Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/406

 BRADLEY

BRADLEY.

BRADLEY, Joseph P. lawyer, was born at Berne. N.Y., Marcli 14, 1813. son of Pliilo and Meri-y (Gardiner) Bradley, and a descendant of Francis Bratlley, New Haven, Conn.. 1(538. He wjus graduated at Rutgers college in 1830 ; studied law in tlie ollice of Archer Gifford. Newark, N.J. . and became assistant collector of tlie port of Newark. He was admitted to the bar in 1839; and practical in Newark 1840-72. He assisted Gov. William Pennington in an investigation of the affairs of the Camden and Amboy railroad c<miimny ; became counsel and one of the direc- tors of the New Jersey, Trenton, and Philadel- l)hia and of the Camden and Amboy railroads, anil also of the Delaware and Raritan canal company. He was also retained by the state in some of the most remarkable murder cases. Mr. Bradley was strong in an argument before the bench. He was for many years actuary of the Mutual benefit insurance company, and president of the Mutual life insurance company of New Jersey. He was a thorough mathematician, and when he needed relaxation from the severe studies of his profession lie resoi'ted to his favor- ite study, calculating the eclipses of the sun and moon, investigating the transit of planets, and calculating calendars for forty centuries to come. He was a profound theologian and thor- ough scientist. Justice Bradley was a Whig in early life and afterwards a conservative Repub- lican. In the civil war his position as director and counsel of the railroads between New Jersey and the south gave him opportunity to greatly facihtate the movement of troops and supplies to the army, and he personally conducted several regiments to the front. In 1863 he was the Re- pubUcan candidate from the 6th congressional district of New Jersey to the 38th Congress, but failed of an election. In 1868 he was an elector- al large from New Jersey on the Grant and Col- fax ticket. Mr. Bradley was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of the United States in March, 1870, by President Grant. He was assigned to the southern circuit and subsequently succeeded Mr. Ju.stice Strong to the 3d circuit, em- bracing Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Justice Bradley was a member of the electoral commission which met to determine the presi- dential election of 1876, and was the last to read his opinion. The commission was equally divided, each member having expre.s.sed an opinion in con.sonance \\-ith his political affilia- tion, and when Justice Bradley read liis opinion, and sustained it with a lengthy argument that was printed as a part of the proceedings of the commis,sion, the work of the body closed, and Mr. Hayes was declared elected by a majority of one electoral vote. He was married in 1844 to Mary, daughter of Chief Justice Hornblower of

New Jersey. His widow and three children, a son and two daughters, survived him. His many opinions, scattered through forty volumes of the reports of the decisions of the supreme court, are imperishable monuments of his legal ability. In IS.")!) the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon liirn l)y Lafayette C(jllege. lie died Jan. '2'2. isd'i.

BRADLEY, Luther Prentice, soldier, was born in New Haven, Conn., Dec. 8, 1822. After re- ceiving a common-school education he removed to Illinois. In 1861 he entered the Union service as lieutenant-colonel of the 51st Illinois volun- teers, which regiment he had organized. He was assigned to the army of the Mississippi under Gen- eral Pope, and was present at the capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10. In April, 1862, he commanded the 51st Illinois volunteers, and was engaged in the operations of the left wing of General Halleck's army. He afterwards com- manded at Decatur, Ala., and being ordered to Nashville, he remained in garrison until the arrival of General Rosecrans and the army of the Cumberland. He was promoted colonel Oct. 15, 1862; in December joined Sheridan's division, and was present at the battle of Stone river, com- manding the 8d brigade during a portion of the engagement. He engaged in the Tullahoma cam- paign against General Bragg's army, was present at the battle of Chickamauga where he received a severe wound, and obtained leave of absence. He recruited the ranks of the 51st Illinois, joined the 4th corps, and was present at Dalton, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, At- lanta, and Jonesborough, Ga. He was again severely wounded in repvdsing the advance of Hood's army at Spring Hill, Tenn., and after a second leave of absence he rejoined the army of the Cumberland in March, 1865. He was pro- moted brigadier-general, July 20, 1864, and re- signed June 30, 1865. On July 28, 1866, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 27th U. S. in fantry. He was brevetted colonel for Chicka- mauga, and brigadier - general for Resaca, on ]\rarch 2, 1867. He .served as lieutenant-colonel and after 1879 as colonel, on the plains, in Wyom- ing, Kansas, New Mexico, and other places from 1800 to Dec. 8, 18s0. wlien lie was retired by law.

BRADLEY, Stephen Row, .senator, was born in Wallingford, Conn.. Feb. 20, 1754, son of Moses and Mary (Row) Bradley and grandson of Stephen Bradley who came to America in 1637. He was graduated at Yale in 1775 ; became cap- tain of a company of Cheshire volunteers and afterward served as quartermaster and aide on staff of General Wooster. He attained the rank of major and retired in 1779 ; removed to Ver- mont, was admitted to the bar, and became act- ive in the organization of tliat state. He wrote " Vermont's Appeal to a Candid and Impartial