Eber L Bradley 1828-1910

Eber L Bradley left behind a very small documentary footprint. One of the few documents for him is the 1910 census taken in Malheur City, Oregon. The census records an Eber Bradley, age 81, born in Ohio, his father born in Vermont. Making the connection between the Eber from Malheur and the Eber the son of Eber Bradley born in Butler County, Ohio would be almost impossible if it were not for a very nice little biography written of him in a Malheur County History. According to the history Eber moved to Malheur in 1867. This raises the question, Why does he not appear in other census records. The answer lies in the fact that Eber was the census taker for Malheur. If you look at the 1880 and 1900 census pages you will see that they are signed by, Eber L Bradley. It is interesting that he did not include himself in the census data. The history notes that he never married. It paints a picture of him as one of Malheur’s leading citizens. Malheur was a typical western town that grew up around a gold strike it is now a ghost town its only trace is the small cemetery the home of 160 souls one of them, E L Bradley. ---------- Eber 1828 Butler Ohio / Eber 1802 Essex, Vermont / Harding 1776 Guilford, Ct,

John Harding Bradley, 1828-1873

Eber Bradley married Elsea Rynearson October 30, 1827 in Hamilton, Butler County Ohio. The 1840 census taken in nearby Milford notes that Eber Bradley was the father of seven sons. The family history provides a list of their names ; Eber Jr., John, Frank, Fernando, Jacob, Abraham, Garrett, William and Stephen. Working backward from the few know dates of birth you would expect John to be born in 1828/1829. ---------- Census records track Eber to Huron/ Yellow Spring/ Benton, Iowa. At one time or another a single location went by those three names. The Iowa census records note that the Bradley family arrived in Iowa in 1843. A biographical note for William Bradley notes he moved to Iowa with his father in 1843. John does not appear in the Iowa census records with his father. Tracking him has proven to be a distinct challenge. Evidence for him is circumstantial. But the evidence never the less is quite compelling.--------- There is a rich trail for a John H Bradley in California. He appears in the 1870 census in Township-2 Santa Barbara, Ca. The census noted that he was 42 (1828 ) born in Ohio. That area would later become Ventura, Ventura County. John H Bradley became a well know citizen in venture. In 1871 he founded the Ventura Signal the area’s first newspaper. ---------- Probably due to his standing in the community his cemetery record is quite detailed; Born Oxford, Butler, Ohio, 16 March 1828. Died Ventura, California 11 September 1873. He is buried in the Cemetery Park in Ventura. Oxford and the Milford from the 1840 Ohio census for the family of Eber Bradley are subsets of the same location. There are bits and pieces of John’s history scattered on the various genealogical web sites. Most quote his grandchildren as the source of the material. Noted as John “H” Bradley in various historical references his grandchildren remember the “H” standing for Hardin/Hardon. In all likelihood the “H” stood for Harding his grandfather’s name. There is a line that is quoted from his obituary, “he removed to Iowa with his father in 1843” ---------- So he have a John H Bradley born in the same location as the son of Eber Bradley, in the year that we would have supposed, moving to Iowa with his father in the same year that history records Eber, arriving in Iowa, the bearer of a distinctive Bradley family name. What are the chances that John H Bradley is not the son of Eber and Elsey Bradley? ---------- John Bradley married Sarah Ellen (Nellie) Newby December 7, 1865 in Linden, San Joaquin, CA. --------- John / Eber / Harding / Stephen / Stephen / Stephen of Guilford, CT

