HENRY CLAY BRADLEY I (1856-1944)
Henry Clay Bradley I was born May 3, 1856 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard David Bradley and Helena Geason.
As a teenager, he began training as a glassblower in the steel industry in Pittsburgh. He was a young man of about 18 when his mother persuaded his father to give up life in the pollution of Pittsburgh and go to Missouri to homestead a farm. She traveled by train in 1874 to Missouri with their three children remaining at home -- Richard David, Henry Clay and Indianola. Her husband was to follow later. They homesteaded land near High Point in Camden County and began work to improve the land and build a cabin.
Henry's father arrived later, but never having been a farmer was not happy with this change in his profession and went to work in St. Louis, Missouri at Granite City Steel Works to earn money to support his family while they continued to work the farm. Life was hard for Henry's mother and she died at age 49. After Henry's father died in 1885, the farm was split between him and his brother, Richard David. Henry continued to work his farm, but Richard sold his and returned to the steel industry in Belleville, Illinois.
Henry married Margaret Melvina Thomas in 1883 and they had nine children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Those who survived were Alleonia, Elsworth, Elsie May, Henry Clay II, and Indianola. Henry and Margaret lived in a primitive log home for some years before he built a new house for their growing family.
Henry was an intelligent, self-educated man. He was an avid reader, particularly fond of history, and he collected books over the years and loved to engage in conversation about his favorite subject. His love of books and history was passed on to his son, Elsworth Bradley. Henry was also a fine blacksmith, gunsmith, and tinkerer; he could fix anything and not only fixed large farm machinery but often did work on guns and clocks and fine watches. He had brilliant mechanical aptitude and could even make by hand tiny gears for watches to get them running again.
Margaret died in 1936, and in the early 1940s when he could no longer maintain the farm, Henry had plans to sell it, so their grandson, Richard H. Bradley, who was serving in the U.S. Army/Air Force in World War II arranged to get a VA loan so he could purchase the farm where he was born and keep it in the family.
Henry died June 15, 1944 and was buried at High Point Cemetery beside his wife, Margaret.
Henry Clay Bradley I was born May 3, 1856 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard David Bradley and Helena Geason.
As a teenager, he began training as a glassblower in the steel industry in Pittsburgh. He was a young man of about 18 when his mother persuaded his father to give up life in the pollution of Pittsburgh and go to Missouri to homestead a farm. She traveled by train in 1874 to Missouri with their three children remaining at home -- Richard David, Henry Clay and Indianola. Her husband was to follow later. They homesteaded land near High Point in Camden County and began work to improve the land and build a cabin.
Henry's father arrived later, but never having been a farmer was not happy with this change in his profession and went to work in St. Louis, Missouri at Granite City Steel Works to earn money to support his family while they continued to work the farm. Life was hard for Henry's mother and she died at age 49. After Henry's father died in 1885, the farm was split between him and his brother, Richard David. Henry continued to work his farm, but Richard sold his and returned to the steel industry in Belleville, Illinois.
Henry married Margaret Melvina Thomas in 1883 and they had nine children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Those who survived were Alleonia, Elsworth, Elsie May, Henry Clay II, and Indianola. Henry and Margaret lived in a primitive log home for some years before he built a new house for their growing family.
Henry was an intelligent, self-educated man. He was an avid reader, particularly fond of history, and he collected books over the years and loved to engage in conversation about his favorite subject. His love of books and history was passed on to his son, Elsworth Bradley. Henry was also a fine blacksmith, gunsmith, and tinkerer; he could fix anything and not only fixed large farm machinery but often did work on guns and clocks and fine watches. He had brilliant mechanical aptitude and could even make by hand tiny gears for watches to get them running again.
Margaret died in 1936, and in the early 1940s when he could no longer maintain the farm, Henry had plans to sell it, so their grandson, Richard H. Bradley, who was serving in the U.S. Army/Air Force in World War II arranged to get a VA loan so he could purchase the farm where he was born and keep it in the family.
Henry died June 15, 1944 and was buried at High Point Cemetery beside his wife, Margaret.
