Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Bradley, William J. November 11, 1840 - 
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Source: Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911
Author: Jesse C. Sell

WILLIAM J. BRADLEY, one of Blair Township's well known and reliable citizens,
owning a farm of 409 acres, is a veteran of the Civil War and a man whose life
for many years was one of hard work with more or less of danger and adventure.
He was born in what is now Blair County, Pa., near Tyrone, November 11, 1840,
a son of John and Elizabeth (McClelland) Bradley, and a grandson, on the
maternal side, of a daughter of Captain John Boyles, a noted patriot in the
Revolutionary War. The father of Mr. Bradley died at Baltimore in 1841 of
yellow fever, and his mother died when he was fourteen years of age.
     When five years old, William J. Bradley was taken to a farm in Allegheny
Township and lived there with his mother until 1855, at which time he began
work in the boiler shops of the Pa. Railroad Company, at Altoona, and from
there enlisted for service in the Civil War. He became a member of Co. H, 3rd
Pa. Vol. Inf., and served out his first contract and then re-enlisted in Co.
K, 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., for nine months. He participated in the battles of
Antietam and Chancellorsville. His third enlistment was in the United States
Navy and as third assistant engineer on the U.S. Steamer Saugus took part in
the siege of Fort Fisher and in all the campaign down the James River,
serving first under Admiral Lee and later under Admiral Porter. He was in the
navy for two years and after this service returned to Blair County. In July,
1865, he secured the position of locomotive engineer on the Middle Division
of the Pennsylvania Railroad and remained there continuously until December,
1909, since when he has been retired. For a number of years he resided at No.
1606 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, but now lives on his farm in Blair Township,
surrounded with all the comforts of life. Mr. Bradley is a self made man. The
death of his parents threw him on his own resources at an age when his
judgment was still immature and that he should have so wisely and
successfully worked himself to honorable independence, marks him as a man of
inherited character.
     Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Mary A. DeRush, who was born at
Bellwood, Blair County, and four children were born to them: John J.,
residing in the city of Altoona; William M., a farmer in Blair Township;
Viola, wife of George H. Howard, of Altoona; and Blanche, wife of Charles G.
McCormick, of Altoona. Mr. Bradley and family are members of the Roman
Catholic church. In politics he is independent, but his temperance principles
incline him toward the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, J. C. Burley Division No. 287, at Altoona, and he was
formerly treasurer of the same.

Additional Comments:
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Blair 
County Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road, 
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Copied and proofread by Linda M. 
Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com  OCRed by Judy Banja 
jbanja@comcast.net

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