General Alexander Blackburn Bradford was born 2 June 1799 in Jefferson Co., TN. He married Darthula Olivia Miller on 16 September 1824 in Knox Co., TN. He died 9 July 1873 in Bolivar Co., Mississippi.

Father: Benjamin Bradford
Mother: Mary McFarland

Children of Alexander Blackburn Bradford and Darthula Olivia Miller:

Darthula BRADFORD

Williamson
Entries: 33 Updated: Sat Aug 25 15:30:07 2001
Contact: brad williamson <forecastmiami@aol.com>

ID: I25457556
Name: Alexander B. BRADFORD
Sex: M
Birth: June 2, 1799 in Jefferson Co., TN
Death: July 9, 1873 in Bolivar Co., Miss.
Note: Settled in Jackson, Tenn; district-attorney of Madison County, Tenn; practiced law in Tennessee and Mississippi; Brigadier General of 14th Brigade Tennessee Militia in Seminole War; served as Major in Mexican War in Jefferson Davis' First Mississippi Regiment with distinction; was member of Confederate Congress; buried in Jackson, TN. Portrait and ceremonial sword in possession of John Bradford Williamson, a lineal descendant. Had nine siblings: James F., Mary G., Benjamin McFarland, Jacob Tipton, John D., Margaret, Sarah, Jerusha C., and William D.

Father: Benjamin BRADFORD b: Feb. 15, 1774
Mother: Mary MCFARLAND b: Jan. 24, 1781

Marriage 1 Darthula Olivia MILLER b: 1802 in Knox Co., Tenn.
Married: Sept. 16, 1824 in Knox Co., Tenn.
Children
Darthula BRADFORD b: 1832 in Jackson, TN
(daughter) BRADFORD

http://www.rootsweb.com/~msmarsha/military/griders.html
Vol. XII, No. 2, Mar-Apr 1993

General Aexander Blackburn Bradford

This month we highlight one of Holly Springs' members of the Provisional Congress of the CSA, Gen. Alexander Blackburn Bradford, admitted December 5, 1861 as a representative.

Gen. Bradford was born in the late 1790s. He fought under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. In the Florida campaign in 1838, he served as Col. of a regiment of Tennessee Volunteers in Armstrong's Mounted Brigade, where he acquired the title, "the hero of Withlacoochee". In the Mexican War, he rushed to arms, organized a company, the Marshall Guards, and raced to Vicksburg. In the voting in Vicksburg for the colonelcy of the First Mississippi, he received 350 votes to 300 for Jefferson Davis, with a smattering for others. Desiring a majority, he declined the position and Davis was subsequently elected, and Bradford became a Major. Although he was always addressed as "Gen." Bradford, there is no evidence that he was ever entitled to the rank. It is possible he was awarded this title to distinguish him from the many "Colonels" in the county. (Among others in the Marshall Guards was Kit Mott)

The General, a staunch Whig, was a candidate for Governor of Mississippi in 1847. He lost to Joseph Matthews, another Marshall Countian.

Bradford was a small man, and it is said that he would pull his coat up tight around himself, strut in front of a full length mirror in his office, and inquire of all comers if he did not have a remarkable resemblance to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Being quite vain, after proposing marriage to a young lady, and being refused, he asked, "Well, if you won't marry Gen. Alexander B. Bradford, who the hell will you marry?"

Always alert to the political benefits of soldiering, he became piqued when both Col. McClung and Jeff Davis were wounded in the Mexican War, providing each of them with much publicity and glory. The General had been unscathed to that point. He had high hopes that Buena Vista would help him out by providing a suitable wound, but this was also in vain. He rushed frantically up and down the line, in the very front of action in a frenzy crying, "My God, Can't one bullet hit me?"

Gen. Bradford died on July 9, 1873 and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Holly Springs.