Franklin M Bradley 1831-1919

Within the family history of the family of Eber Muzzy Bradley ( 1802 Essex, Vt) and Elsa/Elsey/Eliza Rynearson is a list of their 9 sons. Eber, John, Frank, Fernando, Abraham, Jacob, Garrett, William and Stephen. The census records support the existence of the 9 sons. The 1840 census, which lists seven sons (William was born 1842, Stephen 1844), and the marriage record for Eber and Elsa (1827) identifies Butler County, Ohio as the birth place for the first eight sons. The 1856 census for E. M. Bradley taken in Huron, Iowa provides the names and age for the last six. Clearly identifying the first three sons poses a challenge. This is certainly true for, “Frank”. ---------- As you search through the census records for possible candidates for an older Frank Bradley you find a “Franklin Bradley” age 29 ( 1831), born, Ohio, in Benton, Iowa in the 1856 and 1860 census. Benton is the same small town where Eber is found in 1860. With a date that matches what we would expect for “Frank” and a birthplace of Ohio and residence in the same town as his supposed father it seems a pretty safe conclusion that we have found father and son. ---------- The 1856 Iowa census list the number of years each person has lived in Iowa. The census indicates that Eber and his sons have lived in Iowa for 13 years. The 1856 census for Franklin also notes that he had lived in Iowa for 13 years. ---------- The start of the Civil War in 1861 disrupted the lives of the Bradley brothers. After the war they scattered to the far parts of the western United States. Tracking where they ended up is a genealogical challenge. This is certainly true for Franklin Bradley. An easily arrived at assumption is that the brothers would enlist in Benton or Yellow Springs. However the records we find are for Bradleys, that enlisted, are in Burlington, Iowa. The explanation is found in the records of the Yellow Springs Presbyterian Church. In the records for Elsey Bradley we find a notation that she “dismissed to the 1st Congregational Church in Burlington” in 1861 thus placing the family in Burlington. Elsey, Stephen, Garrett and Abram V. are all listed in the Yellow Springs membership records. ---------- We can trace Franklin to his time and place of death using his military records. Note that information from one record can be found in the other records. These points make it easy to follow the connection between them. The records provide a physical description for Franklin, his place of birth, where and when he enlisted, the units he served in, and his time of death. ---------- We have recovered an enlistment record, ----------- “Engr. Reg’t of the West—Franklin M Bradley—Age 30 (1831), height 5 9 1/2--- dark completion, blue eyes, brown hair--- born Butler Co, Ohio---Enlisted Sept 30, 1861, Burlington, Iowa. ---------- We have also recovered a set of more detailed service records; ---------- Franklin M Bradley---Military History; Enlisted Sept 30, 1861, Burlington, Iowa, 1 Mo Engrs, Reenlisted Jan 18, 1865, 4 U.S. V.V.----Domestic History; Born Ohio, 5 ft 9 inches, dark completion, blue eyes, grey hair, place of residence, Phillipsburg, Ks.-----Date of death Oct 13, 1919. ---------- We find a record of him in the, U.S. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1919. ---------- There is also a record for his burial in the Leavenworth National Cemetery. “Bradley, Franklin M, 4 U.S.V.V. Oct 13, 1919.” ---------- The military records place Franklin in Phillipsburg, Kansas late in his life. Franklin’s father, Eber, and his two brothers, William and Jacob, are buried together in the Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg. In the 1900 census in Phillipsburg we find William and Jacob. Also in Phillipsburg in 1900 is a Frank Bradley born May 1831 in Ohio. It would seem a given that we are looking at three brothers. However the census records add a bit of confusion, they note that Frank’s parents were born in New Jersey. A first reading of the record would lead us to reject this Frank as our Franklin. But also note that in the 1910 census for William notes that his father was born in Kentucky whereas the 1900 census noted that his father was born in Vermont. Anyone who was studied census records understands how fickle they can be at times. The 1915 Kansas Sate census notes that the 83 year old Frank Bradley born in Ohio came to Kansas from Iowa. ---------- The 1860 census in Benton lists Franklin age 29, Nancy Jane age 26, Henry age 6, Louis age 4 and John age 1. We should also note that Louis’s full name was Louis Harding Bradley, Harding being Franklin’s grandfather’s name. Death records for Henry and Louis, who eventual made their way to the Spokane, Wash area, list their parents as Franklin Bradley and Nancy Jane Humphrey. ------------------- Franklin / Eber Muzzy / Harding Bradley / Stephen Bradley

