Bradford, Illinois

HIS township, like the village of the same name in Elmira Township, owes its name to the fact that, during tlie Seminole war, a number of persons settled in the neighborhood, who admired the desperate valor of the half-breed chief of that tribe. This war beo-an in 1835 and lasted seven vears, thouoh the last four vears of the struo-o-le did not reflect as much credit on the Indians as the first three, when they were led by the brilliant Osceola. His father was Willis Powell, and his mother a Creek Indian woman. Osceola was born in Georgia, but his mother removed to Florida, where he became the leader of the Seminoles. He opposed their removal, and led them in many desperate encounters, until he was captured and imprisoned at Fort Moultrie, where he died in 1838, a year prior to the organization of this county, and only a few years after the first settlement was made in this townshi]!.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

Bradford School. - School district No. 4, or Bradford, was established in 1851, as shown in the township history. The first record in possession of Mordecai Bevier, Avho has served as clerk since ISTovember, 1S80, is dated August 5, 18P>1. At that time B. F. Thompson was elected director and clerk. A. E. Perky was also a director in this year ; also J. B. Russell in 18(52, with the latter as clerk. In 1863 Methuselah Bevier was elected. In 1804 James B. Doyle was chosen a director; in 1805 Charles B. Moon, in 1800 Alonzo B. Al)bott and

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

On June 8 the trustees, John Winslow, W. F. Patt and John M. Jaques were chosen a building committee ; meantime meetings were hekl in Doyle's Hall. On December 10, Rev. G. D. Kent was called as iirst regular pastor, and came in February, ISTl. In April tlie church was connected with the Ottawa Baptist Association with Messrs. AVinslow, Britton and Kent, delegates. On July 21, 1871, a contract for Iniilding the church was sold to Andrew Leslie for $2,725, to be completed in October, that year. On December 24 the first services were held, $1,700 being still due at that date. The delay in completing the edifice was due in part to the fact that the sashes were sent to Chicago to have colored glass put m and were destroyed in the great fire of October 9. In Januar}", 1872, an annual grant of $150 was offered by the H. M. S. Charles Brown, John Winslow and "W". F. Patt were elected trustees. Rev. Mr. Kent resigned in Jul\% 1872 and as the Baptists formerly worshiped in the same hall with the Congregationalists, the latter now asked leave to worship in the former's new church. The jnilpit was suj^plied variously, among the preachers being the Rev. Mr. Ilazen. Dr. Thomas SoUis was elected clerk in January, 1875. Rev. S. Fulton, the second regular preacher was ordained here at this time. In 1877 Messrs. Britton, Fulkerson and Patt were elected trustees. In May, 1877, Rev. Fulton resigned and the pulpit was sup])lied variously until ISTovember, 1877, when Rev. AV. K. Dennis preached. He was ordained ])astor here May 8, 1878. In 1878 August Thompson, with Messrs. Patt and Britton, were trustees. In November, 1878, Mr. Dennis closed his labors here and Rev. Borden was calletl in December. In 1880 August S. Thompson was chosen clerk. In January of that year Deacon Britton donated $303.20, a debt due by the church, to the church. From April until June, 1880, Rev. James Goodman preached here, and in the latter month was called as pastor. At this time the clmrcli received its first repairs under the direction of Dr. Boardman and A. S. Thompson. These re[)airs were supplemented in 188(') by others at a cost of $500. In April, 1881, Rev. Goodman resigned, when Rev. Borden was chosen pastor. In 1883 A. S. Thompson and W. Fulkei'son were elected trustees. Mr. I>orden resigned in March, 1883. Rev. E. L. Moore was supplying for a few months until Xovember, when a call was extended to Rev. II. F. Gilbert, which was accepted. In February, 1884, Dr. J. G. Boardman was elected clerk, and served from that time to the present. Edmund Ewing was elected trustee in October, 1885. James L. Matthews was called in November, 1884, and accepting, has served down to the })resent time as ])astoi". The necrology of the society is as follows: Sarah Hatch, April, 1874; Mary W'inslow, September, 1873 ; A.Blake, August, 1875; Mary J. Morse, January, 1877; Mary Blake, March, 1885; Anna Francis, August, 1881 ; Dr. Thomas Solis, winter of 1885-86 ; Mrs. Anne Brown, September, 1881; Mrs. Jennie Morse, August, 1884; Mrs. Mary Hull, October, 1883 ; Andrew Walker, December 1, 1883, aged eighty-three;

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Osceola Township - it names this place 34 more 34 times.