Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-01-21
!" the soung man, aud he again stsrte
oat.
ARRIVED IN JANEsvILLE IN 1860

AhhiN ED IN JANESV1LLE IN 1860.
In 1860 he went to Janesville. BY this
! lime lie had sceumulated some money,
lie saw In the lumber ing business a
brilliant prospect, and h. began his
operat ions IN that city in modtst way
As the state grew up he spread out. He
lived for time la Oshkosh, and there
became close friend aud associate OF the
late Senate Sawyer. He also became In
terested In some OF the senator's ium Der
deals, and the two became warm friends
tie always spoke of the Oshkosh man
wit b the kindest feeling, and woe to the
man who offended Mr.. Sawyer.
In this connection his friends tell a
story how Mr. Bradley, always life long
democrat, refused to swallow the free
silver ideas OF Mr.. Bryan and came to
Milwaukee to vote. Going into the
eighteenth ward booth Mr.. Bradley as
tonished the election officers by asking
them how to vote the straight republican
ticket, except La Toilette. He held up
the ballot In full view SO As to let those
present know how he was going to vote.
Later when he was asked why he did not
vote the ticket from top to bottom he
said he could not vote for La Toilette
because be had accused his friend, Mr..
Sawyer, whom he knew and believed to be
honest, of an act OF dishonesty.
WENT INTO LUMBER TRADE.
From Oshkosh Mr.. Bradley branched
out extensively In northern Wisconsin
timber deals. but he did not lay the real
foundation to his fortune until he and his
brother became associated with H. 8.
Benjamin aud o. P Piiisbury in Muske
gon enterprises. He lived in Muskegon
for number OF years, and 1t was there
that his ventures proved most successful.
Late In the eighties Mr.. Bradley returned
to Wisconsin, lived In Milwaukee for a
time, but again sought the mort Hands.
About 1888 he went to point on the
Wisconsin river, forty-five miles mort h
of Waussu, where Tomshawk now stands.
II Is said that he found nothing there
but dead pine log. One day he took Z.
A. Foster, of Wausau, up to see the log
The two csmped there, and Mr.. Bradley
said:
"Ssy, Foster, / believe III build a town
up here. Right here where this log
stands would be mighty good place to
build first class hotel, just as good as
tnere is in the state. Do you want to go
In with me aud build town."
II Deg" replied Foster.
''Do GU want any OF III"
"Nop"
"rben will build it myself, and, young
man, this town will have mayor and
board of aldermen in four years."
Nv hat town." queried Foster.
"The city OF Tomshawk."
This was Mr.. Bradley's answer, and in
four years the city of Tomahawk was in-
corporated. Where that identical piue
log lay now stands the Hotel Mitchell a
fifst- class modern structure, with a
cuisine noted far and near, and around it
clusters the city OF Tomahawk with its
5 600 population and outlying farms.
WAS PAYING HOTEL.
year or two ago travelling man said
Within Mr. Bradley's hearing: Does this
hotel pa5?'
He stepped up to the inquisitive drum
mer aud replied: Young man, il you
h we any bills against this house, present
EN- at the Office and see II this hotel
d ys,"snd turned on his heel and left the
ummer storm
w no is tn t MANI" he asked.
"That WIS William II. Bradley, the
o vner Of this hotel, owner OF greater
PORTION of the city of Tomahawk, aud
two or three OF its railroads, together
with one OF he biggest lumber manu-
featuring concerns in Wisconsin" replied
the ty.tauder.
In Tomabawk Mr.. Bradley took the
greatest interest. He built schools and
churches, bought everything settlers Of
fered for sale, constructed railroad,
opened saw mills and made improvements
as fast as they we're needed. Only re-
Gently be gave a large tract of land On
Nhich it in the intention to open a sani
arium for consumptives.
One OF Mr.. BrsdIey's pet projects was
he establishment OF the town of Spirit
Falls. thirteen miles from Tomahswk,
and during the latter part OF the yesr
1898 preparations were made for clearing
4 sufficient amount OF land for the place.
Within few weeks number OF fami les
we're taken there and the land was rapidly
improved. Farms were cultivated, crops
planted. residences built and business
institutions started almost before the
people in other parts of the state knew OF
the existence of the booming little village.
A year and half after the site was To-
Gated there was thriving community OF
several hundred people, tiourishing
mill, elevator, hotel, general store, post
office, railroad round house, fine water
power plant, express, telegraph and te'e-
phone service, and warehouse. Mr..
Bradley had twelve houses in the process
of construction at that time, in addition
10 the Others, and another colony OF