MRS. BETTY BARDSLEY, Neola, was born in Cheshire, England, March 26, 1820, daughter of Charles and Ellen (Hibert) Bradley, natives of England; he, born in February, 1794, was a miner and farmer in England, and died December 23, 1878; she, born about 1800, was the mother of ten children, of whom three came to America.

Mrs. Bardsley was first married, in England, August 29, 1841, to John Handbury, born in England, February 8, 1814. They came to America in 1850, and to Council Bluffs, April 15, of that year.

Mr. Handbury was engaged in farming near Macedonia for eighteen months, when he died, leaving his wife and four children--Elizabeth, David, Ann and Joseph E. Mrs. Handbury kept herself and children until her second marriage, which occurred July 17, 1852.

Mr. Bardsley, her second husband, was born in England, July 21, 1800, and came to America in 1850, settling at Highland Grove, where he lived at the time of his marriage to Mrs. Handbury. One year after their marriage, they moved onto the farm where Mrs. Bardsley now lives. There, from 1854 till his death, Mr. Bardsley followed farming. He was Justice of the Peace several years. He died December 20, 1860, from injuries received by the kick of a cow.

Mrs. Bardsley has by her second husband four children--John J., Charles B., Ellen and Thomas R.; the latter is at home. Charles B. owns a farm of eighty acres adjoining the home farm. The latter place consists of 240 acres in one body, situated on Bardsley's Creek, five miles west of Neola.

Mrs. Bardsley has one son in the mercantile business in Neola, and one keeping a restaurant. Charles B. was married, April 1, 1880, to Miss M. J. Spencer. James Ward, the husband of Mrs. Bardsley's eldest daughter, died in the service of his country in 1864.