall for years, and hired men to aid in improving his land, and it is well known that Gabriel is a first-class cook, and he indulged in that occupation, providing for several men and doing his share of the farm work besides.

Mr. Brady has accumulated a nice fortune through the advance in real estate, and when actively engaged in farming raised considerable stock. This has all been disposed of, and he now lives a retired life upon his farm, which brings him an assured income. Fond of children, and social in his nature, Mr. Brady passes his leisure hours in visiting his neighbors. Isaac Hartman attends to the farm, and with him Mr. Brady finds a pleasant home. He ranks among the oldest settlers, and is in every way worthy of a place in this history.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Gabriel Brady, pages 405-406.