DAVID BRADLEY, one of the self-made men of Rock Grove Township, came to this vicinity in the spring of 1856, and is now the proprietor of 420 broad acres, the larger part under a good state of cultivation and the balance comprising sixty-five acres of valuable timber. His real estate is the accumulation of his own industry and energy, as he began life at the foot of the ladder and was dependent upon his own resources. He is in consequence self-reliant and sensible, and one of those men who most readily encourage the marks of diligence and resolution wherever found in the young men of to-day. When first purchasing his land it had been but slightly improved and the homestead now with its shapely and substantial buildings, the stock and farm machinery and all the evidences of thrift and prosperity, are silent witnesses of that which has been accomplished by the labor and frugality of our subject.

The first representative of this branch of the Bradley family in this country emigrated from Ireland and located in Pennsylvania during its early settlement. He was the paternal grandfather of David, our subject, and among his sons was Joseph, who became the father of David. He was born in Columbia County, Pa. where he grew to manhood, reared to farming pursuits. In due time he was united in marriage with one of the maidens of that region. In 1844, he started for the West, accompanied by his son, our subject; they made the journey with a horse and buggy. The father was pleased with the face of the country and saw in it great encouragement for the enterprising emigrant. Later he sent for his family and they spent their last days in Rock Grove Township, not far from the present homestead of David Bradley. The mother was formerly Miss Mary Marshall, a native of Maryland, and by her marriage with Joseph Bradley became the mother of six children. These were named respectively, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, David, Sarah Jane, and Mary Ann. Margaret and Mary Ann are deceased.

David remained under the home roof until reaching his majority, and then for ten years following was occupied as a farm laborer. In the meantime he had lived economically and saved what he could of a limited income. In 1856, he visited the State of Michigan and purchased 100 acres in Cass County, for which he paid $20 per acre. Three years later he sold this for $44 per acre, and taking the proceeds removed to Wisconsin where, however, he only remained a year and invest his capital, which purchase he sold at an advantage soon after. After his exploring tour through Stephenson County he selected a tract of 182 acres in Rock Grove Township, where he has since been a resident although making some exchanges of property. He subsequently sold forty acres of his original purchase and then bought elsewhere, and now has a fine farm which comprises one of the finest estates in the northeastern part of Stephenson County.

The birth of David Bradley took place in Columbia County, Pa., where, as we have already seen, he remained until after reaching manhood. His first marriage took place in Michigan, with Miss Margaret Miller, a native of the State of Delaware. Of this union were four children – Mary Agnes, who married Frank Spangler and has five children; Stephen A. Douglas, Rebecca and David F. The present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Mabel Williams, and they were married at the home of the bride in Cass County, Wis., in 1874. Mrs. Bradley is the daughter of Seth Williams, native of New York State, where the father died about 1882, aged seventy-four years, and the mother died when seventy-six years old. Miss Williams was thirty-six years of age when she became the wife of our subject. Of this union there is one son, Joseph, now a bright boy of thirteen and at home with his parents. Mr. Bradley is engaged mostly with the matters inseparable from his farming interest, but upon occasions of important election, uniformly votes the Democratic ticket.

The maternal grandmother of David Bradley lived with her husband in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War and distinguished herself among the patriotic women of that day by her contempt of the armed Britishers. She often went through the lines taking provisions to her husband at the front. In later years her grandchildren enjoyed nothing better than to get her started at story telling in connection with the old days when the Colonists were struggling for their liberty, when the women of that period all assisted in holding up the arms of their husbands and sons while engaged in the conflict that secured their freedom.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 237