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Note: Reuben Pierre Bradford was the second of the 4 children of Thomas J. Bradford and Medora Hayes and their only son. Reuben was named for his mother's father, Reuben P. Hayes, and it is possible that the "P" in Mr. Hayes' name stood for Pierre (pronounced like pier).
Though Reuben was born in Franklin Co TN, he grew up in Sparta where his father was a lawyer and judge. His father had been wounded and disfigured in the Civil War. No doubt, Reuben grew up hearing stories of battles and war privations.
The 1880 census shows the Bradford family. However, in 1888 when he was 14 years old, his mother died. Left with 3 young children, ages 14, 12, and 10, his father Thomas quickly married again. His bride, Hannah E. Harris, was only 18 years old, and soon began to have her own children. There was some friction in the family, and Reuben felt it especially.
Reuben is listed in White Co TN in 1895 tax rolls, taxed at $1.50. But he soon left Tennessee, never to return, and headed to Florida. He next appears in Tampa FL on Jul 14 1898 when he enlisted in Co H First Regiment of the FL Infantry for the Spanish American War, serving as a cook. However, the company was discharged in December of the same year in Tallahassee. There is a marvelous portrait of him taken at this time in his uniform.
He soon made his way to Carrabelle FL. There he met and married Nancy Hannah Watkins, a daughter of John Watkins and Mary Elizabeth Burns. The family Bible shows that they were married on Nov 15 1899 by Rev. Collier of the Methodist Church, witnessed by Mae Pickett and Edith Kilbourn. Reuben described himself as "of Sparta TN." Reuben was 26 years old while Hannah was 20. The 1900 census of Franklin Co FL shows the newlyweds and Reuben's occupation was given as fisherman.
The Bradfords settled into a busy family life in Carrabelle. They had 8 children, 3 of whom died young. They first had 2 sons, George and Geoff. Then, in the next seven years, three children died: Mary Louise died on Sep 14 1904 at age 5 months; Mary Louise Jr died on Sep 8 1908 at the age of 17 months; and John Watkins (called Red) died on Nov 24 1911 at the age of 23 months. There is a sweet marker in the Carrabelle Cemetery with these "Bradford Babes" remembered.
Then, in 1913, Helen was born, followed in 1916 by Ralph, and in 1918 by Thelma. Their 2 oldest children, George and Geoff, were separated from the younger children by 13 and 11 years. But the family was always close and loving.
Throughout their lives, the Bradfords frequently had others living in their household. In the early years, Hannah's father, John Watkins, lived with them. At one time, Reuben's niece Myrtle Simmons, lived with them for a year. The Bradfords built a Florida-style home in 1908 which was occupied until about 1981.
Reuben always made a good income for his family. He held several public positions in Carrabelle, serving as the Chief of Police and City Clerk. He was also a constable and a deputy sheriff for Franklin Co. Later, during World War II, he served on the Draft Board and was a fireman in Camp Bell, a US Army training camp.
While active as a deputy sheriff, Reuben had the reputation of "always getting his man." He often sat at his desk, writing entries in his ledger of arrests and fines. Occasionally, he had to travel to take prisoners or bring them back to Franklin Co. Though he held these positions of responsibility, Reuben never learned to drive a car.
The children grew and matured and began marrying. Except for Ralph who was in military service, the children married and lived in the area with their families: George lived in Apalachicola, Geoff lived next door, Helen and Thelma lived in Carrabelle. While serving as the postmaster of Carrabelle, son Geoff died suddenly in May 1944.
In January 1946, Reuben died at the age of 72. The Apalachicola newspaper published a front page obituary listing his accomplishments. After his death, daughter Thelma and her family lived in the Bradford home with Hannah. In 1969, son-in-law Graham Blomquist died. Hannah and Thelma continued living in the old home until 1973 when Hannah went to live with Helen in Pt. St. Joe. She died at Helen's home in 1974 at age 94. Reuben and Hannah are buried together in the Carrabelle Cemetery.
Still owned in the family are the gun Reuben used in the Spanish-American War and the sheriff's badge and billy club used by Reuben in his police work.
References
Family Bible of TJ Bradford, owned by Willie Pewitt of Waco TX.
Family Bible of RP Bradford.
Williamson Co TN Marriage Record Bk 6-457.
Census records:
White Co TN: 1880 p 390; 1900 ED 148-5. Franklin Co FL: 1900 p 43B; 1910 p 208. White Co TN Records
Military Records from the Spanish-American War
The Apalachicola Times, Feb 1 1946, p 1.
Researched and written by Ann Blomquist. 1/1999
This narrative is copyrighted material and may not be posted or published except by the author.
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