HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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family. Reared as a farmer and given an academic education, he began his business career as a clerk in a dry-goods store, but soon after became connected with a bank in his native town,where he received that training that fitted him for his subsequent career. In 1857 he came to Aurora, Ill., to take a position in the private banking house of Albert Jencks & Co. This institution was succeeded by Brady, Hawkins & Allen, of which Mr. Bradley became Cashier and Manager. Later Mr. Bradley, in company with these gentlemen, organized the First National Bank of Aurora, of which he became Cashier-a position which he held until the death of Mr. Hawkins, when he succeeded to the Presidency, continuing in the latter position up to the time of his death, Oct. 4, 1899. Mr. Bradley's career as a banker in Aurora covered a period of more than forty years, in which he was noted alike for his financial ability and his personal integrity. The only surviving member of his family in Aurora is Mrs. Bradley, born Elizabeth Abell, in Norwich, Conn. Her marriage with Mr. Bradley occurred in 1876, she being at that time the widow of Edward D. Griffin, to whom she was married in Ohio, removing with him to Illinois in 1858. Mr. Griffin was one of the pioneer insurance men of Illinois, and died in 1875. Mrs. Bradley has resided in Aurora continuously since 1858.
MYRON BRACKETT, retired farmer, Sugar Grove, Ill., born at, Williston, Vt, Oct. 17, 1833; came west in 1844, locating with his parents in Aurora; removed to Big Rock Township the following year and settled on a farm, where the father and mother spent the remainder of their days. Myron Brackett followed agricultural pursuits until 1901, when he removed to Sugar Grove, which has since been his home. He married, in 1858, Miss Susan Hadley, and they reared a family of twelve children, all of whom were living in 1903.
LORENZO D. BRADY (deceased), pioneer banker, Aurora, Ill., born at New Castle, West-Chester County, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1810, son of John B. and Lydia (Kipp) Brady; was reared and educated principally in New York City, where he became proprietor of a grocery store when nineteen years of age, and later engaged in the wholesale paint and oil trade in that city; came to Kane County. Ill., in 1837, and established his home on a 700-acre tract of land in
Big Rock Township. From 1840 to 1842 he was associated with George E. Peck in the conduct of a general store at Little Rock, Ill., and after Mr. Peck's death, in the latter year, he continued to conduct the business until 1848, when he removed to Aurora, where he engaged in merchandising as a partner of E. R. Allen, but after a lew years conducted this enterprise alone until 1871. Mr. Brady was a Representative in the State Legislature from Kendall County, and secured the charter for the Aurora Branch Railroad (parent of the present Burlington System), which was built from Aurora to Turner Junction. He was the organizer of the Aurora Fire Insurance Company and served as President of the same during its existence; was also one of the founders of the pioneer banking house of Hawkins, Brady & Allen, and of its successor, the Old First National Bank, and was a bank director for many years. He-was President of the association that erected the Soldiers' Memorial Building, and his interest in building up the Aurora public school system has been fittingly commemorated by the city in naming one of its principal schools ("The Brady School") in his honor. He was President of the Aurora Board of Trustees while the place was still a village, and later served as Alderman and Mayor. A member of the Republican party from its organization, he acted as Chairman of the first Republican Congressional Convention held in Illinois, which met at Aurora in 1854. In 1845 he was married to Miss Caroline Kennon, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who died in Aurora in 1883. Mr. Brady died Feb. 27, 1892. The surviving members of this pioneer family in Aurora are: Mrs. Sue (Brady) Fishburn, Mrs. Julia (Brady) Beau-pre, Mrs. Lydia (Brady) Smith, Mrs. Marion (Brady) Haring and John L. Brady. The latter, the only surviving son, is a resident of San Francisco, Cal.
BENJAMIN BRANFORD, retired, Batavia, born in Yarmouth, England, July 5. 1849, son of Richard Bran ford, came with his parents to the United States in 1853. They settled at Batavia, and there the son was reared and educated. The father was a farmer, and Benjamin Branford became the owner of the farm on which his father settled, and was engaged in its cultivation until 1902, when he removed to a home in Batavia, and has since devoted his attention to the care of his real-estate in-
Dundee Area History
