My Genealogy Hound

J. T. Bradshaw, editor of the Rustic, at Lebanon, was born in Clay County, Ill., June 27, 1859, and is a son of Francis A. and Mary (Curry) Bradshaw, natives of Kentucky and England, respectively. The father immigrated to Wayne County, Ill., at an early date, and served an apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade. He then moved to Clay County, Ill., where he followed his trade until the spring of 1869, when he moved to Laclede County, locating at Lebanon, where he has since resided, and where he has since followed his trade. He has built a great number of the houses in Lebanon, and was the contractor for the Laclede Hotel. He is the father of eight children: Belle (wife of J. W. Farris), Edith, James T., Lydia, Edward, Andrew, Mamie and Maude. James T. Bradshaw was reared in Clay County, Ill., until ten years of age, when he came to Lebanon, and was here educated. At the age of twelve years he entered the Laclede County Leader office, and served an apprenticeship. During his vacations in the office he attended school. In 1876 he went to Richland, where he had charge of the Pulaski County Sentinel during the campaign, but returned to Lebanon in 1878, where he established the Lebanon Leader, which publication he controlled until 1880, when he consolidated with the Lebanon Rustic, and continued the publication as the Rustic Leader, on account of them both being Democrats. In 1881 Mr. Bradshaw went to Joplin, Mo., where he was connected with the Daily Herald until early in 1883. He then went to Springfield, Mo., and began working on the Patriot, but only remained with that paper a short time. He was then associated with D. C. Kennedy in the publication of the Daily Leader, of Springfield, but in 1884 he returned to Lebanon to again take charge of the Rustic. In October, 1884, on the death of the editor, Dr. John W. Armstrong, he purchased the paper, and has since continued its publication. This paper is published in the interest of the Democratic party. Mr. Bradshaw was for a short time connected with the St. Louis Times, as traveling correspondent. The Rustic has a good circulation, and Mr. Bradshaw is an able editor. He was married in April, 1887, to Miss Amie M. Wilson, of Cairo, Ill., and to them has been, born one child, Margaret Eugenia. Mr. Bradshaw is a member of the A. O. U. W. and Select Knights. Mrs. Bradshaw is a member of the Presbyterian Church.