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J. P. Bradley was born in Platte County, Mo., May 7, 1845, his parents being early settlers of that county from Kentucky. When eighteen years of age, young Bradley enlisted in the cause of the Confederacy, becoming a member of Company B (Capt. Joe Macey), Colonel Slayback's regiment, Shelby's Brigade. The close of the war found him in Texas, and he and many other soldiers of the South went with Colonel Shelby into Mexico to offer their swords to Maximilian. Later Mr. Bradley went to California and had many interesting experiences there.

He went to Linneus, Mo., in 1873, and in 1874 he was married to Miss Mattie Sandusky, who survives with their daughter, Mrs. W. S. Hendrixon, of Grinnell, Ia. In Linneus Mr. Bradley lived continuously until his death, his life being inseperably woven into the town's history. He served as mayor and also as postmaster under President Cleveland. Governor Hadley appointed him a member of the Board of Control of the Missouri Confederate Home at Higginsville, and he was later elected treasurer of the board. He was for forty-four years a member of the I. O. O. F. and had held high office in both the Odd Fellows and knights of Pythias. He was one of the leading merchants and business men of the town, and his kindly nature made him ever thoughtful of the welfare of others.