City: Franklin
BRADLEY, Robert Henry, retired merchant and planter; born in Scott Co., Ky., Jan. 23, 1819; English descent ; son of William and Sarah (Jenkins) BRADLEY; father’s occupation, farmer; paternal grandparents Thomas and Philadelphi (Ficklin) BRADLEY, maternal grandparents Henry and Martha (Stapp) JENKINS; received common school education; began his business career as a farmer boy, later clerked in a store in Lexington, Ky., until 1836, when he moved to Island 63, Miss. river, where he kept a wood yard, in 1837 returned to Lexington, Ky., and again clerked in dry goods store; in fall of 1839 went to Texas; served as clerk of District Clerk of Victoria Co., Texas, 1840-1; entered the mercantile business at Gonzales, Texas, in 1842; in 1843 went to New York with a shipload of pecans, thence to Franklin, Tenn.; in1844 was in partnership with R. & S. Graham, dry goods merchants, in which business he continued seven years; in 1876 he held the power of attorney of the firm of Graham, Black & Co., cotton factors, in New Orleans, being corresponding clerk there in 1876-7; has owned and operated a large plantation in Tunica Co., Miss., since 1858; formerly engaged in farming and merchandising at Franklin, Tenn.; now retired; married Margaret Ann PERKINS Aug 1, 1844; in politics he was originally a Whig, now Independent Democrat; while in Texas he had many experiences with Indians and Mexicans before the annexation of Texas to the United States; member of the Presbyterian church.
