HIRAM E. BRADFORD.

One of the well own and prosperous farmers of Perry township, Woodson county is H. E. Bradford, who first came to Kansas in 1866 and whose residence in this county covers a period of twenty-three years. He

was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, November 12, 1843, and is a representative of an old New England family. His grandfather, Hosea Bradford, was a native of that portion of the country and was one of two brothers who sought homes in the middle west, the other being Joel Bradford, who located in Switzerland county, Indiana. Hosea Bradford married Hannah Dustin, a niece of the Mrs. Dustin, of New England, who was carried off by the Indians and afterward killed eleven of her captors and made her escape. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford resided for a time in Canada and then removed to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where the grandfather of our subject followed farming. Lester Bradford, the father of our subject was born in Canada and was but a small boy when his parents became residents of Ohio. He was reared to farm life and throughout his active business career carried on the work of tilling the soil. He was at one time a resident of Switzerland county, Indiana, but afterward returned to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and his last days were passed in Woodson county, at the home of his son, Hiram E., where he died in August, 1898, at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife bore the maiden name of Elvira Thayer and died in 1848, leaving the following named: Elbert N., now a resident of Douglas county, Oregon; Julia, deceased wife of Dr. Norman Wright, of Cuyahoga county, Ohio; Lodicy, deceased wife of Aseph Sabin, and Hiram Elliott.

The last named spent his boyhood days at Olmstead, Ohio, and there became familiar with farm work. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil war, as a member of company B, One Hundred and third Ohio infantry, and was mustered in at Covington, Kentucky, where he remained until the summer of 1863, when his regiment joined General Burnsides' army for an invasion of eastern Tennessee. He met the Rebels n[sic] the skirmish line near Covington before he was regularly mustered in, but the first regular engagement in which he participated was on the Atlanta campaign. The most serious loss which the regiment sustained was at Resaca, where about one third of the number was killed or wounded. Mr. Bradford was with the forward movement until the fall of Atlanta, when the One Hundred and Third turned back with General Schofield to Franklin, Tennessee, where one of the bloodiest battles of the war was fought. This was followed by the battle of Nashville and of Clifton, and then, they proceeded in pursuit of General Hood. Later Mr. Bradford with his command was ordered to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and subsequently went across the state to Goldsboro where they joined Sherman and saw the last service of the war. The regiment was then sent to Newberne and took boat to Baltimore where they boarded a train for Cleveland, where he received an honorable discharge, after having served for two years and ten months.

On the close of his military experience he went to Indiana but after a brief period came to Kansas, here remaining until 1874 when he returned to Cuyahoga county, Ohio. There he passed the succeeding four

years and in 1878 located permanently in this state. The following year he took up his abode in Woodson county and now makes his home on the northwest quarter of section twenty, township twenty-six, range seventeen, where he is carrying on farming operations, the well tilled fields giving promise of abundant harvests.

On the 25th of February, 1871, Mr. Bradford married Irena Bartlett, a daughter of James and Nancy (Shannon) Bartlett. Their marriage has been blessed with three children: Walter L.; Elvira M., a teacher in the public schools of Woodson county, and Elbert E. The sons assist their father in the operation of the home farm. Mr. Bradford is well known for his Republican principles and the hearty endorsement which he gives to the men and measures of the party. He has held the office of justice of the peace and at the present writing is treasurer of Perry township, in which office he has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the United Brethren church and is one of the reliable and valued citizens of the community.

Previous | Home | Next