DEATH OF MRS. EMILY BRADLEY

Gray heads are becoming common among the pioneers of Nebraska, and one by one those who laid the foundations of this state amid struggle and stress are passing to their well-earned rest and leaving the fruit of their toils to others.

About noon on Sunday last Mrs. Emily Bradley, wife of Taylor Bradley, and mother of E. N. Bradley of this town, and A. C. Bradley of Beatrice, died at the latter place.

Mrs. Bradley was a good woman, one of those of whom the inspired penman wrote, “Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies? The heart of her husband doth safely trust her; her children rise up and all her blessed.” She was born Dec. 26, 1825, so that she was 65 years, 7 mo. and 3 days old when she died. She was born Emily Clark, and was a member of that family of which E. H. Clark is now the sole representative in this county. Elam and Newton Clark, both well remembered by old residents of this county, and Jemima Thompkins, a sister, are buried at Calhoun. Another sister, Mrs. Cynthia Stanton, also survives in La Porte, Ind. In 1831, when the deceased was about 6 years old, her parents removed to La Porte, Ind. They were members of the Society of Friends, which church Mrs. Bradley herself joined and with which she and her husband were both connected at the time of her death, as members of the Indiana yearly meeting.

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were married May 1, 1848, and have therefore traveled 43 years of life’s journey together. Their married life was harmonious and happy and on the bereaved husband the loss will most heavily fall. They moved into Washington county in the summer of 1864, and with the exception of 4 years spent at her old home, Richmond, Ind., Mrs. Bradley has resided in Nebraska since that time. Some of this period was spent in Calhoun among relatives and friends, but their home was finally fixed at Beatrice. For more than thirty years Mrs. Bradley has been more or less an invalid. She suffered acutely from Neuralgia headache and from dyspepsia. Two or three years ago she came to spend some time in Blair and fell sick. She was removed to her sons at home and remained there under loving care for a year. She then returned to Beatrice where she remained until her death. While attending the Chautauqua she caught a severe cold which superinduced a violent attack of dysentery. After suffering for six weeks, she seemed to rally and hope was entertained of her recovery. But last Sunday nervous prostration seized her and she never regained strength.

During all her sickness her patience was exemplary, and she leaves behind her the record of a blameless life. “I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write, From henceforth blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors.”

The remains were brought from Beatrice to Blair on Tuesday. The funeral services were held at the residence of E. N. Bradley on Wednesday morning, after which the remains were moved to Calhoun and deposited beside her sister and nephew on the family lot in accordance with the wishes of the deceased. The services, conducted by the Rev. John Power, were as became the obsequies of a “Friend”, of the simplest possible description.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #18175180