Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 180.
 
LAWSON G. BRADLEY

     Probably no citizen of Eugene has had a more vital and effective relation
to the development of various sections of the Pacific northwest than Lawson G.
Bradley, who is now successfully engaged in the real estate and loan business
here. A man of great energy and of a decidedly progressive tendency, together
with marked business capacity and ripe judgment, he is doing splendid and
appreciated work in contributing in a very definite way to the upbuilding and
progress of this locality.
     Mr. Bradley was born in Medford, Jackson county, Oregon, on the 5th of May,
1879, and is a son of Jay and Laura (Merriman) Bradley, who were married in this
state. The father was born in Iowa and is a son of Lawson G. Bradley, who
crossed the plains with his family in 1852. Jay Bradley first engaged in the
stock business here and later became an extensive and successful farmer near
Medford, where his death occurred in 1893. His wife, who was born at Medford,
Oregon, is a daughter of William and Artemisia (Riddle) Merriman, who also came
from the east to Oregon in 1852, settling in Douglas and Jackson counties. After
the death of her husband, Mrs. Bradley moved to Eugene, where she lived with her
son and daughter were attending the University of Oregon, and she became well
and favorably known here. She now resides in Washington, D. C.
     Lawson G. Bradley attended the public schools and then entered the
University of Oregon, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts
in 1899. He then had three years' work in the medical school of that university,
but laid aside his medical studies and became a reporter on the Portland
Oregonian. Later he established the Lewiston Teller, of which he was editor and
publisher for two years. He was then elected a member of the Oregon legislature,
in which he served during the session of 1907. He next took charge of the
publicity work for the Twin Falls colonization project, and later promoted and
completed the King Hill project, involving thirty thousand acres of land.
Because of his distinctive success in these enterprises, he gained a wide
reputation as an expert in the financing of irrigation projects. He was employed
to work out the Downey project, and later also carried forward the Salmon river
project, during which time he resided at Boise, Idaho. He had an active part in
the recolonization of the Minnadoka project in Idaho and then went to Salt Lake
City and took charge of the Dixie Oil Company, bringing in five producing wells.
From there he went to Burley, Idaho, where he remained until 1923, in July of
which year he came to Eugene. Here he has been engaged in the real estate and
loan business, being especially active in the latter line- He is the local agent
for the Western Loan & Building Company and the Investors Syndicate, and since
coming to Eugene he has financed the building or acquiring of over four hundred
homes. He does a general real estate business, having handled a large amount of
city and farm property in this section of the valley.
     In 1914, Mr. Bradley was united in marriage to Miss Hennoine De Good, of
Madison, South Dakota, and they are the parents of two children, Marian and
Jean. Mr. Bradley is an active supporter of the republican party; is vice
president of the Eugene Realty Board, and is a member of the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks and the Chamber of Commerce. A man of great force of
character and of sound judgment in practical affairs, he is usually found in the
lead in matters affecting the welfare of his city or county, for, while
advancing his individual interests, he never loses sight of his obligations to
the community. He is essentially a man of affairs and is regarded as one of the
solid and substantial citizens of Eugene.


     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.