In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1831
From History of Bay County, Michigan: and representative citizens (1905), History of Bay County Michigan (1883)
Nathan B. Bradley was born in the town of Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., May 28, 1831. Like many other representative men of Michigan, he is descended from one of three brothers who emigrated from England at a very early day, and settled in Massachusetts. William Bradley, the father of Nathan Bradley, was born in that state, and carried on the tanning business there up to the year 1835, when he removed with his family to the state of Ohio, and settled on what was called the Western Reserve. Here Nathan attended the common schools, and worked on his father’s farm until he was sixteen. At this time he learned the trade of a custom clothier; but after three years of hard work, believing he could engage in something that would prove more lucrative, he abandoned it. In the year 1849 he went to Wisconsin and found employment in a saw mill in the pine regions, where he was engaged for one year. He returned to Ohio in 1850, and in the following year, in connection with an older brother, built a mill, which they run with satisfactory results until 1852. Mr. Bradley then removed to Lexington, Mich., believing that that state afforded better advantages for the manufacture of lumber. He was engaged at Lexington for three years, until he had cut the pine land which he had purchased. In 1855 he removed to the Saginaw Valley, and settled at St. Charles, where he was engaged in managing the affairs of Frost & Bradley, manufacturers of lumber. In 1858 he went to Bay City, purchased a mill, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber until 1864. In that year he erected works, and commenced the manufacture of salt, which he has since carried on in connection with his lumber interests. Mr. Bradley has always taken a lively interest in all public enterprises of this city. In the Winter of 1864-’65 he, in behalf of himself and others, made application for a charter to build a street raihvay. He was successful in obtaining the right, and filled the position of secretary, treasurer, and managing director for several years. In the year 1865, when the city received its charter, Mr. Bradley was elected first mayor. In the Fall of 1866 he was elected to the state Senate, and served faithfully for one term. The interests of his district were so well served that he was offered a renomination, but, on account of his increasing business, was compelled to decline. In the Fall of 1872 he was elected to the Forty-third Congress. He served on the committee on public lands, and was eminently successful in obtaining appropriations for dredging the channel of the Saginaw River and harbors in his district, two very important measures. He well deserves the honor accorded him for the vigilance and labor he bestowed in getting these appropriations. He was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress, and served on the committee on claims. His congressional record during both terms was one of honor. Mr. Bradley secured the friendship and kind regards of the members, and also the commendations of the public for the distinguished ability with which he served his district during the exciting contest at the last session of the Forty-fourth Congress over the electoral count. Although taking no active part in the discussion upon the pending question, he watched its progress with deep interest, and when the electoral bill was reported from the joint committee, was the first of the Michigan delegation to declare himself in favor of the measure. He adhered to this decision, and voted for its passage, believing it to be the only peaceful method for settling the important question. Many of his colleagues differed from him, and voted against the bill. During the existence of the Saginaw and Bay City Salt Company he was a member of the executive committee, a director of the Michigan Salt Association. In January, 1867, he associated himself in partnership with B. E. Warren, in the banking business. When the First National Bank of Bay City was to be re-organized he became one of the principal stockholders, and was appointed its vice-president, which position he held for a number of years. Mr. Bradley joined the Masons in 1853; he is a member of the Bay City Commandery of Knights Templar; and a charter member of Bay City Lodge and Blanchard Chapter; he is presiding officer of each. He attends the Presbyterian Church. While no politician, in the narrow sense, he takes an active interest in public affairs, finding in the creed of the Republican party the expression of his views. Mr. Bradley possesses many of the true elements of success, with great force of character, business integrity, and benevolence. He has the esteem and confidence of the entire community, and has acquired an ample fortune.
As printed in History of Bay County Michigan (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
NATHAN B. BRADLEY, the first mayor of Bay City, Michigan, ex-Member of Congress, founder and head of the firm of N. B. Bradley & Sons, and for a great many years one of the most active business men of Bay County, was born in Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, on May 28, 1831. The Saginaw Valley has had few lumber men who have operated so long and successively as has Mr.. Bradley.
The father of the subject of this sketch was a native of Massachusetts, where he was engaged in the tanning business until 1835. In that year he removed to Ohio, where the subject of this sketch attended the common schools. After finishing his schooling, Nathan B. Bradley began at the age of 16 years to learn the trade of a custom clothier. Having mastered this trade, he journeyed to Wisconsin in the fall of 1849 and there secured employment in a sawmill. He returned to Ohio in 1850 and in partnership with a brother engaged in the sawmill business until 1852. In that year Mr. Bradley came to Michigan. After living three years near Lexington, in Sanilac County, he removed in 1855 to St. Charles, in the Saginaw Valley, where he took a position as superintendent of a lumbering plant. In 1858 he removed to Lower Saginaw (now Bay City), and in the following year assumed the management of what was then called the 'Trost & Bradley Mill." After managing this mill in 1859, 1 rented and operated it in 1860, and in 1 86 1, with two of his brothers, purchased it and operated it under the name of N. B. Bradley & Company. The manufacture of salt wasadded to the lumber business in 1864 when this company built the first modern steam salt-block in the Saginaw Valley. It was located near the foot of 1 6th street, in Bay City. This company afterward built two other blocks in connection with the lumber business, and was successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber and salt until 1891. The firm of N. B. Bradley & Company was composed of Nathan B. and his two brothers, Charles and Frederick E., of Chicago. About the year 1878, Frederick E. withdrew and Nathan B. and Charles continued under the original company name and style until about the year 1880 or 1881 when, Charles having previously died, Nathan B. took his two sons into the business as partners, under the name of N. B. Bradley & Sons, which firm is still in business in Bay City. Mr. Bradley was one of the active organizers of the Bay County Salt Association, and was for years a director therein and for some years treasurer thereof. He also took a prominent part in the early development of the beet sugar industry, which has since grown to large proportions.
In January, 1867, Mr. Bradley engaged in the banking business in association with B. E. Warren. On the reorganization of the First National Bank of Bay City after its failure, he became one of the stockholders and served as vice-president of the institution for several years.
Mr. Bradley's political career has been extended and honorable, and he has rendered valuable service to his city, county and State. In 1865, when Bay City was incorporated, he was elected its first mayor. In the fall of 1866 he was elected to the State Senate, and in 1872 was elected to the 43rd Congress, in which he was a member of the committee on public lands and rendered valuable service thereon. While in Congress, he secured appropriations for dredging the channel of the Saginaw River and for improving other harbors in his district. This work was of prime importance. Mr. Bradley was also a member of the 44th Congress, and served on the committee on claims, on which he maintained a creditable record. During these two sessions of Congress, he represented what was then the 8th Congressional District of Michigan, since which time the district has been divided and Bay City is now in the loth Congressional District.
The subject of this sketch joined the Masons in 1853. He is a remitted member of Bay City Commandery, Knights Templar, and was a charter member of Bay City and Joppa lodges, F. & A. M., and of Blanchard Chapter, R. A. M.
HE OLD SECOND NATIONAL BANK of Bay City has long been considered one of the leading financial institutions of the Saginaw Valley. It has age, experience and capital to back it. It was organized May 5, 1874, with a capital of $100,000, with 30 original shareholders, of whom only two are now living in Bay City. Of the other 28 original members, 14 have removed to other points and the hand of Death has laid the others low. The great institution they founded, however, continues to grow along the same lines of conservatism and safety that its founders laid out.
The first board of directors of the Second National Bank, by which title the bank was known during the life of its first charter, included these prominent citizens: W. H. Sage; John McGraw; William Westover; A. J. Cooke; Wheeler L. Plum; Judge Albert Miller; W. H. Tonsey and George E. Smith, all of Bay City; and F. F. Hyatt, William L. Smith and Alexander McFarlen, of Flint, Michigan. The first officers were: William Westover, president; John McGraw, vice-president; and Wheeler L. Plum, cashier. The first banking office was situated on the corner of Fourth and Water streets. Bay City. In the fall of 1876, the office was moved to No. 723 North Water street, at the foot of Center avenue. The first commercial deposit was made by A. Hyman, a clothing merchant of Bay City.
The first change came about upon the death of Wheeler L. Plum, on January 10, 1878, when Martin M. Andrews was elected to succeed as cashier. On the first of the following
May, 1878, the State Bank, an old-established institution, consolidated with, or was absorbed by, the Second National Bank, with the follow- ing official staff: William Westover, president; Alonzo Chesbrough, vice-president; Orrin Bump, Cashier; and M. M. Andrews, assistant-cashier.
The banking office was now removed to the Westover Opera House Block, on the corner of Washington and Center avenues. This building was destroyed by fire on January 17, 1886, and was replaced by the present stately and commodious structure. At the time of uniting wnth the State Bank, the capital was increased to $200,000, and at a later date, to $250,000. On May 5, 1894, the first charter "expired and the bank was reorganized under its present title, — The Old Second National Bank.
During the first 20 years of its charter ex-. istence, the bank enjoyed a large share of the business patronage of the community at a time wien the lumbering interests of this part of the State were in the most flourishing condition. Shareholders were paid regular dividends of five per cent., semiannually, and at the close of the 20 years they were paid, in addition to the par value of stock, 50 cents on the dollar in accrued profits. The Old Second National Bank began business with a capital of $400,000, but during the panic of 1897-99 it was conservatively reduced to its present amount, — $200,000.
The new bank officials, after the above reorganization, were: Orrin Bump, president; D. C. Smalley, vice-president; Martin M. Andrews, cashier; and Charles M. Bump, assistant cashier. In July, 1899, D. C. Smalley died and was succeeded by Capt. James E. Davidson as vice-president. On May 31, 1903, President Orrin Bump retired on account of failing health, and Capt. James E. Davidson became president and Frank P. Chesbrough, vice-president. Mr. Bump, who had so long been executive head of the bank and its active manager, removed to California, and M. M. An- Andrews became the manager. At the annual meeting on January 10, 1905, Capt. James E. Davidson was elected president; Frank T. Woodworth, vice-president; and John L. Stoddard and George B. Jennison, directors. In addition to the two directors just named, the board is made up as follows: Edgar B. Foss, Capt. James E. Davidson, Frank P. Chesbrough, Frank T. Woodworth and Martin M. Andrews.
Since its organization this bank has shown a steady growth. At the close of business on December 31, 1877, the daily statement showed amount of bills discounted to be $180,888 and deposits $141,566. In November, 1904, the lank statement showed: Bills discounted, $897,613.00, and deposits, $196,725.00. During the first 10 years of the present corporate existence, — from May 5, 1894, to May 5, 1904, — the shareholders were paid $113,000 in dividends. In addition to that, there were credited to surplus fund $75,000. with still a balance of over $46,000 to credit of undivided profits. Thus it will be seen that the bank has well sustained its reputation of being one of the leading financial institutions of this section of the State.
As printed in History of Bay County, Michigan: and representative citizens (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Albert Miller (b. 1810) Edgar B. Foss (b. 1853) Frank T. Woodworth Martin M. Andrews (b. 1839)
Their biographies name Nathan B. Bradley: Eugene Fifield (b. 1851) Clarence B. Chatfield Omer E. Buck (b. 1859)
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.