Kentucky was the early home of Mr. Bradley, and in Mt. Sterling, that State, he was born January 21, 1811. He came of substantial stock that originated in Ireland, and was a son of Judge William and Rebecca (Smith) Bradley, the former of whom was Circuit Judge and lived for many years in Switzerland County, Ind. He served as a member of the Indiana Legislature two terms, and for a number of years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Later he became interested in farming.

In the family of Judge Bradley by his first wife there were seven children, of whom Tobias S., our subject, was the eldest. The latter was educated in the common schools of Vevay, Ind., where he commenced h is business career as clerk in the store of Judge Malin, and with him he remained several years. Finally going to New Orleans, he began dealing in produce along the river, and in the meantime was married, May 11, 1837, to Miss Lydia Moss. This lady was the daughter of Zela and Janet (Glasgow) Moss, the former of whom was a clergyman of the Baptist Church and a Quartermaster in the Revolutionary War. He also held a Captain’s commission. After the war he removed to Kentucky, of which he was a pioneer settler, during the Indian troubles repairing to Bryant’s Station for safety. After his first visit to Kentucky he returned to the Old Dominion, married and lived there about three years, then again settled in Kentucky, in 1794. After a residence of ten years in Clark County, he went to Boone County, and subsequently to Switzerland County, Ind. While on a visit to his son in Peoria in 1839, he died, and was buried in the Springdale Cemetery.

After his marriage Mr. Bradley lived ten years in Switzerland County, Ind., and in 1847, removing to Peoria, this State, occupied himself in sawmilling, farming, distilling and banking. At the time of his death, May 4, 1867, he was President of the First National Bank and of the Mercantile Library Association, also City Treasurer. Politically he was always a stanch Democrat.

Of the six children born to Mr. Bradley and his estimable wife all died in infancy with the exception of one who lived to be fifteen years old. Mrs. Bradley is a lady of many noble qualities, being benevolent, charitable, and active in all good works. She built, in 1885, what is known as the Bradley Home for Aged Women, which furnishes a comfortable retreat whither a goodly number have already resorted to spend their declining years in peace and quiet. She was one of the largest contributors to the founding of the Bradley Hospital, and seemingly employs her leisure moments in devising some method by which she may aid the unfortunate. She gave to the city of Peoria forty acres, which, in honor of her deceased daughter, is known as the Laura Bradley Park, and is located at the city limits on Main Street. It is her purpose at her death to add more land to this. Nature has done much towards making it a desirable spot for a park, which when handsomely improved will be an ornament to the city.

It is also the intention of Mrs. Bradley to have established in the city of Peoria, after her death, a Polytechnic school for girls and boys, which will be located on Main Street, on a tract of ten acres adjoining or near the Home for Aged Women. Around this tract will be a broad avenue. The school will be as nearly free as possible, and its doors will be opened especially to the boys and girls of the city and county of Peoria. In religion Mrs. Bradley is a Universalist, belonging to the church of this denomination in Peoria. She was left with ample means by her departed husband, a goodly portion of which she disburses in a manner characteristic of her well-known thoughtfulness and generosity. Her charities have always increased in the ratio of her growing fortune. Honor and friends have come to her, and an old age crowned with blessings, but even more welcome is a consciousness of life well spent, and the glad rejoicing in the inward voice sounded from the depths of her being, “Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

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