Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Page 265

Bradford C. Church, Sr., deceased, in his life-time a highly respected business man of Sterling, was born in Portageville, Wyoming Co., N.Y., April 28, 1834. In 1854 he came to Chicago, where he was employed in a store for five years; then, until 1862, he was engaged in the hardware business in Kankakee, Ill.; then, for five years, in the same business at Morris, Grundy Co., Ill.; and finally, in the spring of 1868, he came to Sterling and engaged in the milling business. In 1871 he entered into partnership with Samuel Patterson, the firm name being Church & Patterson. In 1875 he was elected Mayor of the city of Sterling, and in 1876 was re-elected. In his political action he was a Republican.

Mr. Church died of apoplexy on the cars, on his way home from St. Louis, Sept. 20, 1883. He was one of Sterling’s most respected citizens.