Biography of J. M. Bradford - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 52

J. M. Bradford, a merchant in the enterprising and growing Town of Cleveland, is
a native of this county. His parents, Howard H. and Eliza (Rhoads) Bradford,
were early pioneers here, immigrating from Georgia at an early day and making a
settlement here which proved to be their pleasant home during life. His father
died September 3, 1862, and mother in 1865. They were natives of Georgia and
Tennessee, respectively, and were the parents of three children, James M., the
subject of this sketch, Lucy, and Henry, who died in infancy. James, having been
reared on the farm, had rather limited educational advantages in his early
youth, and at the age of fifteen years was compelled to start for himself, which
he did by engaging at farm labor, which he followed till 1882. Following the
inclination of his ambition, he then want to Fayetteville and entered the State
University there; after a time at this excellent school, he returned and re-
engaged in farming. On January 17, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss
Nannie Massey, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of G. D. and Charity Massey,
worthy citizens in the vicinity of Cleveland. The fruits of this union have been
two children, Mabel and Nellie. In 1889 Mr. Bradford engaged in merchandising at
Cleveland, and has since met with most encouraging success, with an increasing
capital and an improving trade. The family are both members of the Advent
Church, in which Mr. Bradford holds the office of Clerk. A worker in the
interest of churches and schools and an earnest advocate of all public
improvements, Mr. Bradford may be looked upon as one of the valuable citizens of
the community in which he makes his home.