Bio: John W. Bradford, Desoto & Caddo Parish Louisiana
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson





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John W. Bradford
Planter, Grand Cane, La.

John W. Bradford, a respected citizen of this parish for many years, and a man
of extensive and popular acquaintance, was originally from Alabama, his birth
occurring in Pickenss County in 1833.  He is a son of Col. David and Jane
(Thompson) Bradford, who were born near Camden, S. C., and there reared and
married.  From there they moved to Alabama, and in that State Mr. Bradford's   
death occurred, about 1862, at the age of seventy-eigbt years.  He was a
farmer all his life. The mother died when John W. was young.  Mr. Bradford was
school commissioner for a number of years, and was also colonel of the
militia.  He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. for many years. The paternal
grandfather, Thomas Bradford, was born in Ireland, but when a young man
came to South Carolina, and later settled in Alabama, his death occurring in
Pickens County.  He was a Revolutionary soldier.  

John W Bradford was the youngest of three sons and five daughters, two besides
our subject now living: Mrs. Martha Mabry (of Mississippi), and James (of
Texas, was reared on a fram with good English education).  He began for
himself when about twenty-one years of age, had charge of his father's
plantation, and in 1856 came with his brothers and sisters to De Soto Parish
be has since resided, and on his present farm since 1858. He is the owner of
860 acres of land considerable real estate in Grand Cane, principally  the
result of his own industry and perseverance.  He was also engaged in
merchandising on  his own farm for a few years.  Aside from the fifty bales of
cotton that he raises annually on e farm, he is quite extensively engaged in
stock raising, and owns one of the best stock farms in De Soto Parish, well
watered, etc. 

He served two years in the Confederate army, Company F, Ninth Louisiana
Infantry, in the Virginia army, and participated in the Valley campaign,
second Bull Run, seven days fight around Richmond, Antietam (Md.) campaign,
and  at  Maries Hill; May 4, 1863, he was severely wounded, which disabled him
from further service.  After this he spent a short time in the hospital at
Richmond , then a year in Mississippi, and afterward returned to the faarm in
De Soto Parish.