James Bradford of Texas County, Missouri

James Bradford. Among the earliest settlers of this part of Missouri was the above mentioned gentleman, whose birth occurred in Washington (now Marion) County, Ky., in 1807. His father was a native of Maryland, and when young went to Virginia, then to Tennessee, where he married Miss Nancy Cole, and became the father of four children. His wife having died he moved to Kentucky, and there married Miss Frances Nealy, who bore him twelve children, of whom James Bradford was the second in order of birth. In 1827 all the family moved to Missouri, and settled at Coppedge's Mill, in Phelps County, their nearest neighbor being fifteen miles away. Here James, his father and brothers spent much time in hunting bear, panther, elk, etc. It was his good fortune to meet Miss Anna Turpin, to whom he was married. She was the daughter of Josiah Turpin, who settled in what is now Pulaski County about 1816. She was born in 1811. Having lived in Phelps County until 1838, James Bradford and family moved to Texas County, Mo., where for a livelihood Mr. Bradford followed farming and saw-milling. He was a man of energy and good business talent. He began a poor man, but accumulated a good fortune, which was lost during the war. For two years he was judge of the county court of Texas County. Prior to the war Mr. Bradford was a Democrat, but after that a Republican, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1864 he lost his wife, and later he married Mrs. Sarah I. Crow, nee Welborn. By his first wife he had twelve children, and by his second four children. He died in 1877. Josiah Bradford is the third child of the first set. He was born on April 1, 1834, at the mouth of Spring Creek, Phelps County, Mo. He was reared a farmer's boy, and received but littled education, not attending more than twelve months altogether. By observation and close application to his books he has made up for this deficiency to a great extent. May 15, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth Halbert, a native of Texas County, Mo., and by her became the father of seven children: America, Columbus, Josiah G., Hugh, Florence A., Arthur and Huber. Mr. Bradford and all his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Columbus is a minister in the same. August 9, 1862, Mr. Bradford enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Missouri Volunteer Infantry, United States Army, and served nearly three years. He was in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, capture of Atlanta, march to the sea, and was never wounded or taken prisoner. He was discharged at St. Louis, and has followed farming principally since. In 1865 he was appointed by the county court surveyor of this county. From 1868 to 1873 he filled the office of sheriff and collector; was a strong Democrat until 1864, since which time he has affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the G. A. R. He owns 320 acres of land, and as a business man has been quite successful, having worked out his own possessions.