Death of Mack Talley Bradford (1874-1919)
Mack Talley Bradford was a son of Thomas Bradford and Martha Connell. His father was a native of Lowndes County, GA but as a young man had moved to Sumter County, Florida. After serving in the Florida Cavalry in the Civil War, his father returned to Berrien County, GA where Mack Talley Bradford was born on July 7, 1874.
Mack Talley Bradford grew up on his father’s one-horse farm in the 1157th Georgia Militia District, Berrien County, GA. As a man, he was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and black hair.
On September 29, 1901, Mack Talley Bradford married Maggie R. Gaskins in Berrien County, GA. She was a daughter of Fisher H. Gaskins. The marriage was performed by H. B. Peeples.
Mack Talley Bradford and Maggie R. Gaskins marriage certificate, September 29, 1901, Berrien County, GA
Mack and Maggie Bradford made their home on a farm in Connells Mill District on the Nashville & Valdosta Road, not far from the farms of Flemming B. Gaskins and Harmon Gaskins.
Children of Mack Talley Bradford and Margaret R. “Maggie” Gaskins
- James Albert Bradford (1902 – 1990)
- Leon Bradford (1905 – 1962)
- Cora Bradford Strawder (1907 – 1994)
- Perry E. Bradford (1910 – 1936)
- W Henry Bradford (1912 – 1913)
- Olan Jackson Bradford (1914 – 1962)
Mack served as a traverse juror at spring ad-term, 1905, Berrien superior court, which met on the second Monday in June. M.T. Bradford was a member of Woodmen of the World, a Mason, and a southern Baptist. In 1909 Mack Talley Bradford attended the Program Union Meeting of the Southern District Mell Baptist Association held at Staunton church, January 29-31. The Saturday morning sermon at that meeting was delivered by Reverend Perry Thomas Knight. Mack Talley Bradford delivered the Sunday morning Devotional.
M.T. Bradford was among the Ray City investors who received a State Bank Charter to open the Bank of Ray’s Mill. The bank opened for business on August 14, 1911. The principal bankers were Benjamin Perry Jones, President of the Valdosta Bank and Trust, and Vice President Clarence L. Smith. The other investors were J.S. Swindle, J.H. Swindle, W.H.E. Terry, Riley M. Green, and J. F. Sutton, all of Berrien county, and Charles Lee Jones and J.B. Griffin, of Lowndes county. The Bank of Ray’s Mill would later be known as the Citizens Bank of Ray City.
On September 12, 1918, Mack Bradford registered for the draft in Nashville, GA. He gave his address as RFD Route #2, Ray City, GA.
Mack Talley Bradford, WWI draft registration, Berrien County, GA
Tifton Gazette August 29, 1919 reports death of Mack Talley Bradford.
Tifton Gazette
August 29, 1919Fall From Ladder Kills Berrien Farmer
Mack Bradford a young Berrien county farmer is dead from injuries that he received a day or so ago when he fell from a ladder. Mr. Bradford did not know his injuries were serious and in a short time after the accident he walked out into a field where he had some men at work. Later he complained of feeling badly and sat down to rest. Not feeling any better he sen his small boy who was with him to a nearby branch for some water. When the boy returned he found his father in a dying condition and before he could summon help Mr. Bradford was dead.
Grave of Mack Talley Bradford (1874-1919), Pleasant Cemetery, near Ray City, GA
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