"CO. E 3 N.C. MT'D. INF."

William Ervin Bradford was born in 1835 and died on March 3, 1905. He died at 70 yrs old of smallpox, although he was suffering from some other health issues.
Known as "Ervin" (not Erwin as appears on his headstone) , he and Emeline Higgins were married on May 10, 1866 in Yancey Co., NC. Emeline stated she had known Ervin "since my first recollection".
They had six children (their first child died young) - Alice, Sallie, Martha, Perry, Nathan Dempsey.
Ervin was a brakeman on the East Tennessee and VA Railroad in Morristown TN when the Civil War broke out. Things started getting dangerous so he made it home and signed up for the 29th NC Infantry (Confederate) on July 26, 1861 at age 26. According to his pension record, he signed up against his will as he was threatened - He stated he was always a "Union" man and against secession.
He got a furlough and never returned...He and his brother John who also deserted hid out in a cave on Bradford property. A boy named Stephen Edwards told the Confederates where they were hiding and they were captured and held in a barn while waiting punishment for deserting. Somehow they escaped the barn by tunneling under - his brother John Bradford lost his pants in the process.
They both proceeded to enlist in the Union Army (the 3rd NC Mounted Infantry, known as "Kirk's Raiders") on March 25, 1864.
Ervin was a recruiter for the 3rd NCMI, it was stated in his pension record because he knew the layout of the land.
He injured his ankle in the fall of 1864 while trying to get over a fence being chased by the Rebels.
He was discharged from the 3rd NCMI on August 8, 1865 and he and Emeline Higgins were married the next Spring.
When he broke out with smallpox in 1905, Doctor Peek would not see him but stood 50 feet from the door . After he passed away, they had to burn down their log cabin. There were 2 other log cabins on the property, where Emeline lived out her remaining years - it stated in the pension record that she refused to go live with any of her children because she wanted to stay home. She died on Sept. 2, 1914.

NOTE: I will be forever be indebted to Gwen Bodford for starting this page and providing the photo of Ervin's headstone and others in the small cemetery. Her contributions to Find a Grave and documentation of many of the Yancey Co NC cemeteries were numerous! Your hard work is so appreciated...Rest in Peace