Aunt Nan Bradford

Submitted by Sandra Nichols
Notes--"Aunt Nan" Bradford (Feb. 27, 1862-July 26, 1945) was Nancy Jane Holderfield, wife of William Simpson Bradford (Apr 8, 1859-May 28-1899) Dates from headstones, Eglantine Cemetery, VBC Arkansas. Date of birth, place of birth, yr. of return to Arkansas from Missouri, and marriage date are incorrectly reported in the article. Corrections: Birthdate 2-27-1862 (headstone and 1900 VBC Arkansas census). Place of birth--Rolla, Missouri. Return to Arkansas--around 1878. Marriage date--9- 8-1880 (VBC Marriage Book 2, page 0427).
Van Buren County Democrat Newspaper
Clinton, Arkansas
July 12, 1940

CHILDREN PAY HOMAGE TO BELOVED MOTHER
Family Reunion Held on Little Red River; Dinner-Fish Fry

Sunday, June 30, 1940, on the banks of Little Red River, at what is known as the "Old A. A. Cottrell farm, seventy-five persons gathered to pay homage to a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-great grandmother, namely "Aunt Nan" Bradford, in what was styled a family reunion. At the noon hour a sumptuous dinner was spread, including a bountiful supply of fish fresh from the nearby streams.

"Aunt Nan", whose maiden name was Holderfield, was born at Rawleigh, Mo., Feb. 17, 1857. Her residence in Arkansas dates from 1886 when with her father, the late James M. Holderfield, she located near Cleveland. Mr. Holderfield, who was a union soldier and personally known to many readers of the Democrat, died in 1932.

If correctly informed "Aunt Nan" was united in marriage to W.S. Bradford sometime in 1888. They immediately located on a farm in what is now known as the "Burnt Ridge" community, and where Aunt Nan yet resides, making her home with her youngest son, James H. Bradford and family. W.S. Bradford's death occurred in 1908.

Aunt Nan is the mother of eight children, all of whom are now living as follows: W. D. Bradford and Mrs. W.H. Huie of Shirley; Mrs. I.B. Rhodes of Kennett, Mo.; Mrs. Dan Maulden of Choctaw, Claud H. Bradford, Mrs. George Hackett, Mrs. J. R. Towery and James H. Bradford, all of whom live between her home and Shirley. Aunt Nan has thirty-two grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild.

Not withstanding her advanced age, now in her 84th year, Aunt Nan is in the enjoyment of good health. She not only assists with the household work, but hoes in the garden, helps with the milking and does many other chores incident to farm life. She is a devout Christian, a consistent member of the Christian Church, and is not only beloved and respected by members of her immediate family, but enjoys the confidence and esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances, hundreds upon hundreds of whom have had the delightful pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of her home on many, many, occasions.