Our work this week has centered on getting the Summer Journal mailed out to members. This issue of our quarterly booklet turned out to be 60 pages in length and contains much genealogy, pictures (old and new) and some good reading stories. We are always interested in hearing from our readers and would enjoy some feedback from you on our Journal and/or this news column. Our mailing address is Magoffin County Historical Society, PO Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 or email [email protected]

Bradford Bradley and his wife Patricia of Missouri researched his family in our library recently. Bradford is a son of Kelley and Vinnie (Thomas) Bradley. The family lived on Bull Creek off KY 7 near the head of Licking River in the 1940s before moving to New Haven, OH.

Kelley Bradley was born in 1908 and died in 1978, a son of Henry C. Bradley and Eda Wireman. Henry Bradley was born 27 Apr 1868 to Jacob Bradley and Barbara Watkins. Henry married in Magoffin County in 1891 to Eda Wireman (1871-1954), dau of Daniel Wireman and Elizabeth Hale.

Jacob Bradley lived in Breathitt Co. KY according to census records of 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The 1900 census shows him on Quicksand in Knott Co. KY. It is possible that he did not move but lived in an area of Breathitt County that went into the formation of Knott County in 1884.

In 1850 and 1860 Jacob was a member of his parent’s household, George Bradley and 2^nd wife Susan Brown or Hale (both surnames have been given by descendants). In 1850 their next door neighbors were William and Katherine (Gearheart) Allen; nearby was John and Leester (Lawhorn) Conley.

George Bradley was born 3 Mar 1785 in Virginia and died 29 Mar 1874 Breathitt Co. KY. His first wife was Elizabeth Briggs (1783-1865). George and Elizabeth’s children were (1) Rebecca m. Hiram Prewitt and David Shepherd, (2) William m. Elizabeth Pridemore, (3) Mary "Polly" m. Wilson Barnett, (4) James m. Elizabeth Howard, (5) Susannah m. Nelson Barnett, (6) Elias m. Luanna Prater and (7) Betsy b. & d. 1818 Floyd Co. KY.

The children of George Bradley and his second wife Susan were (8) Sarah "Sally" m. Lorenzo D. Prater, (9) Clarinda m. Jesse Fugate, (10) George Wesley m. Luanna Gearheart and Catherine Boggs, (11) Cynthia Bradley may have m. John Griffith, (12) John m. Julia Ann Keeton, (13) Jacob Bradley (our visitor’s ancestor), (14 and 15) twins Wilson and Bayson b. 1843 and (16) Luanna Bradley m. Harvey Stone.

It is believed that George’s son Jacob Bradley was a Civil War soldier (Pvt. in 13^th Reg. KY Cav.). A land grant was issued in his name in 1869 for 100 acres on Manns Fork of Breathitt County, KY.

Jacob (age 33) and Barbara (age 28) first appear in their own home in 1870 Breathitt Co. KY with six children: (1) Lourany b. 1863, (2) Susan b. 1864, (3) Margaret b. 1866, (4) Polly b. 1867, (5) Henry C. b. 1869 and (6) James b. 1870. By 1880 they lived on Bakersfork in Breathitt and had additional children: (7) Elizabeth, (8) John G., (9) Farish, (10) Rachel and (11) Cynthia.

By 1900 in Knott Co. KY three other children had been born to the family: (12) Jake b. 1881, (13) Joseph b. 1884 and (14) Pearl b. 1886. In 1910 Jacob at age 73 and Barbara age 71 were living in Floyd County, KY with their youngest son Pearl Bradley, his wife Mary and family.

Jacob’s wife Barbara Watkins was born in 1841 and died in 1920. She was a dau of William W. Watkins b. 1812 in Tennessee and Margaret "Peggy" Hale b. 1810 VA and died in 1897. William and Peggy can be found in the 1850 and 1860 census of Breathitt County with their children. In the time of the 1870 Breathitt County William (age 58) and Margaret (age 60) lived alone in their household.

Henry Bradley’s wife Eda was one of 20 children born to Daniel Wireman. Eda’s mother was Elizabeth Hale who married Dan Wireman in 1869 Magoffin Co. KY as his first wife. Dan was a son of Jacob Wireman and Susannah Sizemore. Jacob was a son of John and Rebecca (Carpenter) Wireman. Susannah was a dau of George "Goldenhawk" and Sallie (Anderson) Sizemore.

Dan Wireman married several more times, in 1885 to Susan Bradley; later marriages were to Cynthia Baldridge, to Belle Bradford, to Mary Vanderpool and in 1923 to Nearie Shepherd.

Dan’s first wife Elizabeth, the mother of Eda Wireman Bradley, was a daughter of John Hale and his second wife Louvina Stone.

Any additions or corrections to these families would be very welcome. There are many families who used the same or similar names for their children which can be confusing to a researcher. For instance, there are several people by the name of William in the Watkins and Mullins family and several Margaret or Peggy Hales of similar ages.