Walter C. Bradley
Walter C. Bradley, one of the leading business men of Lima, treasurer of the Lima Pork Packing Company, was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1866, and is a son of Daniel Bradley.
Daniel Bradley was born at King's Ferry, New York, where his ancestors had been pioneer settlers. He still resides in Cayuga County, New York, where he is a large farmer and extensive stock dealer. Two of his brothers served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Walter C. Bradley was reared in Cayuga County. He had good educational opportunities, being for a considerable period a student at the Sherwood select school, a private academy of note in that locality. When about 18 years of age he left school and taught through one year, after which he entered into the produce business, in the interest of a New York commission house. he also engaged in farming and did quite a successful business in the sale of agricultural implements. His financial success was sufficient to procure him the position of local manager for Swift & Company, of Chicago, when but 29 years old. He was located first at the branch house at Springfield, Ohio, then spent a year at the branch house at Lima; the following year he was at Toledo; after a short time at Erie, Pennsylvania, he came back to the important branch house at Lima, and continued here as manager of Swift & Company's business for three years.
Then Mr. Bradley entered into business for himself, in association with B. F. Thomas, Ira P. Carnes, D. W. Leichty and A. R. Thomas, incorporators of the Lima Pork Packing Company, with a capital stock of $20,000, which, in 1903, was increased to $60,000. The officers of this company are: B. F. Thomas, president; Ira P. Carnes, vice-president; W. C. Bradley, treasurer, and D. W. Leichty, secretary. This board of officers has remained intact since the incorporation of the business. They moved from the old stand on North Elizabeth street, near the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway tracks to their present fine quarters on South Central street, occupying Nos. 215-217-219-221-22 where they do a general packing business, their specialty being the manufacture of all kinds of sausages. The company requires the assistance of two traveling men to cover Ohio territory. exclusive of these and the office force, they employ about 30 men. This business promises to be a strong competitor with the great pork packing concerns already in the field.
Mr. Bradley was married September 9, 1885, to A. Luella Price, who is a daughter of the late David Price, of New York. They have three children, viz.: David R., who is a graduate of the Lima public school and the Lima Business College; Violet Luella; and Anna Maybel. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Bradley having been a member of this religious body since young manhood.