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Richard A. Bradley
Sumner County, Tennessee
Jackson County, Illinois
Elizabeth Oliver (b. 5 Oct 1809; d. 6 Apr 1888)
Biography
Richard A. Bradley, son of Joshua Bradley and Nancy Gardner, was born 8 January 1802 in Sumner County, Tennessee. On 14 October 1826, he married Elizabeth Oliver in Randolph County, Illinois. Elizabeth was born 5 October 1809.
Military Service - Black Hawk War: Richard enlisted for ninety days in Captain Briggs Company of Mounted Volunteers on 24 May 1832. The men left Randolph County and marched to Fort Wilburn where they were officially mustered into service as part of the 3rd Regiment, commanded by Gabriel Jones. Richard held the rank of Corporal. He was medically discharged on 15 July 1832 at Fort Winnebago, Michigan Territory.
Early Public Service: Richard also served as fence viewer for Gognia Township in 1829 and served on several County juries between 1824 and 1841. He was a County Commissioner from 1838 to 1840.
Political Career - Illinois State Legislature: Richard was a member of the Illinois State Legislature from 1842 to 1846 and again from 1848 to 1852. It is interesting to note that he appears to have rotated in the State Legislature with John Logan, father of General John A. Logan, who was in the legislature from 1836 to 1840 and 1846 to 1848.
Legislative Accomplishments
1842: Chairman of the Committee on Elections. Presented the bill that moved the County seat to Murphysboro.
1848: Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Presented a bill that reduced the fees of County Judges, Circuit and County Clerks, County Commissioners and Justice of the Peace. Also introduced a bill to charter the Chester and Wabash Railroad.
Ministry and Religious Life: Richard was converted and joined the Looney Springs Free Baptist Church on June 23rd, 1850. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry by Reverend Henry S. Gordon on the 4th Sabbath in March 1852, and elected pastor the following month. For a number of years he was pastor at both Looney Springs and the Campbell Hill Baptist Church, serving his community in both spiritual and civic capacities.
Professional Life: Richard's occupations included lawyer, farmer, and minister, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to serving his community in multiple ways.
Death and Legacy
Richard died on 16 April 1859, just one day after his brother William J. Bradley wrote in a letter: "I have a brother that is very sick at this time with inflammation of the liver. I think he will not live many days at most." Richard was 57 years old at the time of his death.
Elizabeth survived him by nearly 29 years, dying on 6 April 1888 at the age of 78. Both are buried in Looney Springs Cemetery outside of Campbell Hill, Jackson County, Illinois.
Children of Richard A. Bradley & Elizabeth Oliver
9 Children
Martha Ann Bradley
1 Jul 1828 - 22 Sep 1895Edward Hampton Rees (b. ca. 1821, Perry Co., IL; d. 30 Nov 1867, DeSoto, Jackson Co., IL)
William H. Carter (b. 22 Jul 1820, TN; d. 28 Feb 1898, Jackson Co., IL)
William "Black Bill" Bradley
14 Mar 1831 - 19 Oct 1899Sarah Jane Short (b. 29 Jan 1833; d. 5 Sep 1892, Jackson Co., IL)
Solomon P. Bradley
ca. 1833 - 6 May 1887Cyrus G. Bradley
7 Dec 1834 - 10 Feb 1916Sarah Jane Stoffel (b. Oct 1836, TN)
Mary Elizabeth Bradley
27 Mar 1838 - 3 Dec 1924John W. White (b. 17 Sep 1829, Jackson Co., IL; d. 25 Mar 1873, Jackson Co., IL)
John W. Brashear (d. ca. 1877, IL)
Henry G. Loy (b. ca. 1830, Calloway, KY; d. 4 Oct 1893, Jackson Co., IL)
Harriet C. Bradley
18 Feb 1840 - 29 Aug 1934Peter Stoffel Jr. (b. 12 Jan 1834, Bristol, TN; d. 8 Mar 1906, Jackson Co., IL)
Isaac Ambrose Bradley
10 Aug 1842 - 8 Aug 1874Margaret Jane McIntosh Steel (b. 23 Jun 1844, Sullivan, TN; d. 1 Nov 1928, Neosho Falls, KS)
Thomas Benton Bradley
16 May 1844 - 15 Mar 1934Pernecia A. Steel (b. 1847; d. 30 Nov 1873, Jackson Co., IL)
Nancy Elizabeth Paralee Culley (b. 6 Dec 1854, IL; d. 13 Nov 1903, Jackson Co., IL)
Mary Ellen Stephens