BRADLEY, CHARLES AND BETTIE (GUSTIN)

by Darwin Bradley

Entry F44 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Charles and Bettie Ann Bradley Family. L to R
Lillie (Elliott), Roy, Bettie, Dale and Clara (Delinger)

Charles Rawleigh Bradley was born in
Scottsville, Kansas on May 22, 1873, the son
of James and Bettie (Painey) Bradley. Eliz-
abeth "Bettie Ann" Gustin was born in
Emerson, Iowa on October 17, 1876. Her
parents were Issac and Sarah Martha (David)
Gustin.

Charles and Bettie were married in Red
Oak, Iowa on October 5, 1894. They moved
to Thurston County near Bancroft, Nebraska
where they farmed. They had five children,
Lillie Elsie born June 22, 1896; Clara Leone
on November 3, 1900; Issac "Roy" on June 11,
1903; Dale on August 15, 1908; Minnie Melva
born in 1911 and died of the flue in January
of 1914.

In the spring of 1910 they came to their
Cherry County, Nebraska homestead in N W
1/4 531 T 26 R 34. They arrived with their
possessions in a railroad car at Hecla, Nebras-
ka. Their first trading center was Hecla and
later Mullen, Nebraska after the advent of
the automobile. Their first Post Office was
Hire and later Prentice before a rural route
was established from Mullen.

Charles was a carpenter and built their
home. He helped to build the old Mullen Sale
Barn and the Dick Phipps ranch home, still
standing mementos of his work.

Bettie Bradley's parents, Issac Gustin and
wife homesteaded in the adjoining section to
the south and a cousin Harvey Eddie located
2 miles to the southeast of the Charles
Bradleys.

Charles died July 1, 1926 and Bettie Ann
and Dale took over the ranching business. In
1941 the homestead was sold and Bettie Ann
and Dale moved to a ranch 15 miles southeast
of their place. They moved the house with
them, fording the Loup River.

Bettie Ann died on February- 11, 1957.
Charles, Minnie, Lillie, Roy, Dale and Bettie
Ann are buried in the Mullen Cedar View
Cemetery.