William Erastus Bradshaw

Birth: He was born in Iowa around 1859.  

Family Information: Husband of Mary Emma, though she died in 1930 and never lived in the colony.

Father of Carl, Paul, Ray and Oral Bradshaw.

Grandfather of Madeline, Verda and Carolyn Bradshaw.  

Description:  

Pre-Colony History: In 1900, he was living with his wife, Merry E. and all four children in Batavia, Iowa and working as a plasterer.

In 1910 he was living with his wife, Mary, sons Carl and Paul and daughter Oral L. In 1920, he was living with his wife, Emma and two sons -- Carl and Paul. In both 1910 and 1920 they lived in Locust Grove, Iowa and he still worked as a plasterer.

He came to the colony with his sons from Iowa -- some time after the death of his wife in 1930 at Batavia, Iowa.  

Home in Colony:  

Job in Colony: He worked at the cannery and often helped out sorting peanuts.

In January 1931 Mrs. Hamel and Mrs. Powers, Lasky, Winnie Ogden, Ruth Kittle, Melvine Hullinger, Sylvia Tuber and Dad Bradshaw were rushing the candy work, making boxes, and finishing up the Christmas trade. Mrs. Hamel reported that more than $100 worth of candy had been shipped out that week. 

Other Info:  

Post-Colony History: In August 1935, W.E. returned to the colony with Paul and his wife, Nellie, arriving around midnight after their long drive from Iowa where they had been living since leaving the colony three years prior.

Death: He died in 1943 at Batavia, Iowa.  

Sources: US Census: 1900, 1910, 1920; "Llano Colonist": January 3, 1931, May 19, 1932, May 28, 1932, June 4, 1932, August 17, 1935