The Union Cemetery, Killingworth, CT, the Burying Yard

The Union Cemetery sits on the Roast Meat Hill Road in Killingworth. A stone fence separates it from the home lot purchased by Samuel Griffin Jr. in 1761. It is a beautiful little spot. The first time I visited the cemetery it supported a grove of tall stately evergreens. Many were knocked over in a storm 4 or 5 years ago. It is populated with very old headstone, many very weather worn. In the oldest section many are unreadable. There are 428 souls interred in the cemetery. It was actively used until the late 1800s. ---------- We find a land deed dated in 1784 in which Samuel Griffin purchases a small piece of property from the city of Killingworth that is identified as the "Burying Yard". The property is identified as being next door to other property owned by Samuel.There is a rich tradition of family cemeteries throughout New England. It is my assumption that with the burial of his wives Marah Griffin and Mercy Nettleton and a daughter Molle in the Burying Yard Samuel saw it as an eventual Griffin Family Cemetery. ---------- At the time Samuel made the purchase there were only a handful of people buried in the cemetery probably fewer than 25. That being said it was still a well know place in the area. In the land records, land deeds are referenced by their relationship to know locations rather than specific north, south, east and west coordinates. The “Burying Yard” was a common reference point for the land deeds in the surrounding area. ---------- In one corner of the cemetery is a small collection of older headstones that the years have erased the names. I have always assumed that the Griffins are buried there. The oldest readable headstone in the cemetery is for Mary Parmelee dated in 1744. Most of the early headstones are for the Clark, Parmelee and Lane families. Samuel purchased his original home lot located next to the Burying Yard from Benjamin Turner Jr. Benjamin’s father is buried in the cemetery he died August 31, 1751. Benjamin Turner Sr. was given the original land grant for the property that included the Burying Yard and the original Griffin home lot. It is my guess that it was he who started the cemetery. ---------- The cemetery has a strong connection to the Congregational Society. The Reverend William Seward, who officiated for the marriages of Samuel Griffin Jr. and his three wives, Marah Griffin, Mercy Nettleton and Mercy Bailey, is buried there. The Rev. Seward also baptized all of Samuel’s children. ---------- “Rev William Seward, died Feb 5, 1782, age 70.” ----------- We have made reference many times to Deacon Abraham Pierson and his influence in the Congregational Society that was home to the Griffins. He is also buried in the Union Cemetery; ---------- “Deacon Abraham Pierson, Rev War, died May 11, 1823, age 67 yrs”. ---------- Also buried in Union cemetery is Samuel’s sister Thankful Buell and her husband Nathan who died quite young in 1770, ---------- “Thankful Buell, wife of Nathan, died Feb. 16, 1816, age 85 yrs”. Her headstone is the last one posted. ---------- The Buell family lived but a short distance away on Roast Meat Hill Rd. The large Buell home was a local institution. It served at times as a tavern and a meeting place. ---------- In addition to Samuel’s family a good portion of his son, Worden’s, family is found in the Burying Yard. The headstones of Worden and his wife Rhoda Hull are found just over the stone fence from the home lot nestled up under one of the large trees. ---------- “Worden Griffin, died Feb. 17, 1847, age 75 yrs.” ---------- “Rhoda Griffin, wife of Worden, died Dec 9, 1848, age 75 yr.” ---------- Worden’s son Harmon and his wife and children are also buried here. ---------- “Harmon Griffin, died Feb 20, 1860, age 59 yrs.” ---------- “Betsey M. Griffin, wife of Harmon, died Feb 7, 1847, age 39 yrs.” ---------- “Charles H. Griffin son of Harmon & Betsey m., died Jan 15, 1829. ---------- “Eliza M. Griffin, daughter of Harmon & Betsey M., died Apr 11, 1830, age 28 days.” ---------- With the death of Harmon the Griffin family name ceased to exist in Killingworth Connecticut. By the time of his death Harmon and his father Worden had amassed about 500 acres surround the original home lot. ---------- Worden’s daughter Mercy Griffin and portions of her family are also buried in the cemetery. ---------- “Mercy Stevens, wife of Daniel died Jan 15, 1861, age 62 yrs.” ---------- “Daniel Stevens, died Mar 25,1866, age 71 yrs.” ---------- “Ellis M. Stevens, son of Daniel & Mercy Stevens, died June 2, 1839, age 9 mos.” ---------- “Harmon L. Stevens, son of Daniel & Mercy, died Apr 15. 1842., age 6 Yrs.” --------- Ellis and Harmon share a headstone. --------- Mercy Griffin Stevens named a son Samuel Griffin Stevens. A collection of letters that we found in the Connecticut State Archives titled, “Letters home to Daniel Stevens of Killingworth” provided us with rich insights into the Griffin family life in Killingworth. There are several essays on the Blog based on material from those letters. They introduced us to the family of Mercy Griffin Stevens. ---------- At some point in time ownership of the Burying Yard passed back to the city.