Merced-Contra Costa-Butte County CA Archives Biographies.....Bradley, Warren A. 1868 - 
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Author: John Outcalt (1925)

WARREN A. BRADLEY

   Occupying a position of prominence among the progressive and prosperous
agriculturists of Merced County is Warren A. Bradley, who recalls the days of
privation and hardships and the progress of the years which have led to the
prosperity of the present time. He is one of California's native sons, born at
Martinez, November 13, 1868, a son of John D. and Sarah A. (Harmon) Bradley,
natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively. In 1850, John D. Bradley came
across the plains to Oregon, then on to California where he settled at Martinez;
here he remained until 1867 when he located in Merced County, near where now
stands the town of Gustine; in 1868 his family joined him and the home was
established on a half section of land. He became a prosperous farmer and
continued in this occupation for the balance of his active life. Five children
were born in this family; William T. now makes his home at Riverdale; Adelia,
deceased; Ada J. became Mrs. B. J. Bither, and passed away in 1920; Hattie,
deceased; and Warren A., our subject. The father passed away at Gustine on
August 30, 1923, lacking but a few weeks of being ninety years old; the mother
passed away on December 24, 1924, aged eighty-seven.

   Warren A. Bradley attended school in the Occidental district of Merced
County; then attended the Chestnutwood Business College in Santa Cruz. Early in
life he began his practical training in agriculture, and when sixteen he worked
in the harvest field, now the site of Gustine, and hauled grain to Hills Ferry,
the nearest shipping point. In 1892 he became associated with his father in
ranching and this occupied him until 1900, when he started out for himself on a
ranch leased from Whitworth and Howard Company, raising grain on 1000 acres
until 1906 when he established a dairy on 32 1/2 acres, which he purchased and
developed, and ran that for seven years, when he leased his ranch and dairy and
moved to Gustine. He entered the employ of Miller & Lux and remained with them
for one year. On March 10, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Gustine, in
which capacity he has since acted. Mr. Bradley sold his ranch of thirty-two and
a half acres and with the proceeds purchased fifteen acres near the city limits
of Gustine, two acres of which lie within the city limits near the high school
property.

   On September 20, 1893, at Chico, Cal., Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Ada E.
Swearingen, born, reared and educated in the schools of Chico, completing her
education at the Chico State Normal School. Mrs. Bradley is the daughter of John
B. and Elizabeth (Thomalson) Swearingen. Her father came across the plains in
1850, and the mother about 1852, and they were married in Chico. John B.
Swearingen was a successful farmer in Butte County and became a close associate
and friend of General Bidwell. There are four children in this family; Frank;
Ada E., wife of Mr. Bradley; Emma J.; and Georgia B., Mrs. J. J. Rhea of Newman.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have three children: Orelia W., now Mrs. William R. Woods,
of Gustine, and the mother of four children, William R. Jr., Winnifred R.,
Warren A., and Howard Wilbur; Howard S., employed by the Standard Oil Company at
Patterson; and Wilbur K., employed by Manlove & Peters in Gustine. Politically,
Mr. Bradley is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Merced Lodge of Elks.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925


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