An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, page 315. WILLIAM L. BRADSHAW, judge of the Seventh Judicial District of Oregon, residing at The Dalles, was born in Putnam county, Missouri, September 28, 1858. His parents, Edward C., and Elizabeth (Lindsey) Bradshaw, were natives of Kentucky and Mississippi, respectively. The family of Bradshaws is of English ancestry, and many generations of them were prominent in Kentucky as farmers, planters and in professional circles. The mother, a descendant of an old and distinguished southern family, crossed the plains with her husband so early as 1864, when William Bradshaw, our subject, was only six years of age. The family arrived at Boise City, Idaho, in October of the same year, and the following summer came to The Dalles. Here they disposed of their oxen and embarked on a steamer for Portland, locating in Lafayette, Yamhill county. Edward C. Bradshaw opened an office and there he continued in the practice of law until 1886, when he removed to The Dalles. The mother of our subject died the year before. At The Dalles the father associated himself in the practice of law with Colonel N.H. Gates, until 1888, when death suddenly called him while in his office. Politically Edward C. Bradshaw was always active, taking a lively and patriotic interest in the campaigning issues of the Democratic party. He represented Yamhill county in the senate and house of representatives, was an eloquent speaker and a persistent and indefatigable worker in the interests of his party. He was a man of great force of character, broad minded, progressive and influential, and his sudden death was a sad blow to his son, to whom he was a comrade as well as a father. The foundation of our subject's education was laid in the public schools of Yamhill county. He attended the State Agricultural College at Corvallis from 1878 until 1879, going thence to St. Louis where he entered the law department of the Washington University, from which he was graduated with honors in 1881. Returning immediately to Lafayette, he formed a law partnership with his father, and practiced until 1886. He removed to The Dalles in 1889, where he associated himself with J.L. Story, the partnership continuing successfully until 1891. On the death of Judge J.H. Bird, our subject was appointed by Governor Pennover to fill out the unexpired term as judge of the district. To this office he was elected in 1892, on the Democratic ticket, his Republican opponent being George Watkins, at present residing in Spokane, Washington. He received a majority of two hundred and in 1898 was reelected by eight hundred majority. October 9, 1883, Judge Bradshaw was united in marriage, at Lafayette, to Sarah E. Littlefield, born in Chicago, daughter of Horace R. Littlefield, a physician and native of Illinois, and now practicing in Portland. Mrs. Bradshaw died at The Dalles April 19, 1900. The second marriage of our subject took place at Portland, June 25, 1902, when he was united to Agnes Cooke, born at Lafayette, the daughter of Amos and Mary Fanny (Scott) Cooke, sister of Harvey W. Scott, editor of the Portland Oregonian. Judge Bradshaw has one child, Robert C., aged fourteen years, living at home. Judge Bradshaw has one sister, Harvey E., widow of Westley B. Carey, living at Lafayette. Fraternally Judge Bradshaw is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., is past and grand C., and at the last session of the grand lodge he was elected supreme representative. He is, also, a member of the Rathbone Sisters, the B.P.O.E., the W.O.W., Royal Artisans and the Commercial Club, of which he, was the second president. Judge Bradshaw enjoys wide popularity, and numbers hosts of friends regardless of social or political lines. This was especially evidenced in June, 1904, by his re-election with a majority of twelve hundred and eighty-five. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.