Lafayette Bradley was born October 31, 1824, in Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel Bradley (1799-1830) and Ann W. Tweedy (1800-1863). From 1826 to 1829, Lafayette appears in the Admissions Books for the Chester County House. At the age of 4 on page 84 of the Admissions Books 1800-1858, under the column "Action taken by directors" states he was bound, apprenticed, by a master. Daniel's father was also being supported by the Chester County, Pennsylvania Poor House and he died there in 1830. His parents may have met in the poor house as his mother also lived there n 1819 and 1822. She too was supported in the poor house at the time Lafayette's father's death.
After Daniel's death, his mother married John Henry Vanderslice.

Lafayette married Nancy Jane Smith about 1853. Nancy was born July 9, 1831, in Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of James Nelson and Sarah Miller Ann (McClurg) Smith. They had the following known children:

1. Ida V. Bradley (1853-1933)
2. Cornelia Bradley (1854-bef. 1914) Cornelia only appears in the 1870 Census
3. Sarah Bradley (1855-1918)
4. Anna Mary Alphonsa (Bradley) Robinson (1857-1944)
5. Emma B. Bradley (1860-1939)
5. Elizabeth (Bradley) West (1863-1947)

Lafayette served with the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted in February 1864 Company G, Pennsylvania 7th Cavalry Regiment and mustered out on August 23, 1865. At the time of Lafayette's draft registration, his occupation was listed as a butcher.

Over the years, Lafayette worked as a farm laborer (1860), a rail road agent (1870 & 1880) and again as a butcher in 1900. He was appointed U. S. Postmaster in January 1900 at Liberty Grove, Maryland.

Lafayette died at home December 16, 1901, in Liberty Grove, Cecil County, Maryland. Nancy died August 4, 1914, in Liberty Grove, Cecil County, Maryland.