REUBEN C. BRADLEY was born in Tennessee, in the year 1818, his parents being Alexander and Elizabeth Bradley. When he was four years old, he was bound out to a man named E. Barnard, with whom he lived until he was 18 years of age. In 1836 he came to Illinois, making the trip with an ox team, driving it for Mr. Barnard. He arrived in Greene county in the fall of that year, with but a quarter of dollar in his pocket, as his only earthly possessions. The first five months he was in the county he worked for $8 per month, and then worked in the distillery of Samuel Thomas about six weeks. For several years after that he was engaged during the summer at farm work, and in winter in making trips to New Orleans on rafts, taking produce, etc., to sell. His next move was to rent land, which he did until 1850, when he purchased 120 acres. By thrift, energy and good management, he has succeeded in adding to this until he now has 484 acres in Greene county, 250 in Macoupin and Sangamon counties, and 320 in Marion county, Kan. He has a saw mill on his premises, which was erected in 1852. On Dec. 21, 1843, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hall, a native of this county, and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (McVay) Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were the parents of 10 children, eight of whom are living - Mary E., wife of George Short, living in Page county, Mo.; James B., married Emily Barnett, living in Marion county, Kan.; Clarissa H., deceased, wife of Oscar Clendennen, deceased, she dying in Jan., 1872, and he three days later, leaving two children - Reuben and Nettie, who are being reared by Mr. and Mrs. Bradley; Thomas A., married Phenie Cafer, lives in Woodville township; Jeannette Z., wife of Martin Bowman, living in Bluffdale township; Reuben H., married Laura Smith, living in Marion county, Kan.; Charles D., living at home; Joseph L., living out west; George I., deceased, and an infant not yet named. Mr. Bradley is an enterprising gentleman, and holds a high place in the estimation of all who have any acquaintance with him. Starting out in the world with no capital, he has acquired what may be considered a small fortune, all of which is due to good management and close attention to everything pertaining to the business of farming.