Person Page - 62

George Richard Bradford, president of the First National Bank, Gloucester, Mass., and one of the most prominent business men on Cape Ann, is a native ot North Springfield, Vt., and was born November 17, 1828. His parents were Richard and Mary (Stimson) Bradford. His father was born April 4, 1797, in Chester; and his mother was a native of Ludlow, Vt.

Andrew Bradford, grandfather of George R., was a native of Massachusetts. He became one of the early settlers in the vicinity of Springfield, Vt., where he was engaged in farming for the greater part of his life, He served in the Revolutionary War as a member of Captain Moody Dustin's company, which was attached to the Second Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, fought under General Stark in the battle of Bennington, and also took part in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. He again entered the army in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of Plattsburg. He lived to be seventy-eight years old, and died in 1838. The maiden name of his wife was Lucy Parker. They were married in Milford, N.E.

Richard Bradford, George R. Bradford's father, learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which was his principal occupation during his active years; and he also carried on a small farm. For several years he was associated with his brother Andrew in the cabinet-making business, and employed several men. he was an ardent abolitionist, and followed the majority of the Whig element into the ranks of the Republican party. In his religious views he was a Baptist. Richard Bradford died April 30, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife, Mary Stimson, was a daughter of Charles Stimson, of Ludlow, Vt. They were the parents of two children, namely: George R., the subject of this sketch; and Mary, who resides in Gloucester, and is the widow of Lewis Davis.

George Richard Bradford acquired his education in the district schools of his native town; and in the summer of 1844 he worked in the granite quarries at Rock port, Mass. he returned to Vermont the following winter; and in the spring he accompanied his parents to Whitinsville, Mass., where he learned the painter's trade. Three years later he went to Janesville, Wis., where he was employed the succeeding year in a large store kept by the county treasurer, and then rejoined his parents, who had returned to Springfield, Vt. His next engagement was as manager of a large store in Moulton, Ala., where he remained nearly two years. Returning to Rockport, Mass., he purchased a grocery store, which he sold two years later. He then became associated with Eames, Stimson & Co. as a partner, assisting in organizing that concern, and contributing largely to its capital stock. He was actively engaged in directing its affairs for ten years, or until the enterprise was sold to the corporation known as the Rockport Granite Company, with which he is still officially connected. Mr. Bradford had already become a director in the Rockport Bank, and he now decided to give his principal attention to the national banking business. Refusing a good offer from a Western national bank, just organized under the new system, he became one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Gloucester, an enterprise that has been successful from the start. Mr. Bradford was its cashier until 1894, when he was chosen president. Since 1867 he has been treasurer of the Cape Ann Anchor Works, which has a world-wide reputation; and he was one of the incorporators of the Cape Ann Isinglass Company, of which he has been treasurer since 1873. His investments in other industries and financial enterprises have been numerous and productive of excellent results. He was formerly manager and now is president of the Gloucester Gas Light Company, and is president of the Russia Cement Company, who conduct the largest fish glue establishment in the world, manufacture Le Page’s liquid glue, and are the proprietors of the Essex Fertilizer. He is a director of the Pigeon Hill Granite Company, is president of the Gloucester Safe Deposit and Trust Company, and president of the printing company which publishes the Cape Ann Breeze.

Mr. Bradford married Emma Sewall, of Rockport, daughter of Levi Sewall, one of the original members of the firm of Eames, Stinison & Co. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford have reared her niece. Mr. Bradford attends the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Bradford is a member. He took an active part in organizing the Gloucester Fishermen’s Institute, inaugurated for the purpose of improving the moral and religious welfare of the seafaring men of the city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and connected with Ashley Lodge, Rockport. Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts pp., 191,192.