Jerry Bradly
Among the early settlers of Madison County were the Bradlys and Bakers, of whom our subject is a lineal descendant in the third generation, the Bradlys having lived here for over eighty years. Our subject is a farmer and is the proprietor of a good farm, eight miles southwest of Plain City, in Canaan Township. He was a valiant soldier during the late war and has been for many years prominent in the public, social and religious life of the community.
Mr. Bradly was born November 9, 1841, in Monroe Township, Madison County, and is a son of William Bradly. His father was born in Virginia, in 1804:, and was in his fourth year when he came with his parents to Ohio. They located in what is now Monroe Township and were among the very first to settle there. The father of our subject grew to man's estate in that place and was there married to Anna Baker, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and Anna Baker, who settled in Little Darby, in Monroe Township, when she was a young girl. After marriage, the parents of our subject took up their home on a farm in Monroe Township, where they had been reared. They lived there until 1857, and then removed to Lynn Township, Hardin County, where the father died, June 1, 1862. His venerable widow is still living and is now eighty-one years old. They had eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity and five are living, four sons and one daughter, as follows: Cassandra Booth, of Madison County; Cornelius, a resident of London City; Jerry; Henry, a resident of Hardin County; and Martin L., also a resident of Hardin County.
He of whom we write is the seventh child and third son of the family in order of birth. In his boyhood he went to school in a log house in his native township, and finished his education in Hardin County, after the family removed there. He remained with his father until the latter's death, and was well instructed in all that appertains to farming. He watched the course of the Civil War with intense interest, and in 1863, in the opening years of a vigorous, self-reliant manhood, he enlisted in defense of the Union, and it may well be his pride that he helped to give victory to Northern arms, and had a part in saving his country's honor. He went to the front as a member of Company I, Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and fought valiantly as long as his services were needed, remaining in the army until after the Rebellion closed, not receiving his discharge until October 7, 1865, at Victoria, Tex., and obtaining his pay at Columbus, the State capital. He accompanied his regiment on the Atlanta campaign, and he took an active part in the fight at Nashville, December 16, 1864, beside being present at numerous other engagements. For two months he was sick at Knoxville, having succumbed to the hardships and privations that he had to endure.
After his return from Southern battlefields, Mr. Bradly resumed his early occupation, that he had abandoned in order to become a soldier, and soon after his marriage, in 1867, he located on a rented farm, which he farmed one year and then bought a farm of his own west of his present homestead, which he purchased in 1875, having sold the other one at a good price. This contains fifty-nine acres of choice and exceedingly fertile land, which is in a fine condition and is well stocked with cattle, hogs, and other stock. The buildings are kept in good order, and our subject and his wife have established here a very pleasant, cozy home, the seat of an abiding hospitality, with the latch-string always out, and friend or stranger sure of a cordial welcome from the amiable hostess and genial host.
Mr. Bradly and Miss Martha Bidwell were united in marriage August 11. 1867, and among the blessings that have come to them are three children, two daughters and a son. The eldest child died in infancy. The others are Ammazeta A., who was born September 4, 1871, and is the wife of James Clunk, of Canaan Township; and Fidelia M., born October 30, 1876, and at home with her parents.
Our subject is a man in whom his fellow-citizens have perfect confidence, as his character is without blemish and his principles are of the highest order. He has figured largely in the public life of the community as an incumbent of various offices of trust. He has been on the School Committee and was School Director, was Trustee of his township for six years and is now Supervisor of Roads. In politics, he is a strict Republican. He is one of the leading members of the Harry Scribner Post No. 222, G. A. R., of which he was Sergeant-Major at onetime. He belongs to the Urania Lodge No. 311, A. F. & A. M., at Plain City. He is a man of earnest religious thought, and perhaps no one has done more to build up the Methodist Episcopal Mission Chapel, of which he is a member, than he. He is one of the Stewards, Trustees and Elders of the church, is Treasurer of the Sunday-school and has been the Superintendent thereof.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]