Thomas E. Bradshaw

THOMAS E. BRADSHAW, the popular druggist of Thorntown, Ind. was born near Saxapahaw, N. C., November 27, 1851, a son of Samuel N. and Ruth E. (Woody) Bradshaw. Samuel N. Bradshaw was a native of Orange county, N. C., born December 20, 1824, a son of James and Elizabeth (Allen) Bradshaw, also natives of North Carolina, but of English parentage. Thomas Bradshaw, the great-grandfather of Thomas E. Bradshaw, was born in Ireland in 1750, as near as can be ascertained, and died in North Carolina in 1834, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was married to Lutitia Williams, who lived to reach the wonderful age of one hundred and ten years. Thomas and Lutitia Bradshaw were the parents of three sons -William, Thomas and James. Thomas, the father of these three sons, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and is supposed to have fought Cornwallis under Gen. Greene. James Bradshaw, son of this Revolutionary hero, Thomas, married Elizabeth Allen, and to this union were born five children, viz.: Thomas Histon, William Nelson, James Logan, Samuel Newton and Theodore Fletcher; of these, Samuel Newton Bradshaw married Ruth E. Woody in February, 1851, and this happy marriage was blessed with two sons and four daughters, as follows: Thomas E., the subject proper of this sketch; Mary E., Sarah J., William J., Margaret N. and Abigail L. The grandfather of our subject, James Bradshaw, was accidentally shot while squirrel hunting, it was supposed, as his dead body was found in the woods; and Elizabeth Bradshaw, his wife, died in 1869. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Samuel N. Bradshaw, their fourth son, and father of Thomas E., was in his early days a school teacher. Of his children, Mary E. is the wife of W. J. Riddle, a farmer of North Carolina; Sarah J. is the wife of James D. Williams, a farmer; William J. is superintendent of convict labor in eastern North Carolina; Margaret N. is the wife of P. W. Cates, a carpenter of the same state, and Abigail L. is now Mrs. Crawford. April l, 1861, Mrs. Ruth E. Bradshaw was called away from earth, and Samuel N. in 1862, married Nancy A. Edwards who has borne him six children. Samuel N. Bradshaw is a democrat, is quite prominent in local politics, and has served for many years as justice of the peace; in 1865 he was elected captain of the home guards. Thomas E. Bradshaw remained on the parental farm until twenty years of age, when he came to Thorntown, Ind., engaged in general labor or farm work until 1876; then, as clerk for James Hanna in a drug store for a year; then for another year, at various occupations then as clerk for W. C. Burk for three years; then, in company with Mr. Nathaniel Krauss, engaged in the drug business from 1881 to 1884, when Mr. Krauss retired, and his son William assumed his interest until 1886, when Mr. Bradshaw secured active control of the establishment, and now carries a stock of fresh drugs and all articles pertaining to a first-class drug store, valued at $4,000. The marriage of Mr. Bradshaw was solemnized March 17, 1880, with Elizabeth A. Langston, and this marriage has been favored with seven children, as follows: A. W., deceased; Jessie May, deceased; Edith L., Leo H.; Thomas L. and William L. (deceased), twins, and Kenneth W. Mr. Bradshaw is a republican in his politics, and has served for the past two years as president of the school board, and is the present incumbent of said office; he is a thirty-second degree Freemason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, and master of the blue lodge; also past grand master in the I. 0. 0. F. and member of the grand lodge; is past chief patriarch of the encampment; and a member of the grand encampment; also, is a Knight of Pythias; he likewise was a charter member of the Indiana Pharmaceutical association, organized at Indianapolis May 9, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Bradshaw has been a trustee in the church for a number of years. The family stand very high in the esteem of their neighbors, and Mr. Bradshaw is regarded as one of the most substantial business men of Thorntown.

Transcribed and Contributed by: Chris Brown
Source: "A Portrait And Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," pp 244-227, published in 1895 by A. W. Bowen & CO. Chicago