John M. Bradley
John M. Bradley, farmer, P.O. Rosedale, was born July 17, 1833, in Madison County, Ohio. His parents were Alfred and Jemima Bradley, who were early settlers of Madison County. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and received but a rudimentary education. In November, 1859, he married Miss Surrilda Morris, daughter of David and Sarah Morris, deceased, of this county. To them have been born seven children, six of whom are now living, viz.: Dewitt C., Sarah L., Lorenzo D., Stella M., Mary V. and David C. In 1859, he settled where he now resides. He has served as Trustee and Clerk of Monroe Township; is a member of the Christian Church, and the owner of 148 acres of land in a good state of cultivation.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
John M. Bradley, who was born in one of the pioneer homes of Madison County, June 17, 1833, occupies an important position both in the industrial and public life of Monroe Township, where he makes his home on his farm, which is situated ten miles west and a little south of Plain City. He is a son of Alfred Bradley, who was born in Virginia, in 1804. He in turn was a son of Jonah and Susan (Powers) Bradley who came to Ohio in 1805, and were among the first settlers of Monroe Township, where the father of our subject passed his boyhood. After attaining manhood, he was married to Jemima Morrow, a native of New York, who had been brought to Ohio when she was a small child by her parents, who were pioneers of Madison County, where she was reared. After marriage, the Bradleys took up their home on a new farm, and the father worked industriously at its improvement until his untimely death by drowning, at the age of forty-five. The mother died in Monroe Township when her son of whom we write was ten years old. She had four children that grew to manhood and womanhood, of whom our subject and his sister Elizabeth are the only survivors.
Our subject was the second child born to his worthy parents, who early instilled into his mind the principles that have been his guide through life. He first attended school in a log house, that was a typical pioneer institution of learning, with rude home-made furniture, the seats being made of slabs, and the desks of the same material, placed against the wall for the convenience of the older pupils in writing. When but ten years old, the little lad was thrown mostly on his own resources and had to work out by the month for a living, so that his schooling thereafter was confined to the winter terms, when he worked for his board that he might have an opportunity to gain an education. He lived with his Grandmother Bradley a part of the time, and also with an uncle, earning his own living entirely after he was twelve years old. When he was sixteen years old, he crossed the mountains with a drove of cattle, walking all the way to Pennsylvania and back. While still a boy, he lived two years in Mercer County, this State, and passed a year in Logan County, Ill., but with those exceptions he has always lived in Madison County.
Mr. Bradley located where he now resides at once after his marriage in the autumn of 1859. There were but few improvements on the place at that time, and he has made the farm what it is today by skillful and untiring labor, working systematically, carrying out every detail carefully and employing none but the best methods in cultivating the soil and in managing his affairs generally. He has one hundred and seventy acres in his homestead, beside eighty-seven acres elsewhere in the township. The buildings are substantial and well arranged, and everything about the place is indicative of the thrift, business energy and practical ability of the owner. He devotes it to general farming, and has it well stocked with fine horses, cattle and hogs.
Our subject was married to Miss Surrild, daughter of David and Sarah (Wever) Morris, in November, 1859. She, too, is a native of Monroe Township, born here June 24, 1839, and here she has passed her life thus far. Her marriage with our subject has brought them four sons and three daughters, of whom these four are living and complete their pleasant home circle: Lorenzo T., Stella M.,M. Viola, and D. Cushman. Three of their children have passed to the life beyond: DeWitt C, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Lydia, who was twenty years old at the time of her death, and Morris, who died in infancy.
Mr. Bradley is one of the leading public officials of the township, and has played a prominent part in the administration of local affairs, holding various responsible positions, for which he is well fitted, as he has the interests of his township at heart, is possessed of good business habits, and exercises the same skill and careful supervision in civic matters that he does in looking after his own private concerns, and he has never been known to neglect a trust. He was Clerk of the township from 1858 to 1864, and he still holds the office of Trustee, to which he was first elected in 1867, and of which he has been an incumbent continuously since, with the exception of the year 1880. He has also been Supervisor of Roads. In politics, he is first, last and always a Republican. He helped organize tlie first Christian Church in the township, and is one of its most active working members. Socially, he is a Mason, and belongs to Lodge No. 311 at Plain City.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]