Obit of Winter Payne Bradley (b634) - Grady County, Oklahoma Transcribe by: Gene Phillips 24 Dec 2002 From an article submitted by Molly Nye ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ==================================================================== Page Six - General News Unknown Newspaper - Dec 1949 Founder of Bradley was Oldest Settler in Washita Valley Death wrote the final chapter in the life of Winter Payne Bradley, the oldest Washita Valley settler between Pauls Valley and Chickasha. Mr. Bradley died Monday Dec 19, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E H Davis, in the Pikes Peak Community. He would have been 94 years of age Jan 8. Mr. Bradley came to the valley in August, 1884, and founded the community which in 1888 became the town of Bradley. The pioneers who followed him to the valley are few -- many have passed on, others have moved to other places -- but the few that remain will tell you that the Washita Valley has profited by the wisdom, hard work and faith that Winter Payne Bradley devoted to the land of his choice. Many families in this vicinity still remember Mr. Bradley's generosity in time of trouble. He was never too busy to offer sympathy, understanding and assistance to grief-stricken neighbors. He was open-minded, vigorous, and progressive in any project for improving the new community being built. He reared a large family all who have made respected citizens in various communities. Mr. Bradley was born in Fauquier county, near Warrentown, VA, Jan 8, 1856. During the Civil War, as a small boy, he carried canteens of water to the wounded on a battlefield near his home in Virginia. While in his teens he learned telegraphy and for four years served as operator and agent for the Virginian, Midland & Great Southern Railway in Virginia. At the age of 21 he moved west to Fort Griffin, TX, 150 miles west of Fort Worth, and remained there about a year, then accepted a position as telegraph operator and agent at Atoka, OK, with the M.K.&T Railway. It was there in 1879 that he married Miss Maude Hubbard. She passed away a few months later. In 1880, the railway company transferred Mr. Bradley to Colbert, OK, as agent and telegraph operator. There, Oct 18 1880, he was married to Miss Texanna Colbert, a daughter of B F Colbert founder of the town. Five children were born to this union. The mother died in 1892 in Bradley. By his marriage to Miss Colbert he legally became a member of the Chickasaw Indian tribe and during his early like in Indian Territory days at Bradley he owned and controlled on of the largest ranches in that part of the state. In 1893 he married Miss Matilda Bessette, of near Erin Springs, and by this marriage there were two children. The mother passed away in October 1895 at Bradley. The following year, 1896, Mr. Bradley and Mrs. Nannie Luther of the Ireton community were united in marriage: they were parents of two children. Mrs. Bradley's death occurred in November 1948, in CA. The late Martin Colbert who managed the early day F-C ranch northwest of Lindsay was a brother-in-law to Mr. Bradley. Mr. Bradley joined the Baptist church many years ago and at the time of his death was a member of the Baptist Church in Lindsay. Last rites were held for the pioneer at 2 pm, Dec 22, in the Lindsay church with Rev Glenwood Buzbee officiating. Burial was in the Bradley cemetery with the Brown funeral home in charge. Active pallbearers were his grandsons, Vernon Bradley, Jack Bradley, Jerry Vaughan, Jim Kelly, Ralph Walker and Ed Duvall. Honorary pallbearers: C E Costello, John McCaughey, A T Brown, Walter Spencer, Obed Marshall, Bryan Marshall, Dell Bennett, Charles Clark, Arnold Howell and Lake Hampton. Flower girls: Mrs. Arnold Howell, Mrs. Opal White, Mrs. Rance Clark, Mrs. Charles White, and Mrs. Tom K Simms. Songs by the church choir included "The Old Rugged Cross," "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," and "Where We Never Grow Old." Mrs. John Lynch accompanied at the piano. Surviving Mr. Bradley are two sons, Frank of Oklahoma City, and Ernest of Kress, TX; four daughters, Mrs. Clara Davis, Lindsay; Mrs. Nell Vaughan, Northfield TX; Mrs. Blanche Ball, San Antonio TX; and Mrs. Florence Beall, Alexandria VA. Also 28 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and on great-great- grandchild. A daughter and son died in infancy, and a son Holmes, whose home was in Lindsay died in May, 1945. In addition to his own children, Mr. Bradley reared two step- children, Mrs. Eunice Maurer of Bradley, who died in 1920 and Roy Bradley of Los Angeles CA.