From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 1059-1060
 
WILLIAM WALLACE BRADLEY.  In looking over the list of business men of a past 
generation in Walworth county whose many public-spirited acts contributed to 
the general good of the locality, the name of William Wallace BRADLEY stands 
out conspicuously, and although he has taken up his march with the innumerable 
phantom army to Shakespeare's "undiscovered bourne," his memory is enshrined 
in the hearts of his many friends and will long linger there.
 
Mr. BRADLEY, who was for years one of the leading merchants of Delavan, was 
born in the town of Groton, Tompkins county, New York, May 20, 1826.  He was a 
son of Dr. Enos and Adah BRADLEY, who were Connecticut people, moving to New 
York in an early day, and when the subject was about six years old the family 
moved to Darien, Genesee county, New York, where they remained until 1845, in 
which year they emigrated to the state of Wisconsin, locating at Southport, 
known at present as Kenosha.  When a young man Mr. BRADLEY learned tailoring, 
and in 1848 he located in Delavan, engaging in this business.  Later he began 
dealing in ready-made clothing, being the first one in the county in that 
business.  Later he added dry goods and built up the business that is now the 
W. W .BRADLEY & Company's store.  He started in a small way and built well, 
his trade increasing with the years until he enjoyed a lucrative business.  
With the exception of one year, 1865, he was in business continuously until 
his death.  During the greater part of that time he dealt in both dry goods 
and clothing and was one of the best known merchants in this section of the 
state.
 
Mr. BRADLEY was first married to Cynthia KEELER, daughter of Peter M. KEELER.  
Her death occurred on December 31, 1853, leaving a daughter who died when 
twelve years old.  On April 21, 1855 Mr. BRADLEY was married to Esther 
LARNARD, daughter of Elisha and Nancy (WILSON) LARNARD.  She was born in Tioga 
county, New York, in 1826, and is still living at Delavan, now nearly eighty-
six years old.  She came here about 1857 with her brother, Ira P. LARNARD, who 
is still a resident of Delavan, having been one of the first settlers there, 
and he is now ninety years of age.  Two daughters were born to Mr. BRADLEY's 
second union, Allie and Eva.  The former is the wife of William H. TYRRELL, of 
Delavan, and the latter married John J. PHOENIX.
 
Mr. BRADLEY was a man who took much more than passing interest in public 
affairs.  He served as treasurer of Delavan during the years of 1851 and 1852, 
and he was a member of the village board of trustees for four years.  In 1854 
and 1855 he was town treasurer and was village trustee in 1873, 1875, 1880 and 
1886.  He was never an office seeker, what public honors he received coming 
unsought.  He was in business in Delavan over fifty years, during which time 
he did much for the upbuilding of the place, and when he was called to his 
reward on January 1, 1900, the community felt a keen loss.  He was a very 
likeable man, honest, obliging, kind-hearted, strict integrity being a 
cardinal principle of his business.  He was modest and unassuming, yet always 
friendly and sociable, thus made and retained friends easily.
 
Submitted by Carol