HENRY CLAY BRADLEY I (1856-1944)
Henry Clay Bradley I was born May 3, 1856 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard David Bradley and Helena Geason.
As a teenager, he began training as a glassblower in the steel industry in Pittsburgh. He was a young man of about 18 when his mother persuaded his father to give up life in the pollution of Pittsburgh and go to Missouri to homestead a farm. She traveled by train in 1874 to Missouri with their three children remaining at home -- Richard David, Henry Clay and Indianola. Her husband was to follow later. They homesteaded land near High Point in Camden County and began work to improve the land and build a cabin.
Henry's father arrived later, but never having been a farmer was not happy with this change in his profession and went to work in St. Louis, Missouri at Granite City Steel Works to earn money to support his family while they continued to work the farm. Life was hard for Henry's mother and she died at age 49. After Henry's father died in 1885, the farm was split between him and his brother, Richard David. Henry continued to work his farm, but Richard sold his and returned to the steel industry in Belleville, Illinois.
Henry married Margaret Melvina Thomas in 1883 and they had nine children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Those who survived were Alleonia, Elsworth, Elsie May, Henry Clay II, and Indianola. Henry and Margaret lived in a primitive log home for some years before he built a new house for their growing family.
Henry was an intelligent, self-educated man. He was an avid reader, particularly fond of history, and he collected books over the years and loved to engage in conversation about his favorite subject. His love of books and history was passed on to his son, Elsworth Bradley. Henry was also a fine blacksmith, gunsmith, and tinkerer; he could fix anything and not only fixed large farm machinery but often did work on guns and clocks and fine watches. He had brilliant mechanical aptitude and could even make by hand tiny gears for watches to get them running again.
Margaret died in 1936, and in the early 1940s when he could no longer maintain the farm, Henry had plans to sell it, so their grandson, Richard H. Bradley, who was serving in the U.S. Army/Air Force in World War II arranged to get a VA loan so he could purchase the farm where he was born and keep it in the family.
Henry died June 15, 1944 and was buried at High Point Cemetery beside his wife, Margaret.
Henry Clay Bradley I was born May 3, 1856 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard David Bradley and Helena Geason.
As a teenager, he began training as a glassblower in the steel industry in Pittsburgh. He was a young man of about 18 when his mother persuaded his father to give up life in the pollution of Pittsburgh and go to Missouri to homestead a farm. She traveled by train in 1874 to Missouri with their three children remaining at home -- Richard David, Henry Clay and Indianola. Her husband was to follow later. They homesteaded land near High Point in Camden County and began work to improve the land and build a cabin.
Henry's father arrived later, but never having been a farmer was not happy with this change in his profession and went to work in St. Louis, Missouri at Granite City Steel Works to earn money to support his family while they continued to work the farm. Life was hard for Henry's mother and she died at age 49. After Henry's father died in 1885, the farm was split between him and his brother, Richard David. Henry continued to work his farm, but Richard sold his and returned to the steel industry in Belleville, Illinois.
Henry married Margaret Melvina Thomas in 1883 and they had nine children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Those who survived were Alleonia, Elsworth, Elsie May, Henry Clay II, and Indianola. Henry and Margaret lived in a primitive log home for some years before he built a new house for their growing family.
Henry was an intelligent, self-educated man. He was an avid reader, particularly fond of history, and he collected books over the years and loved to engage in conversation about his favorite subject. His love of books and history was passed on to his son, Elsworth Bradley. Henry was also a fine blacksmith, gunsmith, and tinkerer; he could fix anything and not only fixed large farm machinery but often did work on guns and clocks and fine watches. He had brilliant mechanical aptitude and could even make by hand tiny gears for watches to get them running again.
Margaret died in 1936, and in the early 1940s when he could no longer maintain the farm, Henry had plans to sell it, so their grandson, Richard H. Bradley, who was serving in the U.S. Army/Air Force in World War II arranged to get a VA loan so he could purchase the farm where he was born and keep it in the family.
Henry died June 15, 1944 and was buried at High Point Cemetery beside his wife, Margaret.
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