History of Lancaster, (Garrard County) Kentucky United States of America

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William O'Connell Bradley, governor of Kentucky, was born near Lancaster, Garrard county, Ky., March 18, 1847, son of Robert M. and Ellen (Totten) Bradley. His father was a distinguished lawyer. The civil war wrecked the father, financially, and the son, at the age of fourteen, joined the Union army, first as recruiting officer in Pulaski county, and later as a private soldier at Louisville. His father secured his release and he entered his law office, becoming so well qualified to practise that at the age of seventeen, by special act of the general assembly, he was licensed, and rapidly rose in the profession. He entered politics in 1869, and in 1870 was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1872 and 1876 he was the unsuccessful candidate to the 44th and 45th congresses, In 1884 President Arthur selected him to prosecute the "Star Route" cases, but the attorney-general denied a full prosecution and he withdrew. In 1887 he was nominated by the Republicans for governor and reduced the Democratic majority of 45,000 to less than 17,000. During this campaign he charged corruption in the state government, resulting in the discovery of a defalcation of $247,000. In 1895 he was again nominated for governor, this time by acclamation, and was elected by a majority of 8,912, the first Republican ever elected governor of Kentucky. He served in every Republican national convention for more than twenty years as delegate or delegate-at-large, and was elected several terms as national committeeman, and as national executive committeeman. He seconded the nomination of General Grant at the Chicago convention in 1880 in an elo- quent speech, and won renown at the Chicago convention in 1884, by delivering a speech which defeated the proposed rule to cut down the basis of southern representation. He was twice given the complimentary vote of his party for United States senator, once while ineligible on account of his youth. He was married July 11, 1867, to Margaret, daughter of Dr. Benjamin F. Duncan, of Lancaster. In 1896 he was a prominent candidate for the presidency before the St. Louis convention, declined the office of U.S. senator in 1897 and the appointment of U.S. minister to Korea in 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Lancaster, (Garrard County) Kentucky

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