Thursday, October 4, 2012

WILLIAM BRADLEY


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      WILLIAM BRADLEY is one of the well known pioneer citizens of Sprague. At the present time he holds a responsible position on the Idaho division of the Northern Pacific.  He has risen to this position and held it for many years by reason of real worth and ability.  An account of his life will be interesting and encouraging to many who are laboring to obtain success and it is with pleasure that we append the same.

      William Bradley was born in Ireland, in 1859, the son of William and Mary (Feeley) Bradley, both natives of the Emerald Isle, where also they remained until the time of their death.  The common schools of his native country furnished the educational training for young Bradley and when twenty he started for the New World, sailing for New York where he arrived in due time.  After three months in that metropolis, he came on to Minnesota where he worked on the Northern Pacific.  He was in the construction department for three years and in the spring of 1883, came to Sprague, taking a position in the same department and on the same road. For three months, he was an ordinary hand on the section, then was promoted to the position of section foreman.  For six years he faithfully discharged the duties of that position before the next step of promotion came and during this time as during all the years of his service for the company, he had been making an especial study of everything connected with the construction department of the railroad.  There was no detail too small to escape his notice nor was there any problem too great but that he ultimately solved it and the result was that when he was fully competent for his promotion, he was called to take up the responsible and im- portant position of road master. He was duly installed in this position and since that time, has continuously served on the Great Northern Pacific railroad with ability and execution that have made him a very important factor on this division.  Mr. Bradley has not only displayed a thorough knowledge of everything connected with his department but is also well acquainted with the railroad in general.  In addition to the happy faculty of handling men to the best advantage, he is a man of excellent judgment and very keen in observation.  Very nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed since he first entered the employ of the Northern Pacific railroad and he is practically the only one of the old railroad men with the company now who were here with them when he came to Sprague.   It is not merely chance that Mr. Bradley has won and held the position that he occupies but it is the result of painstaking labor and stanch attention to business in every detail and those who would emulate such a career must banish the idea from the mind forever that it is "luck" and a "pull" that bring success in the industrial world.  On the contrary it is merit and ability and a man who is handling large interests today, learned yesterday to care for every detail of the affairs that were under his supervision however small they might be.  All of which is proof of the old proverb, "He that is faithful in the least is faithful in much."

      On November 6, 1894, Mr. Bradley married Miss Mamie, daughter of Frank and Helen (Morey) Wilcox, the wedding occurring in Sprague.  The father was born in Wisconsin, followed merchandising, and now lives in Portland.  The mother died in Portland a number of years ago.  Mrs. Bradley has the following brothers and sisters, Guy R., Paul D., Gertrude, Elmer.  Mr. Bradley was one of a family of five children, those besides himself being, James, Robert, Mrs. Norah Finan, and Mrs. Annie Mahoney.

      Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are both members of the Catholic church and are devoted and substantial people.  They own a handsome brick residence on the top of the hill near the Catholic church in Sprague and the grounds are beautifully laid out and supplied with lawn, flowers, shrubbery, trees and so forth.  Mr. Bradley also owns a half-section of wheat land which is well improved and the land rented.  He came here with no capital and is now a man of means.

      To Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, three children have been born, Robert, Marie, and Loretta, all at home and attending school.

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