Evarts-Bradley Family

This circa 1850 picture of the Evarts-Bradley family home chronicles the appearance of the house of Milton and Esther (Evarts) Bradley. The Evarts family owned a large tract of land in the area around Belgo and Reservoir roads. Milton Bradley, a farmer, married his second wife, Esther Evarts, in 1821 and they raised a large family in the house, some of whom are missing from this photo. It appears that Milton, then aged about 60, is seated in his carriage while Esther, about 56, holds the bridle of a second horse.

The older woman standing behind Esther is either Nancy (Evarts) Bradley, who married Leman Bradley or her sister, Harriet Evarts. They both lived next door. The young man on the left is undoubtedly a son, most probably Orville, while the younger woman seated in the second buggy appears to be a daughter—but was it Susan, Esther, Harriet or Mary? All were living at home in 1850.

Sadly, the only children to survive their parents were Susan, the oldest, and Orville, the youngest. Wesley and Mary died four months apart in 1863—he in the Civil War and she in childbirth while Esther and Harriet died within 14 months of each other in October 1854 and December 1855. Milton lived until 1868 and his wife until 1879.