"William Charles Bradshaw was born in the year 1798, the year memorable as the Great Irish Rebellion, at a small place named Anacline, near the large town of Hillsborough, County Down. This County was largely Protestant - the people being deeply moved during those really perilous times. It was a pleasure to him to recount many of the scenes of that day as related to him by his parents, and others of his own remembrance. One of which was the celebrated William Pitt, who was opposed to Free Schools, which was remarkably distasteful to Mr. B."¹

"His father Thomas, was a farmer, while the rest of the family and friends were weavers." He married Nancy R. Singleton in Ireland probably about 1820 - 1824,² she died some time between the census of 1860 and 1870. "He was 25 years of age (in 1823) when he left Belfast, Ireland and landed at Quebec. The old steamboat Washington took him to Burlington, Vermont, which he heard of as a place of good repute, where he went into a woolen manufactory and afterwards worked as a gardener. He also found it what he had sought, truly a Land of Liberty. All his children were born in Vermont with the exception of Mrs. Ball, who was born in Ireland on the 17th day of March" 1824.

"He and his family lived in Burlington, Vermont for 22 years when he finally made up his mind to go west; hearing of Burlington, Wisconsin, and loving the name of Burlington so well, where he had found so good a home in Vermont, that he determined to remove thither. On the way he met and became acquainted with Mr. M. T. Hayes, chairman of our board; once here he remained perfectly satisfied with the spot he had sought, until summoned to his eternal rest.

"He brought means with him. The Good Book tells us that 'riches take to themselves wings and fly away.' In his case, as in thousands of others, too much confidence led to a loss of much of his property.

"Mr. Bradshaw was a man of more than ordinary information. It was a pleasure to him to talk at County fairs, Political Gatherings, etc. He was also a deeply religious man. His heart was alive to the beauties of nature and to ascribe all the good of earth to the Great Creator, our Heavenly Father. It was our privilege on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to seek the company of Mr. Bradshaw, walk with him and hear him discourse on things present and those that had passed. On one of these occasions large numbers of people were passing to and from Brown's Lake: when he spoke feelingly of the scenes we pass through in this world, the hairbreadth escapes, etc., which were, he said, truly wonderful."

"The Standard of last week contained a brief notice of the death of Mr. William Bradshaw, which took place on Sunday evening, the 10th day of February 1878, a few minutes after 11 O'clock. Mr. B. had been confined to his bed for five weeks, during which time he suffered considerably at times and again he would rest comfortably. Although not a rugged man, yet he had enjoyed almost uninterrupted health until this last sickness. During the whole of which time, not only his own children but those related to him by marriage, and his grand-children, were at his bedside, night and day, always ready to attend to his wants, relieve his pains as far as in them lay, and to smooth his passage to his last resting place. He died at the house of his Daughter Martha, wife of Mr. Theodore Riel, whose kindness to his aged Father-in-law will never be forgotten.

"He lived to the good old age of four score years, when he was called to his final rest. We hardly think he has left an enemy behind him.

"Mr. Bradshaw left seven children; two sons and five daughters. William John in Missouri; Jane in Ohio; Belle in Minnesota; Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Riel and George in Burlington."

1. Their children:³
2. Betsy Ann Bradshaw, born 17 March 1824 in Ireland married in 1842 Charles W. Ball in Colchester Vermont. She died 12 January 1897 in Burlington, Wisconsin.
3. Jane Bradshaw born about 1830 in Vermont and lived in Ohio.⁴
4. William John Bradshaw born about 1835 in Vermont and died 12 June 1912.
5. Isabelle J. Bradshaw, born about 1837 in Vermont married William Clark Norton in Burlington, Wis. on 9 September 1857.⁵
6. Christiana Bradshaw born about 1840 in Vermont married Charles L. Graham 25 April 1860 in Burlington, Wisconsin.
7. Martha M. Bradshaw born about 1843 in Vermont and married Theodore Riel in 1862 in Burlington, Wis.
8. George W. Bradshaw born about 1845 in Vermont married Minnie Feeney and died in 1901 in Wisconsin.

"The Funeral Service on Tuesday, at the hours of Mr. Reil, was conducted by Rev. George Schorb."

1. Sources:
2. Source (37), 23 February 1878.
3. Source (48), page 8.
4. Source (48), page 8.
5. Source (37), 23 February 1878.
6. Source (46), Marriages Volume 5, Page 299.
7. Source (47), page 525.