Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


BARTHOLOMEW BRADLEY. 
 
        Among the prominent and well-known citizens of Glendora is the 
above-named gentleman, who is the proprietor of the Glendora Livery Stable. Mr. 
Bradley is a native of Greene County, Illinois. He was born December 29, 1836. 
His father, Dr. Robert Bradley, was a well-known physician and agriculturist of 
that county. His mother was nee Laurana Osbun.  Both of his parents were natives 
of Tennessee, and were among the early settlers of Illinois.  Mr. Bradley was 
reared as a farmer and remained upon his father's farm until he reached his 
majority. He then started in life for himself and commenced farming upon his own 
account in his native county. In 1857 he married Miss Catherine N. Allred. At 
the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Bradley's family were prompt in 
enlisting in the service of their country, he and four brothers entering the 
army. He enlisted early in 1862 in Company I, One Hundred and First Regiment of 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and leaving his family and farming interests, went 
into the field as a private soldier. His creditable service soon gained him 
recognition and he was promoted to Sergeant. His regiment was attached to the 
Army of the Cumberland and participated in its hard-fought battles, severe 
marches, etc. At the battle of Holly Springs Sergeant Bradley was taken 
prisoner, but was shortly afterward parolled and exchanged After his return to 
his regiment he was wounded at the battle of Resaca and sent to the rear, and 
upon his recovery was placed upon duty in a military hospital. In this year 
(1864) the death of his beloved wife occurred, leaving three young children to 
the care of comparative strangers. Their claims upon the father were of 
paramount importance and Mr. Bradley accepted his discharge from the army and 
returned home to care for his family. In 1865 Mr. Bradley married Mrs. Amelia 
(Ventreese) Scanland. He continued his farming operations in Greene County until 
1869. In that year he moved to Vernon County, Missouri, where he purchased 320 
acres of land and entered quite extensively into farming and stock operations. 
He was successful, and soon ranked as one of the leading agriculturists of that 
county, throughout which he was well known and respected. He took a prominent 
part in the building up of his section, establishing and supporting its schools, 
churches, etc. He was also elected justice of the peace of his township. In 1885 
Mr. Bradley decided to seek a new home in California, and in the spring of that 
year he located in Los Angeles County, where he purchased a ten-acre tract and 
engaged in horticultural pursuits and also in improving land at San Jacinto. In 
1886 he took up his residence at Duarte and devoted himself to cultivating a 
twenty-acre tract of land until August, 1887. He then took up his residence in 
Glendora, and was one of the enterprising and progressive men who contributed so 
largely toward building up that beautiful town. He established his livery stable 
in that year, on the corner of Whitcomb and Michigan avenues, and built his 
handsome residence on Vista Bonita avenue; also erected two cottage residences 
and engaged in other projected improvements. Mr. Bradley is a man of progressive 
views and is public-spirited and enterprising. He is a strong supporter of 
schools and churches and is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Glendora. His kind and genial temperament, obliging disposition and 
straightforward dealing have gained him a large circle of friends. In politics 
he is a Republican, and is a strong Prohibitionist in principle. Mr. Bradley has 
had seven children in his family, three by his first wife, viz.: Luzetta, now 
Mrs. D. C. Neal, of Los Angeles; McKendree, who died in 1878, at the age of 
seventeen years; and Isabelle, who died in 1875, at the age of fifteen years. By 
his present wife he has had four children, namely: Ada, wife of Carroll S. 
Whitcomb, of Glendora; May and Earnest. The third child, Ollie, died in 1875, at 
the age of three years. Of Mrs. Bradley's children by her first marriage, there 
is one child living, Susan Scanland, now the wife of George W. Campbell, of 
Glendora.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, Page 399
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler