The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-24
HON. JOHN F. BRADLEY.
After a Long and Eventful Life
Of Activity and Usefulness,
He Rests.
In the Field He Fought for Southern
Rights-In Civil Life He was Leader
OF Men-He Loved His Country and
He Loved His FellOwman.


In 1856 he married Miss Sarah Ma 6 ,re,
Widemsn, which union was blessed with d
large family of children.
For several ears Mr.. Bradley had suffered
from dangerous affection OF the heart, but
the i'm mt diate cause OF bis death was paraly-
sis, with which he was attacked on the day
before his death.
For forty years Mr.. Bradley has taken a
prominent nd an active part In al the affairs
which interested the public. For long Time
he was one OF the most popular men that
lived In this county, and WAS tlSays ready TO
serve the people wherever duty called: HIS
popularity was attested when ne was ,l'eted
10 the LEGISLATURE At the head Of one of the
besL delegations that Aobevllie county ever
sent to the General Assembly.
In his youug manhood he wes sent I" IL g.
kline College, and but for th- fact that he VOL
uuteertd into the service of his country three
months before the close OF The collegiate year.
he would have been graduated from that In
stitutior. VOLUNTEERING In Inc luiantrS win
. the first TO enter the army he served sixteen
months In that branch OF the service, and
then he Joined the cavalry, In which he
served until the close OF tbe War. During his
military service he had many thrill Ing expt :
Iiences.
On ore occasion a shell struck and killed
the horse which be was riding. A Union cav
airy pursued him on loot. but before he dio
damage 10 MIR; Brady comrsde shot me
pursuing cavalry man, when The rider'es
horse, az II by late, ran up To Mr.. Bradley.
who secured him, and was again on horse-
back. This Is nentOneQ oecHuAe Vi tue re-
mark able circumstance.
His faithful discharge OF duty, his genial
and his kindly disposition wen for him In ~
field and In the struggle, the love OF onih the
ties Of mind and heart attracted the love and
friendship OF those who Knew nlfn IN peace
fol walks OF Efe.
In the Jury OF battle as we'll as In tented
field, the touch OF the elbow made bro hrIs Of
all the boys In gray. Next To and close kin
10 the love OF his family, was Mr. Bradley's
love for those with whom he had stoud H. the
hour OF their country's greatest need, and the
remnapfs OF the thiuned ranks OF the vete-
rams that assembled around his grave, was
touching incident.
During the stirring days OF 1876 Mr.. brr oiey
took an active part. ard he, as much Ms any
other citizen contributed 10 the sublime" 81
fort which brought III. glorious resnlts that
came In the freedom OF an oppressed p' pie
And this service was In the SADDLE as vel sk
from the stump.
On notapie occasion when the public
SQUARE In the city Of Abbeville WAS II LED with
contending hosts. ana when eXcl,ement yer sn. wsA
from Mr.. Bradley. Enthusiastic neighbors
sought him and 'ifte1 him bodily To the back
OF a horse from which be spoke In tones that
aroused the already excl;ed mind, 10 some
thing like the exaltaiion which characteriZes
the frenzy of soldiers in battle.
In the days Of his best manhood, when hik
other man. Mr.. Bad ey welded a wonderful
influence In controlling pubic opinion. Hi'
earnestness. his zeal. while showing r,gar'
for the feelings OF others, gave iorce and
power to his appeals.
In 1890 Mr.. Bradley again tonk an active
part In po iiics, and b-conie one OF The lead
ing spirits IN the Reform Movement, even a.
he was a power IN 1876. Being close p'r-
sonal az well as political friend oi B K TIL
man, and being hims. II one OF he stro' ges
advocates NJ reform. he gave ready support Il
his candidacy for Governor, and II NAV b
correctly cla lined that MIR Bradley was iarge
" Instrumental In carrying this county over
whelmtpg for Tiilman.
Mr.. Bradley was one OF the most active
forces IN the organization OF the Farmers
Bank at Abbeville.
Mr.. Bradley was pamed by the will Of the
late Mr.. Clemson as life trustee Of Cit m 'on
College. And from its foundation b uns
been Il Jealous friend OF the Institute Il
which he has given his bPst ser"tc" 10 foster
ing its interests aud the ,ste-m In which b,
was held by the members nf tn" BOnrd epd
Faculty OF Clemson WAS evider ccd nv hr fac
that the President Of The Board tel graphec
for q corps OF q hundred students OF the insti-
fu'iop TO attend the funeral servic's. They
were not able to be present on account OF
puor schedules.
