William H. Bradbury

As printed in 1902

CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. BRADBURY.

For many years the list of war heroes in America contained the names of only those who were soldiers of the Civil war. The veterans of the early struggles in which our country engaged had passed away and there was an era of peace covering a third of a century from the time of the strife for the preservation of the Union until the United States again felt it its duty to take up arms. The wars of this land have never been those of aggression. They have always been in defense of a principle and of liberty, and when Spain was violating tie terms of the Monroe doctrine and extending its monarchical interests into the new world America arose as a defender of liberty and independence in the western hemisphere. It was at this time that William H. Bradbury, with the rank of captain, entered the Spanish-American war, commanding Company B, of the Third Infantry, of the Ohio National Guard.

The Captain was born in Springfield November 16, 1862, and in the public schools of this city pursued his education. In 1876 he began working for himself, being at that time only fourteen years of age. He found employment in the finishing department of St. John’s Sewing Machine factory, learning the trade and following it for three years. He then went into the shop of Rinehart, Ballard & Company, learning the trade ot machinist under his father, who was foreman of that shop for a number of years. There Mr. Bradbury was employed until 1882 when the old firm sold out to O. S. Kelly and the Springfield Engine and Threshing Works Company was organized. Our subject remained with the new concern and is still there employed as a-journeyman machinist, being one of the old and trustworthy representatives of the machinist's craft. He has resided continuously in Springfield with the exception of the summers of 1882 and 1883, when he. was employed as a farm hand in the neighborhood of Niles, Michigan.

In March, 1896, Mr. Bradbury was united in marriage to Miss Ella D. Bratton, who was born in McArthur, Ohio, in 1868, a daughter of Anthony W. Bratton. Her father died in July, 1902, at the age of fifty-seven years and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia M. Ullcm, is now living at No. 67 West Columbia street, at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were six children, of whom four are still living: Ella D. is the wife of Captain Bradbury; Lillie M. is the wife of Burt Jones, an engineer of the Foos Manufacturing Company; Maggie B. is the wife of Willard L, Berry, grand chief of the Knights of the

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.