"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



George P. Bradley, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Lakeside township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the neighborhood of Bingham Lake, is a native of Iowa, born on a pioneer farm in Jones county, that state, April 19, 1869, son of Marshall B. and Ellen (Dowden) Bradley, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Indiana.

Marshall B. Bradley came West as a young man and settled in Jones county, Iowa, where he bought a farm and established his home and was there engaged in farming until 1879, in which year he moved to Boone county, in that state, where he farmed until 1882, when he moved to Calhoun county, same state, moving thence, in 1883, to Nebraska, where he spent the rest of his life. Marshall B. Bradley was twice married. On June 1, 1847, he married Matilda A. Lee, and to that union were born five children, Emily, Horace, Viola, Harvey and Myra, of whom Horace is now the only survivor. The mother of these children died on November 8, 1858, and on May 24, 1861, Mr. Bradley married Ellen Dowden, to which union were born eleven children, Benjamin, Ira, Emma, Alfred, George P., Ida, Letitia, Martha, Cora, Daisy and Clara, of whom Ira, Alfred, George and Martha are the only survivors.

George P. Bradley was reared in Jones county, Iowa, and grew up to the life of the farm. When eleven years of age he was compelled to discontinue his studies at school on account of failing eyes and his youth was devoted to assisting in the work of the home farm. As a young man he began farming on his own account in Sac county, in his native state, and after his marriage, in 1905, established his home there, continuing to make that place his residence until he came to Minnesota in 1913. Upon coming to this state. Mr. Bradley bought a quarter of a section of partly improved land in Lakeside township, Cottonwood county, the farm on which he has since made his home, and proceeded further to improve the place until now he has a well-improved and well-kept farm. Most of the buildings on the place he has erected and all the fences on the place have been built by him. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Bradley has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade Shorthorn cattle and has done very well.

It was in 1905, in Iowa, that George P. Bradley was united in marriage to Ida Peck, and to this union two children have been born, Paul D. and Daisy I. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of their neighborhood. Mr. Bradley is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs.