David Bradley (plowman)
Encyclopedia
David Bradley was a "Pioneer Plowman".
David Bradley was born in Groton, New York
on November 8, 1811. After working with his brother, C. C. Bradley, for several years in Syracuse
, he relocated to Chicago
in 1835. Initially he was in the employ of Jones, King & Co. and helped to build the first foundry in Chicago, known as the "Chicago Furnace".
From the late 1830s until the 1850s David Bradley farmed in Lake County, Illinois
, made bricks, and later farm machinery, in Racine, Wisconsin
, and was a lumberman in Michigan
. In 1854, he returned to Chicago and purchased a plow company from his brother in law. Later that year he partnered with Conrad Furst to create the firm of Furst and Bradley.
Furst and Bradley eventually grew to occupy an entire city block at Fulton and Desplaines Streets in Chicago. In 1884 David Bradley and his sons purchased Furst's share of the business, and the company was renamed the "David Bradley Manufacturing Company".
In 1895 the company was relocated to North Kankakee (about 50 miles south of Chicago), which was later renamed "Bradley, Illinois
" in honor of the man and the company.
In 1910, the Bradley family sold the factory to Sears, Roebuck and Co., at which time it was renamed the "David Bradley Manufacturing Works". Sears operated the factory until 1962, when it was sold to the Newark Ohio company. Between 1910 and 1962 many of the farm and garden related items sold by Sears carried the trade name "David Bradley".
Most of the factory in Bradley was destroyed by fire in 1986.
David Bradley died on February 19, 1899.
David Bradley was born in Groton, New York
Groton (town), New York
Groton is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 5,794 at the 2000 census. The name is taken from Groton, Connecticut.The Town of Groton contains a village, also called Groton...
on November 8, 1811. After working with his brother, C. C. Bradley, for several years in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, he relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1835. Initially he was in the employ of Jones, King & Co. and helped to build the first foundry in Chicago, known as the "Chicago Furnace".
From the late 1830s until the 1850s David Bradley farmed in Lake County, Illinois
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
, made bricks, and later farm machinery, in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, and was a lumberman in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. In 1854, he returned to Chicago and purchased a plow company from his brother in law. Later that year he partnered with Conrad Furst to create the firm of Furst and Bradley.
Furst and Bradley eventually grew to occupy an entire city block at Fulton and Desplaines Streets in Chicago. In 1884 David Bradley and his sons purchased Furst's share of the business, and the company was renamed the "David Bradley Manufacturing Company".
In 1895 the company was relocated to North Kankakee (about 50 miles south of Chicago), which was later renamed "Bradley, Illinois
Bradley, Illinois
Bradley is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,784 at the 2000 census, and 15,070 in 2009....
" in honor of the man and the company.
In 1910, the Bradley family sold the factory to Sears, Roebuck and Co., at which time it was renamed the "David Bradley Manufacturing Works". Sears operated the factory until 1962, when it was sold to the Newark Ohio company. Between 1910 and 1962 many of the farm and garden related items sold by Sears carried the trade name "David Bradley".
Most of the factory in Bradley was destroyed by fire in 1986.
Family
On 25 Feb 1838 in Chicago, David Bradley married Cynthia Abbott (1817–1895) of Barre, Vermont. They had six children:- Byron Chapman Bradley, b. 1 May 1839 LibertyvilleLibertyville, IllinoisLibertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
, Lake County, IL, of Kankakee, IL, m. Alice M. Wilbur. Their son B. Harley Bradley built a house called Glenlloyd, or the B. Harley Bradley House, designed by Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, in Kankakee, IL.
- Edgar Bradley, b. 15 Jan 1841 Libertyville, IL; d. there 18 Sep 841.
- Mary Ellen Bradley, b. 14 Sep 1842 Racine, WI; of Chicago, IL; d. 1 Oct 1899 Mt. VernonMount Vernon, New YorkMount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, Westchester County, NY; m. Chicago 10 Oct 1865 George Cadogen Morgan (1834/35- ).
- Joseph Harley Bradley, b. 30 Sep 1844 Racine, WI; of Chicago, IL; m. BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NY 1 Mar 1871 Margina J. Richards (c1846-1896) of New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, NY.
- Adelbert Bradley, b. 15 Apr 1847 Racine, WI; d. there Sep 1848.
- David Bradley, b. 15 Feb 1849 Chicago, IL; d. there 15 Feb 1849.
David Bradley died on February 19, 1899.
External links
- More History on David Bradley Tractors - DavidBradley.net
- The David Bradley walk-behind tractor