For many years Mr.. Bradley was a most
successful farmer, aud before that misfortune
came to him for which he was not RESPONSE
BILE, he had accumulated handsome fstai'
which would have other wise mad- him CON-
Portable for the remainder OF his lie. Aite
he bad passed middle life. much of his prop
er;y waa swept away, and his estate be CAM
tnv0lv. d, he offered To surrender all to hi
creditors, reaervipg neither homestead no,
anv part OF his wite's individual properly.
The energy OF Mr.. Is: adley In the hitter
years of his life was directed to the tx'in-
guishment Of outsts nding Obligations, " h;ch
energy and strict econ0my had nearly accom-
Il'shed the great purpose OF the :ust few Year
OF his lie
But whether In prosperity or in ID ersity
Mr.. Bradley, lise bis distinguished III hei
Capt. w. K. Bradley. was ever governed h
generous impulses. He had kindly woi'
Tor those In distress and 10 the needy he gave
as he could. The door OF his bouse was no
closed. His motto was: If man dues you
an unk lpdness. do him ftvor-:he create
the unkipdnesa the greater the favor
When the years OF iutirmity had made en-
oronch ments. he bad the misfortune To los,
by fire, the elegant old home that had de
scended To him rom his Rpc s'ors. and al tn,
last be lived IN An humble cottage.
The funeral services were held In old Long
Cane church in which he had wors b pptd ri
Mia life, and were conducted nv Rev. Mr.
Smith, pastor OF the Associate K f rmed
Church at B Hdley. and Rev <. B. k-n"edy
pastor Of tn" Associate Reformed chu'ch H.
Ahbevi'le. NJ. Kennedy concluded the se,-
vices at the grave by n most touching as wtl
as u most appropriate prayer. The large
church was filed To its capacity. Friends
come from all directions.
THE PAIL BEARERS
Five sons and nephew OF the deceas, d
were active p Ill bearers.
ARMY CoMRADE PAIL BEARERS.
B.A Boyd. James Evans ]. T. Fortlsc"". &
Hanvey, K. r. H H~mphill. L. NJ Jay,
Reagan, Ad m Wideman.
HONORARY PAIL BEARERS.
w A Calvert. r. E Coke. F. B Gary, !. u
Kerr. R. w. Simpson, j. ). STARK, Hue n WI
Sun.
FRIENDS FROM ABBEvILLE.
Besides q host Of relatives from Abbeville
thaf ihS following named friends
were present At tho funeral: J. Foster Barn.
we'll j. K. p axe. + C.lhonn. w A. CIV n
X. E Z. xe. John Davis, F. B. Gary, Cheret
Haskell, r. Il. HemphiIr. W. T. Hunter, l. 4
Kennedy. j. u. Kerr. J. Linz. =. t"rB
Link, Mrs. John Lyon. Mis-. G.J Lyon, n" s
Lvon, Dr. McMnrray, Mrs. McMurrar. J. H
McDiil, j. l.. Perrin, Z. A. Rmhe, J'hn T.
Scott. S. Stark. Richard Sond ey. John II
Sprouse, Hugh Wilson.
FRIENDS FROM DUE WEST.
Among the friends from Due We, were
P l.. Grier. S. A. Pressly. James W:deinap
Miss Statis Wideman.
THE FLORAL OFFERINGS.
The floral offerings were many. With them
the loving hands OF beautiful women covered
the clay heneath which heir friend slept
Tue f'sgrauce Of the flowers hke the
frpgrsnc. OF hi> de- ds o; klDGn'ss. b. a swet'
incense. and attest the purity OF the hesrts
81. cere affection.
Having entered upon that great SLEEP
which men call death, John Bradley is n"
dead He atiil lives In the l'te OF his children
namely: w. W. B adiey.J F Bradley. j.. T
Brad ey. Mark Bradley. LniEar B 'adipy, Mrs
J. C. Klugh and Mrs. Arthur Wideman.
CLEMSON COLLEGE HoNoRs Mr.. BRADLEY.
Among the distinguished visitors al lh'
funera was Mr.. adley's old friend and CO
trustee OF Clemson College, Col. Il. w. Simp
sor. He is held in In Q highest esteem by al
OF our people, while all the Bradleys and al
with Mr.. Bradley. In politics he was q
friend and slnce their association at Clemson
they have been as brothers,