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Submitted: 7/25/14 • Approved: 7/26/14 • Last Updated: 7/29/14 • R1025650-G0-S3
October 30, 1828 - May 28, 1912
Husband of Mary A Bradford
Member of Masons and Odd Fellows Organizations
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.
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John Bradford, farmer and minister of Anna, Ark., was born September 30, 1828,
in Henry County, Tenn. His parents, R. B. and Mary Ann (Bradshaw) Bradford, were
born in Tennessee and West Virginia, respectively, The father was a farmer by
occupation, and never immigrated west. Our subject spent his early life in
Tennessee, and when of age began to farm on his own account. January 27, 1858,
he married Mary Ann Ford, who was born January 17, in Hinds County, Miss., and
is a daughter of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Whitford) Ford. They were born in
Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, and in 1844 settled in Crawford County,
Ark., having previously lived in Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi. His
grandparents were Boaz and Frances Ford, and the former was a soldier in the War
of 1812. Our subject left his native State in 1857, and March 4 of that year
settled in Crawford County, having made the journey overland. May 14, 1862, he
enlisted in Company A, First Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, which was commanded by
Col. E. L. Harrison, and served in the same as sergeant under Capt. Joshua S.
Dudley. Operating in Southwestern Missouri and Arkansas, he participated in the
battles of Cassville, Newtonia, Forsythe, Mo., Huntsville, Ark., three battles
at Fayetteville and Cane Hill. He was with Gen. Blount when Price made his raid
through Missouri, and assisted in driving him from that territory. Being
captured at Huntsville, he was taken a prisoner to Fort Smith, and held for six
weeks. He was then paroled, and afterward exchanged, when he returned to the
army, and served until August 23, 1865, at which time he was mustered out and
returned to Crawford County. Feeling that his mission was to preach in the
Methodist Church, Mr. Bradford began his ministerial duties September 18, 1872,
and has since had charge of churches in Benton, Washington, Madison, Franklin
and Crawford Counties. He is successful in farming, and has 400 acres of land,
sixty under cultivation and well-improved, and the remainder in timber land. He
belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F., and has always voted the
Democratic ticket, his first presidential vote being for Pierce in 1852.
Contributed on 7/25/14 by glendamack
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Record #: 1025650