Edward Elsey Bradshaw
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Edward Elsey was the fifth of nine children born to Samuel and Mary Ann Elsey Bradshaw. Edward was born in Tooele while his mother was visiting her mother, but Virgin was the family home and where Edward grew to manhood.
I was touched by the events that took place in his family as he was growing up. His mother (age 43) died of pneumonia when he was eleven years old. Six of his siblings died. His grandmother, Ann White, who cared for the fmaily after his mother died, passed away at the age of 76 when he was fifteen eyars old. Two stepmothers were brought into the home. A lot of sorow for a young boy. At the age of twenty-one, Edward married Mary Ellen Owens. Their courtship took place in Virgin. After their temple wedding in Saint George they traveled to Salt Lake City to obtain their household things, then they rented a room in Virgin where their first baby was born October 2, 1882. Virgin was a small twon, on the banks of the Virgin River, about three or four blocks wide. There was no room for new young couples. Therefore Edward and May joined a company that left for Arizona to colonize. They let with her father (Horace Burr Owen) and her brother (Burr Jr.) in November 1882. It was a pleasant trip by wagon but a little cold for their one-month-old baby. They arrived in Woodruff, Arizona. On December 12, 1882, and were greeted by more of May's family. They built a small frame house, moving into their home April 4, 1883. February 28, 1884, their first son, Samuel Silas was born. May had a severe sick spell at this time which effected her memory. Five more children were born in Woodruff. Three of the children died as infants. Many babies during these years, died because of measles, whooping cough, croup and grippe. The settlers in Woodruff had built a dam on the little Colorado for irrigation water. Year after year the settlers watched as the floods repeatedly washed out the dam. In May 1891, the family decided to homestead a farm in Pinetop. The Bradshaw family sheared sheep, freighted, cut timber, plowed, as well as made fences and ditches during this time. Six children were born in Pinetop. New land was being opened up in Col. Morelos, Mexico. In the year 1900, Edward and several other families made up a company and traveled 1,000 miles to break new land, make ditches and homes. Their first home was a tent. As soon as possible they made adobes and built a home with dirt floors. Lumber was too expensive so they used bamboo cane to hold up the dirt roof. Until the crops were raised their main food was boiled wheat, beans, and red root (pig weed greens). When the crops matured, Edward took surplus food to Douglas, Arizona sixty miles away, to mining camps to trade for clothing and other food. Mexico was a beautiful country with tall grass and yellow poppies. They cut he grass for hay, but the poppies caused sore eyes. In 1905, there were terrific floods down the Bavispe River. It took away the Bradshaw orchard of about 100 trees, potato crops, horses and heifers, and even the wall of their kitchen. Losing everything, they decided to elave Mexico and go back to Arizona. They took ajob at Fort Apache. They did the laundry for 110 soldiers, with a washer run by horses and a mangle ironer. Many of the solderis, when they found they were being transferred, would leave without paying their bills. The family had a nice garden where Edward raised melons, fruits, and vegetables to sell. In 1908, another new colony was beign formed in San Jose, Sonora, Mexico. It took three weeks by wagon to make the trip. The Bradshaw's took 100 acres of land, partly cleared but mostly brush land, mesquite, cat claw, and cactus. There were bulls that hid in bushes in the daytime and at nigh ate their crops. The family worked very hard, making adobes, ditches, planting and harvesting crops and gardens. At the end of four years (August 12, 1912) the MExican Revolution forced them to leave everything behind and flee a U.S. Government camp in Douglas, Arizona. The families lived in tents and lived on Government rations for a month, then the government gave free transportation so they could move. Edward took his family to Hurricane, UTah. There they took a farm, raised bumper crops, an built the best home they had ever had. The family worked in the ward. Were good singers and sang in the choir. They held many positions and enjoyed their callings. They always went to church and kept the Sabbath day holy. They tried to be a good example and teach their families. Edward and May enjoyed doing themple wrko as much as they could. Grandmother May died February 7, 1919. Edward was left feeling very lonely for May, and the responsibility of raising two sons (ages ten and fourteen). They had been very happy in their home. Edward had always taken great joy in his gardens, lawns, and flower. He loved to share his fruit and vegetables with family and friends. Edward was restless without May, he sold his home to his daughter and started traveling with the boys. Traveling to Mesa, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, St. Gearge, and finally back to Hurricane. When the sons were raised and on their own, he built a little house near the Hot Springs (where he enjoyed bathing). He would ride into Hurricane, visit his two daughters and three sons, and do his shopping. He loved to take his accordion and serenade his children, and grandchildren, especially Chirstmas morning. Grandfather Edward bacame ill and went into the hospital for an operation. He was very sick however, he did not like the treament he received in the hospital, so he left. He got a ride to Hurricane and went to his daughter's place. Infection set in and he passed away November 27, 1936. He was buried by his wife May, in Hurricane, November 29, 1936. remembrance by Anita Joy Bradshaw Reheis, granddaughter
edited by Alice Jo Cluff Ellsworth: 1998 |