Representative John Bradley View All Years

HON. JOHN BRADLEY

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare memorial resolutions commemorating the life, character and public services of the Honorable John Bradley, a former member of the General Assembly of Iowa, beg leave to submit the following:

John Bradley was born April 2, 1864, near Buda, Illinois. He was the fourth child of George and Ann Bradley, who came from Monmouth, England, and settled on the Illinois prairie to make a home in America.

When John was five years of age the family moved to Iowa where his father bought a farm located two miles north of Montezuma. On this farm John spent his boyhood and early manhood. He attended district school at No. 7 Scott township. Becoming desirous of further education, he attended the Academy in connection with Grinnell College and later taught for a number of years in the country schools of Poweshiek county. He took a course in the Burlington Business College and soon after formed a partnership with James Anderson of Montezuma under the firm name of Anderson & Bradley, and conducted a clothing store for twelve years.

Mr. Bradley never lost his love for farming and this desire led him to leave the clothing store and return to the farm. Here he spent a number of years before he retired to live in town.

Mr. Bradley was more than a farmer. He was a man of broad vision, foremost in every movement which he considered would better the community and of keen mind to recognize the progressive character of the times. His death has taken from Poweshiek county one of its outstanding farmers and representative citizens.

His was indeed a life of usefulness, the possessor of a great personality, strong physically, mentally, and possessed of wonderful persuasive powers and of more than average ability. There was hardly a worthy enterprise undertaken but that his name and influence were not taken into consideration.

Mr. Bradley was a republican and a worker for his party. He served six years as supervisor of Poweshiek county and was recognized as a man of rare judgment and honest to his trust.

In 1918 he was practically forced by his friends in Poweshiek county to become a candidate for representative and was nominated and elected, representing Poweshiek county in the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth and Fortieth-extra General Assemblies.

When fourteen years of age he joined the Methodist Church. He was much interested in Sunday School work and was superintendent of the Sunday School for a number of years and was also a valued member of the official board.

He was married to Lillian Aikin of Mahaska county and by this union three children were born, two daughters, Helen and Mrs. Grace Schafbach, and one son, Harry, all living.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-fourth General Assembly, That in the passing of Honorable John Bradley, this assembly take this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public services and tender to his surviving widow and children, its sincere sympathy in their sorrow, and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

W. J. MCLAIN,

H. S. BERRY,

L. B. FORSLING,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 13, 1931.