job traveling on the road selling Home Comfort stoves. Although he was successful in selling stoves he soon quit and returned to Decorah where he accepted a job setting up farm machinery for Reed & Lennon. It was there that he was befriended by one of the owners, Wally Reed, who helped him get started in selling automobiles. Reed & Lennon had the Chevrolet franchise at that time and by 1928 Howard achieved the honor of making the Chevrolet “100 Car Club". He maintained that record for at least 5 years, actually selling 147 new Chevrolets in 1931. When all of the banks closed in 1932 during the Great Depression, Reed & Lennon went out of business and Howard was left without a job.

At that time he decided to start a used car business for himself and began by going to Dubuque and Chicago to buy cars from the larger dealers in those cities. He sold these cars from a lot on West Water Street until 1933 when he and Walter “Hap” Kneeskern formed a partnership and obtained a franchise to sell Oldsmobile, DeSoto and Plymouth cars along with International trucks. In 1936 this partnership was dissolved and Howard accepted the Hudson-Terraplane franchise, which he maintained until 1938.

In 1938 Howard accepted the Pontiac franchise and constructed a building at a location on Broadway across from the former Ingvolstad Lumber Company, where the Jerry Schacht Body Shop stood. He conducted his business from there until he sold the building to Roy Gjetley in 1943 and moved to the present location of Bradley Auto Sales on West Water Street.

In 1950 Howard sold a one-half interest in the business to his son Elton. They remained partners until he sold the remainder of the business to Elton shortly before his death in 1985.

Howard was well-known and well-liked by many in Decorah and the surrounding area, where he was respected for being a “self-made man” and as a man whose “word was good."

On 13 Mar 1986 Howard died of a heart attack at the home of his son Elton in Decorah.

[The following information and photo was submitted by Rebecca Bradley on July 25, 2016]

Howard married again December 27, 1951 to Mary Ann Schroeder. The were married in LaCrosse Wisconsin at St. Mary's Catholic Church rectory in LaCrosse by Fr. Mooney. Howard and Mary Ann made their home in LaCrosse, close to where MaryAnn taught in La Crescent and Howard spent part of each week in Decorah where his car dealership was located. Howard and Mary Ann had four children. Howard A.(Rebecca) of Blaine WA, Tim (LouAnna) of GreenRiver WY, Mary Atwater (Carson) of Winfield IL and Tammy Keating (Todd) of Naperville IL. Howard always emphasized education with his children and he lived to see all four graduation from university, a personal goal of his. Howard and Mary Ann's decedents now number 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Howard and Mary Ann with their young sons

Bradley, James and Mary (Koehler)

(Katy Bradley)

James Scott Bradley

Bradley, Kathreen “Katy” (Gunderson)

(Katy Bradley)

Kathreen Gunderson was born in Ossian, IA  the first child of Otto and Mayme Gunderson. She began her education in the Ossian Public Schools at age 5 and was enrolled in the first grade since there was no kindergarten there at that time. Her teacher taught grades one, two and three in the same room so her educational skills progressed very rapidly.

Kathreen’s love of learning was fostered by her parents and grandmother, Berthe Bartelson Gunderson. Her mother read her nursery rhymes and the usual children's literature, but her father fascinated her by reading articles from the National Geographic, the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal.

During her school years she was an active participant in all extra-curricular activities. She participated in all sports and was a member of the basketball, volleyball and soft-ball teams. Her other activities included declamatory work and drama. She also sang in choruses, sextets, and served as the accompanist for many musical activities.

In 1934 she won the Winneshiek Co. spelling contest at Decorah, IA. During her school years students in Iowa high schools were given tests in various subjects and the 50 highest ranking students in the state were selected for a free trip to the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She was one of the lucky winners of this event.