Biography of Robert McAfee Bradley
HISTORY of GARRARD COUNTY -- Pages 270 - 272
Robert McAfee Bradley was the father of William O'connell Bradley, Kentucky's first Republican Governor. Robert was born in Madison County, the son of Isaac and Rachel (Brutner) Bradley, one of whom was the cousin of Daniel O'Connell, the Irish patriot. They came from Virginia and settled on Silver Creek. Isaac removed to Bracken County about 1810 the mother of Robert died and he returned to Silver Creek, near its mouth, where he grew up.

Here Robert began the practice of law before the magistrates courts. He married Ellen Totten, daughter of Joseph Totten, who lived near Gunn's chapel close to the mouth of Paint Lick Creek. Her father was a fine man and the family known for its native intelligence. Children of this union were William O'Connell; Mary who married S. H. Newell; Emily Frances, who died early; Almira Pierce, who married C. B. Bacheller; Margaret, who married Dr. W. F. Scott. Their son Ethelbert was one of the principals in the tragic affair between Colonel Colson and him in the Capitol Hotel as Frankfort during the Goebel contest for governor. Scott was killed by Colson and several others were killed in the crossfire between these two principals.

Catherine Virginia Bradley married Colonel Thomas Z. Morrow, of Somerset, and was the mother of Governor Edwin P. Morrow, one of the finest orators of his time. James died in infancy, and Maria Josephine married first Captain Francis Marion Wolford, brother to Colonel Frank Wolford, who recruited the first Kentucky Cavalry Union at Camp Dick Robinson in 1861. This husband was killed in the South and brought back to Lancaster and buried. His grave lies close to the vault on the south side. She later married Dr. Nelson Mays and he lies buried on the same lot. The wife buried between the two husbands.

Robert M. Bradley was said to have been the best and most celebrated land lawyer in his times, when courts were loaded with endless litigation overland titles and claims which overlapped each other. His family became prominent in the affairs of this state, two of them became governors of Kentucky and filled this position with honor.






Son of Isaac and Rachel (Brutner) Bradley. Husband of Ellen Totten the daughter of Joseph and Mahala Totten Bradley. Father of Eight children: Mary E, Amanda Pierce, Catherine Virginia wife of Col. Thomas Morrow and mother of Gov. Edwin P. Morrow, Margaret E., Maria Josephine, James, Emily Francis, and William O'Bradley Kentucky's first Republican Governor.