Son of Charles and Mary Baker Bradshaw.

"History of Greene & Jersey Counties, Illinois 1885"
Page 1153

WILLIAM M. BRADSHAW, a native of White County, Tenn., was born July 28, 1826, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Baker) Bradshaw, the former a native of South Carolina, the latter of North Carolina. His parents left Tennessee in 1828, and removed to Morgan county, Ill., where they lived two years and in the spring of 1831, moved to Greene county. His father bought 80 acres of land in what is now Wrights township, and also entered 80 acres there, and kept buying and entering until he owned something like 500 acres of land. There they lived in a little log cabin for several years, and he then built a large two-story frame residence and a barn, and at this comfortable home, he spent the balance of his days. He departed this life in 1869. Mrs. Bradshaw is still living, and resides on the old homestead.

William assisted his parents on the farm, until he was 21 years of age. He was then married to Susan P. Lorton, Dec. 30, 1847, by which union, there was one child which died in infancy. He built a little log cabin on the home farm, and there they lived until her death, Dec. 6, 1848, which was within a year after their marriage.

Mr. Bradshaw then went back home and remained there until 1850, when he was again married on Sept. 30, to Elizabeth Chipman, by which union there were three children, two of whom are living - Mary E., wife of John B. Hutton, residing in Topeka, Kas., and Lenora, wife of Henry Hart, residing in White Hall township. After marriage, Mr. Bradshaw moved back to his cabin and remained there until the fall of 1853, when he, with his wife and child, went to Fannin county, Texas, where they stayed that winter. In the spring they returned to Illinois, and again settled in the log cabin, where he lived until the death of his wife, Feb. 25, 1855, when he returned home again.

After staying there over a year, he was again married March 19, 1856, to Mary Baker, and they moved into the log cabin, where they lived happily until April 5, 1857, when his wife died, leaving one child, Albert, who is now married to Ellen R. Whitehead, and resides in Logan County.

Mr. Bradshaw again returned home to live, and remained four years. Feb. 19, 1861, he was married to Elizabeth Steward, by which union there were eight children, seven of whom are living - Joel, married Liza Coats, resides in White Hall township; Ida B., wife of Samuel Elliott, residing in White Hall township; Nancy L., Charles, Clara A., William H. and Edgar.

In the spring of 1861, Mr. Bradshaw bought 80 acres of land on section 27, T. 12, R. 11, on which he built a nice frame house, into which he moved and has since resided there. He now owns 260 acres of land, 200 acres of which is in this township, and 60 acres in Wrights, all of which he has acquired by industry and good management. Mrs. Bradshaw is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Bradshaw has seen a great deal of trouble in his lifetime, having lost three wives, each in a comparatively short time after marriage. He stood bravely, all these trials and is now living in comfort and contentment.