My Genealogy Hound

Robert Bradley, railroad tie contractor and farmer, has been a resident of Benton County, Mo., for twelve years, having been born in York State November 15, 1839. About 1845 he went with his parents to Canada, where he made his home until nearly 1857, then shipped on board a merchant vessel, and followed the sea until 1871, rising from an ordinary seaman to mate, and finally becoming master of the vessel “Edward R. Blake” in 1867. In 1871 he located on the Wisconsin River, in the State of Wisconsin, and was engaged in the lumber business for two or three years. From this point he went to Arkansas, and there for a time had charge of the timber works for the Fulton Railroad Company. He was then employed by a company that dealt largely in walnut lumber, and while thus occupied was in many different States. After coming to Benton County, Mo., he worked for A. J. Campbell in the railroad tie business, but some five years ago embarked in business for himself, and is now a railroad tie contractor, and also engaged in farming. He owns about ninety-five acres of good bottom land, all of which is under cultivation and well improved. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and votes the Republican ticket. He is the youngest of his parents’ ten sons; and one brother was drowned at sea, and another died while at home. His wife, whom he married in 1883, and whose maiden name was Margaret E. Calfee, has borne him two children: Casper Vardeman, who died March 4, 1886, and Catherine Anne, who was born February 14, 1887.