James Henry Bradley

Biography

Shortly after his birth in Concord, North Carolina, the family moved to Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee.

Military Service: On 29 September 1814, at the age of 17, James enlisted as a private in Captain Thomas Scurr's Company, 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Thomas Williamson and fought under General Coffee's command during the Battle of New Orleans. James was discharged on 27 April 1815 at Nashville, Tennessee. For his service, James received a land grant for 80 acres of land under the Act of September 1850, which he located in Jackson County, Illinois.

In 1817, at the age of 20, James moved with his father's family to Randolph County, Illinois Territory, settling near Shiloh Hill. On 28 November 1820, he married Martha "Patsie" Hughes, daughter of James Hughes, who was born in 1800 in Randolph County.

Trade and Livelihood: Like his father, James Bradley was a stone mason by trade. For many years he lived on his farm and manufactured monuments and chimney foundations. He was the first man to do stone cutting and monument work in the southern part of Illinois, and was also a maker of grindstones. His craftsmanship helped establish the Bradley name as synonymous with quality stonework throughout the region.

Public Service and Politics: James was very involved in local politics and public service. He was appointed to County Juries in 1825, 1826, 1828, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1834, 1837, and 1839. He served as head of the Bradley Road District in 1827, and was appointed Fence Viewer in Gognia Township in 1830. He served as Justice of the Peace in 1831, and in 1839 was appointed by the Illinois State Legislature as one of the commissioners to lay out a road from Belleville, via New Athens, to Brownsville.

Shiloh School and College: On January 1st, 1836, several citizens of Randolph and Jackson counties, including James, met to organize a school which became known as Shiloh School, located in Randolph County. James was among the men who donated money to purchase 80 acres for the school house on 13 April 1839. On the 11th of November 1839, he became a Trustee of the school, and 12 days later the Trustees were charged with the incorporation of Shiloh College. Upon the college's incorporation on 22 January 1840, he was appointed a Trustee of the College, and served until August of 1842.

Personal Life: Martha "Patsie" died on October 15, 1840, and was buried in Gillespie Cemetery north of Shiloh. James married his second wife, Sarah W. ______ (the widow of Mr. Thom), on August 14, 1846, in Jackson County. Sarah was born in 1816 and died circa 1856. Together they had four children. James's third marriage to Margaret Jordan on 22 October 1857 produced no children.

James died on March 15, 1866, and was buried in Gillespie Cemetery beside his first wife.