Copied by permission from "History of Jones Co., GA," by Carolyn White Williams Written by Gladys Spear Barron BRADLEY When the Central of Georgia railroad came through what is now the town of Bradley, August 9, 1886, there was only a pine thicket. Just beyond the station to the northeast was a rather thickly settled community, among whom were: John BRADLEY, John Wiley BRADLEY, T.F. BRADLEY, W.H. MULLIGAN and J.J. GLAWSON. This community was named Franks for the grandfather of John Wiley BRADLEY. Wiley Franks was the largest land owner in this section and it is said here that he was one of the signers of the Ordinance of Secession. He died in 1865. From Wiley FRANKS descended the BRADLEYS and BARNES and the MULLIGANS. These three having married his daughters. John W. BRADLEY and Allen WHEELER gave the right of way for the railroad, they and their families were given passes on the trains. Mr. BRADLEY became the first depot agent, later Joe BURNEY was the depot agent for many years. The first store was built and operated by J.W. BRADLEY. This building was later converted into a dwelling and is now occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Claude GLAWSON and family. Other early merchants were M.H. MULLIGAN, G.W. GORDON, A.L. HARRIS and Warren WINTERS. Dr. B. I. O'KELLY was the first physician in Bradley. The first school was a one room house near the home of J.J. GLAWSON which also served as a meeting house. Later J.W. BRADLEY gave the land for a church and school at the station. The deed of land was given for the church on July 16, 1897 and the church completed in the early spring of 1898. John BRADLEY father of J.W. BRADLEY was one of the largest contributors. He gave the building and wrote the data which was placed in the cornerstone. The school was built on adjoining property and school began there in the fall of 1906. At one time it was one of the largest schools in the county from the standpoint of pupils and teachers, and boasted a high school, as well as a grammar school. The early teachers here were: Miss Alice TAYLOR, Miss Josie BAXLEY, Miss Sallie SLOCUMB (Mrs. Ben. WINTERS), Mr. & Mrs. Asbury GREENE, Frank GREENE who later became one of the three state supervisors of education, Miss Mattie MIDDLEBROOKS, Miss Mary Jo BARRON and Miss Frances SOLOMON. In 1929 this school was consolidated with Gray and the building torn down and moved to Gray where it was made into a gymnasium. The property was given to the church November 4, 1930. When J.W. BRADLEY founded the town, he had the land surveyed and off into lots a plat which may be found in the county courthouse The Bank of Bradley was established in 1920. This bank closed during the depression of 1929 when the Fourth National Bank in Macon closed. Bradley has had spurts of industrial growth. First were the cotton gins, which did a thriving business when cotton was king. The Bradley Gin and Milling Co. flourished for a number of years. Then came the peach industry and Bradley became one of the largest shipping points for peaches not only in the county but for this section of the state. Refrigerator cars were lined on the sidetracks as far as the eye could see. Often thirty cars were packed and shipped in one day. Among the largest growers and packers were: S.B. HUNGERFORD, R.L. BRADLEY, W.W. BARRON, Sr. J.J. BARRON, A.L. HARRIS, G.B. SLOCUMB, B.F. WINTERS, W.D. WINTERS, J.J. GLAWSON, J.E. GLAWSON, T.F. BRADLEY, S.H. THORNTON, H.L. WHEELER and J.J. MERCER. A more recent industry was the Cherokee Products Co., a canning plant operated at Bradley by the Bloodworth Brothers until it was moved to Haddock. Bradley can boast of the first and largest Jones County Fair ever held. The exhibits from this fair were carried to Macon and displayed at the State Fair. It had the largest horse race track and some fine horses. This track was owned by John BRADLEY, father of the founded. Typed by Barbara S. Virginia