All As I was reading the newspapers from May 1874, I found an interesting article on the "County Farm" (poor farm??) County farm, 3 miles northwest of Fairfield, 320 acres (200 prairie and 120 timber) purchased by the county in 1870 through Adam Rinard, Commissioner. Price paid was $4,000 ($12.50 per acre) 14 people living there: 1. Mary Stinson, maiden quite old and feeble 2. Betty Martin, 95 years old, childish, almost blind 3. Mrs. Isabell Reck, old lady, blind and her son 4. Parker Reck, age 35 years, badly deformed, barely able to walk, has fits and is feeble minded. 5. Daniel Wesley Sutterfield, age 19, badly cripped and on crutches. 6. John Thompson, crazy youth about 20 years old 7. Billey Kittey, small boy quite feeble minded. 8. Matilda Jones, stout, hearty but feeble minded (been on the farm 3 years) 9. Ann Whitacre, age 25, deaf and dumb. 10. Elizabeth Wiseheart, German woman, 50 years old, blind. 11. Leonard Windland, alias, Daniel, incurably insane 12. James Carrel, alias, Tom Carmody, is insane about 40 or 45 years old. 13. Col. Ben Watson is an imbecile resident of Mt. Erie. A few weeks since he took his wife and child to the county farm by consent of the Supervisor of the twonship. Mrs. Ada Watson is about equal to her husband in intelligence and the 8 month old babe seems to be equally unfortunate. The Squire who married this couple ought to be indicted. Mrs. Watson is a half sister to Billey Kittey. Inmates are reported to get along pleasantly since the departure of Sarah Campbell. Sarah, like friend, Felix Trousdale (according to "A Cumberland Presbyterian") was always kicking up a row. June 25, 1875 Four new inmates at County Farm added. 1. Mrs. Susan Bradford, an old lady from Four Mile Township, mother of C.C. Hopkins, deceased. 2. Benj Meyers also from Four Mile Township. 3. Elisha Young, old resident of Wayne County, now almost helpless old man. Wife is with him for the purpose of giving him the attention which his afflicted condition demands. 4. Elisha Young's wife but no mention of her name in the newspaper. Does anyone know anything about the Bradford family? I have William Boswell's wife being Susannah Bradford but she died in 1864 so I wonder if this could be her mother Susannah Bradford, wife of Samuel Bradford. They are on the 1850 census for District 11 of Wayne Co, IL Funny how many Samuel Bradford's there were around the area. In 1850, I find 4 Samuel Bradfords in Jefferson Co and 2 in Wayne Co. The one I am interested in was Samuel Bradford born about 1783 VA and wife Susannah born about 1785. -- Sandy (Whalen) Bauer http://www.whalen-family.org "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - What a Ride!"