Biography of Philip J. BRADFIELD, Saline Co, AR

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        Date: 25 May 2002
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SOURCE: Goodspeed's History of Saline County

Philip J. BRADFIELD. Prominent among the enterprising and popular men of this
section is Philip J. BRADFIELD, a well known merchant and farmer, and the son
of John H. and Sarar E. (BENNETT) BRADFIELD. He was born in Hamilton County,
Tenn., May 19, 1861. John H. Bradfield was also a native of Tennessee, his
birth occurring June 16, 1830. He was reared a farmer, and made that his life's
work; a man of common school education, for years he held the position of
magistrate, being a Democrat, politically, but not an enthusiast. He was
married September 10, 1857, to Miss BENNETT, and they were the parents of ten
children, five of whom survive, as follows: William C. (a farmer of Jefferson
Township), J. L. (a farmer, but now a student of Benton Collegiate High
School), Louisa E. (living with her mother on the old homestead in this
county), Leon L. (also at home) and Philip (the subject of this sketch). Mr.
BRADFIELD, Sr., came with his family to this State, by rail as far as Memphis,
thence on board the "Thomas H. Allen", a river steamer via the Mississippi and
Arkansas Rivers, landing at Little Rock, February 20, 1871. From the latter
place Shaw Township, Saline County, was easily reached, and after a residence
there of two years they moved to Jefferson Township, where the father bought a
tract of 182 acres of partly improved land. He added to this from time to time
until he owned 153 acres, improving it to a great extent, and at the time of
his death, in 1881, was preparing to build a new residence. He was a member of
the Masonic fraternity, and respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife
still lives at the old homestead, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. Philip J. was reared to farm life, and spent his younger days in
the common schools of Saline County. When in his twentieth year he took the
management of his mother's farm. On February 5, 1884, he led to the hymeneal
altar Miss Faithie A. ROBERTS, daughter of T. J. ROBERTS, and a native of
Saline County. To this union two children have been born: Ida May (born March
6, 1885) and Essie Mand (born April 17, 1888). After his marriage Mr. BRADFIELD
resumed farming and homesteaded 120 acres adjoining his mother's place, which
he immediately began to improve. He also owns a part of the old homestead. In
1887, purchasing a fine stock of goods, he opened a store on his farm, and
since that time has conducted his mercantile business with encouraging success.
In 1886 he was elected justice of the peace in his township, and still holds
that office, to the entire satisfaction of those concerned. He is president of
the school board and a member of the board of equalization for Saline County,
in session at Benton. He is a member of Paran Lodge No. 309, A. F. & A. M.,
also of the Jefferson Lodge No. 55, I. O. G. T., in which latter he has held
nearly every office. Mr. and Mrs. BRADFIELD are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South. Mr. BRADFIELD votes with the Democrats, and exerts
considerable influence in the township and county politically. He has given not
a little attention to journalistic work since 1881, attaining an enviable
reputation in that line. He first began this work as local correspondent for
the Benton Courier, and is still holding that position. In January, 1885, he
wrote an article for the "Farmer and Mechanic", entitled "Our Neglected
Resources," which was published in the regular edition of that paper. It was
re-published in the 50,000 edition of the paper, and the attention it received,
together with the criticisms, which were all that one could desire, combined to
show that the writer was of unusual ability and an honor to the literary world.
He was appointed April 2, 1887, as special correspondent of the Daily Arkansas
Gazette, both by mail and wire, and was sent by that paper to visit Montgomery
County, Ark., during the mining excitement there in 1887. He also prepared the
article for the Bear City edition of the Gazette, and has contributed largely
to other papers, the Benton Review, and Farm and Fireside, of Springfield,
Ohio. He has served a s a member of the Democratic central committee for the
last six year. Mr. BRADFIELD is one of those young men rapidly coming to the
front, and the citizens of Jefferson Township have just cause to feel proud of
such a one in their midst. He is public-spirited, and takes an active part in,
and gives his earnest support to all enterprises for the good of the public.