BRADSHAW, ELIJAH, a prominent and successful farmer of Ball Township, Sangamon County, was born in Pike County, Ill., July 18, 1830, and is a son of Jonas and Betsy (Sawyer) Bradshaw, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Illinois. Jonas Bradshaw moved from Pike County to Logan County, in 1847, and his wife died in Pike County about 1837. His father was a native of North Carolina and died in Richmond, Va., while Mrs. Bradshaw's father was a native of Illinois and died there.

After receiving his education in the subscription schools of Illinois, Elijah Bradshaw worked on the home farm until the death of his father and afterwards worked in a mill and in a cooper shop, but later again turned his attention to farming. He moved from Pike County to Logan County and in 1847 located in Sangamon County, soon afterwards came to his present farm, where he owns 163 acres of excellent land. He has always worked hard and has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. In 1871 he spent several months visiting in Texas, but otherwise has spent his entire life in his native State. He has a good standing in his community as a man of reliability and integrity and has many warm friends. He is a Republican in political principles, but generally votes for the man rather than the party. He is not connected with any church, but in his daily life endeavors to follow the Golden Rule and is a kind friend and neighbor. He has served for the past twelve years as School Director and is also serving as Road Commissioner. He is not affiliated with any fraternal organizations.

Mr. Bradshaw has been twice married, first, March 4, 1852, to Lila Shoup, who died in Sangamon County, in April, 1870, her children all having died in infancy. Mrs. Bradshaw was a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Downing) Shoup, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, and both died in Sangamon County. Mr. Bradshaw married (second) Emily Shoup, a cousin of his first wife, December 3, 1874, and she died May 12, 1888. She was a daughter of James and Ellen Shoup, both natives of Ohio, the former of whom died in Logan County, Ill. Two children were born of this union: John, born in 1875, and George T., September 19, 1879. John was married, March 17, 1904, to Myra Newcomer, and they now live with his father. They have two children, Helen E., born March 29, 1906, and Marjorie, born May 17, 1910. George T. Bradshaw was married, in 1901, to Lillie Mayberry, and they live near Pawnee and have one child, Bernard W.