| Bradley Township | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Location in Jackson County | |
| Jackson County's location in Illinois | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jackson |
| Established | November 4, 1884 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 45.04 sq mi (116.65 km2) |
| • Land | 45.03 sq mi (116.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) 0.01% |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,757 |
| • Density | 39/sq mi (15.1/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 62280, 62907, 62916 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0428704 |
Bradley Township is one of sixteen townships in Jackson County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,757[1].
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According to the United States Census Bureau, Bradley Township covers an area of 45.04 square miles (116.7 km2); of this, 45.03 square miles (116.6 km2) (99.98 percent) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.026 km2) (0.01 percent) is water.
Bradley Township lies in the extreme north-western part of Jackson County, and was named in honor of Judge William Bradley who had immigrated to the county with his father Joshua Bradley from Tennessee. Judge Bradley as he was called was a highly honored citizen of the county, whose services to the County were countless, deserved that his name be thus rescued from decay. Bradley is bounded on the north by Randolph County, on the east by Ora and Ava, on the south, by the three townships of Ava, Kindkaid and Degognia and on the west, by Randolph county, Degognia Creek being the line of demarcation. Kinkaid and Beaucoup Creeks, have their source within its limits, the first, flowing to the southward and the latter, in a northeasterly direction. It is further drained and watered by Degognia Creek and some of its eastern tributaries. The St. Louis and Cairo Railroad enters it from the north and runs a south-easterly course through it, passing out in the east, a little more than a mile from the south line. This township contained a few settlers before the organization of the State in 1818. In contains two towns, Campbell Hill, situated on the railroad named above, four miles from its rival, Ava. This village of Bradley was surveyed and laid off by Edward NEWSOME, county surveyor, and certified to, on January 10, 1874. The plat was filed for record with R.W. HAMILTON, Circuit Clerk and Recorder, on the 19th of March in the same year. St. Louis & C. R. R. has a station here, and Bradley is deserted, and its glory has paled in the presence of the more youthful competitor. The township had one school building. It was built in 1877, at a cost to the taxpayers of about $1200, and reflects credit upon their taste and culture, and exhibits an interest in the cause of education, worth of commendation. In its early days it boasted of one hotel. The hotel was kept by Mr. BENSON, and its reputation may be inferred, from the fact that it is at his hotel the passengers northward or southward on the railroad, get their dinners. There was but one church edifice in the town, which was erected by the Baptist society, known as "Looney Spring" Church. Judge William Bradley and his brother Richard Bradley both had been pastors of this church along with George GORDON. This is the strongest religious organization in that part of the County. Among the members of this church, in its early years, mention is made of David UNDERWOOD, his sons and families, the GORDONS, the PHOENIXES, and DOWNENS. A prosperous Sunday School was connected with the church. GORDON & Co., were dealers in general merchandise, Augustus DUDENBASTLE, was postmaster and dealer in dry goods and groceries. John HANNA had a drug store, the custom and merchant mill, which was formerly run by Thomas WOODS and William MOHLENBROCK. It is a large and well-conducted establishment, and affords the farmers a home market for their grain. Among the substantial farmers of Bradley Township, or as it was called until of late years, Bradley precinct, we make mention of Cyrus BRADLEY, Mr. PHOENIX, Mr. TUCKER, Jonathan McDONALD, Mr. William DOWNEN, Peter STOFFLE, Mr. WARD, the UNDERWOODS. Among the first settlers we mention Mrs. William KIMMEL, 1817, and Mr. BARROW. Josiah CULLY came to settle in the Bradley settlement in 1836. A very considerable portion of this township consists of land suitable for agricultural purposes, and is still a heavily agricultural community to this day. In the eastern part, the land is somewhat broken, but of good quality; in south and west the surface is smooth. Some exceedingly well tilled farms are found in this section and the traveler through Bradley meets evidence of thrift and plenty on every hand. The people are honest and wide-awake, and are marching abreast of the times. The old log school houses have largely disappeared, and new frame buildings, comfortably seated and well lighted, are superseding them. This was all heavily timbered before "his echoing axe, the settler swung", and there is yet an abundance of the very best timber. Good qualities of building stone abound.
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)
(These towns are listed as "historical" by the USGS.)
The township contains these eleven cemeteries: Barrow, Calvary, Cheatham, Evergreen, Koehn, Kross, Looney Springs, Modglin, Rogers, Saint Lukes and Saint Peters.
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