The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-10
Death of Ex-senator Bradbury.

Hon. James Ware Bradbury died at
his homo in Augusta, Sunday morning
at 1890 of bronchitis, contracted about
week ago, since when he had steadily
failed. The funeral was held at 2 80 p.
m, Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Alex
ander Mckenzie of Cambridge and Rev.
Norman McKinnon of Augusta.
James w. Bradbury was born in Par
sonfield, June 10, 1902 He was the son
of James and Ann moulton Bradbury.
He attended the public schools and Cor
ham Academy, and entered the sophie
more class of Bowdoin College In 1922,
graduating with high rank in the ia
nous class of 1925. Among the mem
bers of this class were Henry w Long
fellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John s.
C. Abbott, Jonathan Cilley and George
b. Cheever. After graduating Mr..
Bradbury taught at Hallowell Academy
ono year, He then studied law with the
Hon. Rufus Mcintyre, and also y "a
Hon Ether Shepley. In 1929 he opened
a school for teaching at bingham, N.
IT,, which is believed to have been the
first normal school in New England. In
1880 ne opened law office in Augusta,
whore he resided for the remainder OF
his life. He soon built up large prac-
tice, which was not surpassed by any in
the State. In 1888 he formed a partner
ship with Horatio Bridges, and in 1841
he took into partnership Richard D
Rice, which continued until Rice went
on the bench in 1852. He afterwards
formed copartnership with Lot NJ.
Morrill,, which continued until Mr.. Nor
rill was elected to the United States
Senate. In 1915 Mr.. Bradbury was
chosen United States Senator The
Mexican war was then in progress, and
Mr. Bradbury gave President Polk his
hearty support. He favored the ratifi-
cation of the treaty of peace with Mexi-
CO, which was so strongly opposed that
change of two or three votes would
have defeated it When bills for the
organization of the territories acqui ed
by the treaty were introduced, amend
ments were adopted by those favoring
the abolition of slavery prohibiting
slavery in all of them. This was resist
ed by the southern members. A COM
promise bill was introduced by Mr.. Clay,
and Mr.. Bradbury acted and voted with
the Conservatives in the support of it,.
Mr.. Bradbury and the other Conserva-
tives who supported the compromise,
believed that it's adoption would pre-.
vent any future attempts at secession,
or at least postpone it until the North
grew 80 strong as to make any attempts
failure. He was always satisfied that
he was right in his efforts in support of
the compromise of 1850 He was al
ways a Democrat, and was a delegate to
the Baltimore convention of 1874 and
threw the vote of Maine for Mr. Polk
which resulted in his nomination. He
always kept up his interest in Bowdoin
College, was elected on the board of
overseers in 1S45, and in 1861 was cho.
sen one OF the trustees For 20 years
he was chairman of the finance COM
mittee. Since 1916 he had been an
active member of the Maine Historical
Society, and frequently attended it's
meetings held in Augusta He was its
president from 1857 to 1887
1t was through Mr. Bradbury's instru-
mentality that the charter for the first
railroad in Maine, the p s. & p, was
secured from the Legislature in 1885.
He also secured the charter for the
Atlantic & St Lawrence road which is
now the Grand Trunk He was mem
Der of and constant attendant upon the
Congregational church of Augusta
He always took a keen interest in the
affairs of his home city, Augusta, whore
he lived in quiet manner, in large
white house at the foot of Green street
He was most benevolent man, and
even at his great age took great inter-
est in all charitable works To the last
he retained his faculties to a remarkable
degree, and at the centennial of Angus
ia some years ago, he delivered an
address which was eloquent and inter-
esting.