Final rites for William H. Bradshaw. 74, prominent Delphi resident, were held Sunday afternoon at the home west of Delphi. Rev. Harry Parker officiated. Mr. Bradshaw's death followed a year's illness. Born April 30, 1868, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Bradshaw. He had lived in Delphi most of his life except for a period of six years when he lived in Colorado. There, in Cripple Creek, he was engaged in the real estate business, and later at Denver, he served as paymaster for the Union Pacific railroad. Returning to Delphi in 1893, he entered the business of his father, the Bradshaw Wagon Works, which manufactured wagon bodies and mail wagons. Under Mr. Bradshaw, the business grew as he began building horse drawn school hacks. Later he turned to the manufacture of school bus bodies for motorized vehicles. The business expanded to the point that the company was shipping bus bodies throughout the world. At various times, Mr. Bradshaw had been in partnership with his three sons, Robert, Howard and Charles, but he had not been active in the company for ten years. Recently he sold his interest in the firm to his son Charles. In 1933 he purchased what is known as the Charles B. Landis farm home west of Delphi, and since that time, he and Mrs. Bradshaw have resided there. A philanthropist, Mr. Bradshaw with Mrs. Bradshaw established the Bradshaw awards in the Delphi school, prizes given for excellence in English composition and literature. These prizes have been given over a period of twenty years. At one time, also, Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw gave to pupils enrolled in the first grade of school a bank book in which a first deposit made by the Bradshaws was recorded. He was a Past Grand in the I.O.O.F., No. 174, and a Past Chief Patriarch in the Encampment. From 1911 to 1923 he served as vice-president of the board of the Odd Fellows’ home at Greensburg, Indiana. During that time he also was purchasing agent for the home. He is survived by his wife, Flora Gros Bradshaw; three sons, Robert, Howard and Charles, all of Delphi; two brothers Arthur and George, of Indianapolis; and six grandchildren, Arthur, Robert and John, sons of Robert; Joan and William, children of Howard; and Nancy Jane, daughter of Charles. Burial was made in the Bradshaw crypt at the Odd Fellows’ cemetery with Blythe and Sons in charge of arrangements. Those who served as pall bearers were: Joseph Ives, Abner Bowen, Amel Spring, Haughey Mount, Yantis Wells and Harold Patton. Ladies of the Oracle Club, of which Mr. Bradshaw was a member, were tribute bearers: Mrs. Mary Arnold, Mrs. C. T. Amick, Mrs. Blanche Cartwright, Mrs. Yantis Wells, Mrs. Myron Ives, Mrs. Will Wason, Miss Nellie Haughey, Miss Hilda Bowen, and ¡Mrs. Albert Clauser. Others who carried flowers were: Mrs. Fred Martin, Mrs. Watson McCormack, Mrs. C. M. Kerlin, Mrs. Earl Smith, Mrs. George Obear, Mrs. Tom Dial, Mrs. Harry Baum and Mrs. William Cowdin. Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Wayne Coy of Washington, D. C., Mrs. Mona Coy of Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dial, Mrs. R. Fleetmeyer and daughter, James Obear, John Hellekson and Dorothy Knight Green, all of Indianapolis; Mrs. Emily Johnson of Dallas, Texas; James G. Ayres of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Riggs of Kentland; Mrs. Will Gros of LaCame, Ohio; Captain Hubert Gros of Camp Perry, Ohio. Illness prevented Mr. Bradshaw’s brothers, Arthur and George, of Indianapolis from attending the services.

Delphi Citizen August 27, 1942