WI BIO - Lafayette Co - BRADLEY, Nathaniel C.

Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, pp 57-58

Rev. Nathaniel C. BRADLEY, who is now the beloved pastor of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Fayette, Lafayette County [Wisconsin], was not always 
exclusively [p 58] engaged in converting man from the error of his ways, in a 
religious sense, there being a period of his life when he also fought the 
enemies of the old flag, and as valiantly as he has since contended with the 
powers that oppose the moral and spiritual welfare of man. Mr. [Nathaniel 
C.] BRADLEY was born in Amboy, Oswego County, New York, 15 November 1844, a 
son of Josiah and Rebecca BRADLEY. When he was about eight years old his 
parents migrated to Wisconsin, becoming residents of Dane County, and later 
of Monroe County. There [Monroe County, Wisconsin] the mother Rebecca 
BRADLEY] died about 1872, the father [Josiah BRADLEY] surviving for a number 
of years. The family of these worthy people [Josiah and Rebecca BRADLEY] 
consisted of Nathaniel C., our subject; and Carrie, who married J. GOYER, M. 
D., a veteran soldier, and a resident of Readstown, Vernon County, Wisconsin.

The subject of this biography attended the public schools at Tomah [in 
LaCrosse County until Monroe County created in 1854], Wisconsin, and entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Church in 1869, his first charge being at Mt. 
Sterling, Crawford County, Wisconsin, and his second at Bell Center, Crawford 
County [Wisconsin], where he remained three years. Thence he went to Bloom 
City [Richland County, Wisconsin] for two years, later filling for three 
years the charge at Viola [probably Viola in Richland County, but could be 
Vernon County, Wisconsin], and the following three years serving at 
Lewisville. His next charges were at Ellsworth, Pierce County [Wisconsin], 
and Clear Lake [Polk County, Wisconsin], whence he went to Arkansaw [Pepin 
County], Wisconsin, later to Durand, Pepin County [Wisconsin], and thence to 
Greenwood, in Clark County [Wisconsin].

At this time our subject practically retired from the severe strain of his 
ministerial work, as his health became somewhat broken, removing to Otter 
Tail County, Minnesota, where he engaged in merchandising and farming. On 
regaining his health to a certain extent, he returned to his old labors in 
the ministry, accepting a charge at Kendall [Monroe County, WI]; later he was 
at Wonewoc [Juneau County, Wisconsin], continued three years at Excelsior 
[Richland County, Wisconsin], and is now in his second year at Fayette 
[Lafayette County, Wisconsin].

On 08 March 1864, Mr. [Nathaniel C.] BRADLEY was enrolled as a member of 
Company D, 38th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and received his honorable 
discharge from the army on 24 May 1865, having taken part in some of the 
severest engagements of the Civil War. Under General GRANT he fought in the 
Wilderness, and was in all the battles under his command until the investment 
of Petersburg. He was one of the soldiers who worked on the construction of 
the mine under the enemy's works at the latter place, and took part in the 
famous charge made after the explosion. This was the last engagement in 
which he took part, the heavy work endured then having produced an injury 
that resulted in hernia and incapacitated him for active work in the field. 
Soon after he was transferred to the hospital at Beverly [Burlington County], 
New Jersey, and when sufficiently recovered, was placed in charge of a ward 
in that institution until his discharge.

The marriage of Mr. [Nathaniel C.] BRADLEY took place in 1867, to Frances A. 
AVYARD, a native of [the state of] Iowa, and five children were born of this 
union: Mrs. Carrie GUMMER, William F., Etta Elizabeth, Arthur B., and Avis M.

A faithful soldier, an upright and conscientious citizen, Mr. BRADLEY 
possesses the esteem of everyone, and during the long years of his ministry, 
has been comforted by the good he has been able to do. In his present home 
he is beloved by his whole congregation.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly