Camden People - Claudius W. Bradshaw

CLAUDIUS W. BRADSHAW was born in Sheffield, England on October 29, 1835. His parents came to American in 1840, and after three years in Philadelphia settled in Camden in 1843.

After receiving his education he pursued the wood turner's trade. He married Eliza Jane Marks, the County Clerk has the dates recorded twice, as December 25, 1858 and as January 30, 1859. Eliza Marks' sister Sophia married Isaac McKinley, and at the time of the 1860 Census the Bradshaws and the McKinleys lived next door to each other in Camden's South Ward.

Taking an interest in civic affairs, Claudius Bradshaw served as a volunteer fireman.

By the time of the 1880 census Claudius Bradshaw had been elected mayor. The Bradshaw family at that time included five children, Claudius E., Clara, Charles H., Florence M., and Milton R. Bradshaw.

George Reeser Prowell wrote the following about the

two companies in his History of Camden County, New Jersey, published in 1886:

The Independence Fire Company No. 1, organized with Lambert F. Beatty, president; William S. Frazer, secretary ; and Joseph Wagner, treasurer. Among the early members were Jacob Prettyman, David Page, Thomas Stites, Andrew Stilwell, Francis E. Harpel, Restore Cook, John Wallace, Claudius W. Bradshaw, William H. Hawkins, Christopher J. Mines, Henry Bradshaw, William E. Walls, William Howard, Albert Dennis, Elwood Bounds, Samuel H. Stilwell, Albert V. Mills, Robert S. Bender, Lewis Yeager, Thomas McCowan and William W. Mines. The company met in a building at Third Street and Cherry for a year, when it was burned. Lewis Yeager gave the company free use of a lot on Third Street, above Cherry, where an engine-house of slabs, donated by Charles Stockham, was built. In 1853 a lot on Cherry Street, above Third, was purchased and on it a frame house was built. This was used until 1859, when, owing to a defect in the title, the sheriff advertised the property for sale. When he reached the ground on the day of the sale he found the house, with its contents, and a number of the members of the company, on an adjoining lot belonging to James B. Dayton, who permitted the action. The following year, 1860, they bought and built, on the north side of Pine Street, above Fourth, a three-story brick, then the most complete fire-engine house in Camden, and which was sold for four thousand five hundred dollars to the city. The Independence was a hose company until June 4, 1864, when they secured an Amoskeag engine, being the first fire-engine in use by the fire companies of Camden. Early in 1869 they purchased a larger engine and when the volunteer firemen were scattered, in the latter part of that year, they sold the Amoskeag to Millville, and the later purchase was kept until 1874, when it was sold to the city. Lambert F. Beatty, John Wallace, William H. Hawkins, J. Kelly Brown, William W. Mines and Edward Gilbert were presidents of the Independence, while its secretaries have been William L. Frazer, William W. Mines, Mortimer C. Wilson and Thomas McCowan ; and the treasurers Joseph Wagner and Robert S. Bender, who, elected in 1854, served until October 13, 1874, when, with a roll of sixty members, they met. President Gilbert in the chair, paid all claims against them and formally disbanded.

Claudius Bradshaw became active in politics as a Democrat, and was made city marshal in 1870. He was elected to city council in 1872, and was made Chief of the Camden Fire Department in 1876, serving a three year term. He was succeeded by Samuel S. Elfreth.

In 1880 Claudius W. Bradshaw was elected mayor, defeating Benjamin F. Archer by 31 votes. He was re-elected in 1883, defeating Henry H. Davis, for whom the Davis School in East Camden is named.

During Mayor Bradshaw's term in office, improvements were made to Federal and Cooper Streets, and the Board of Health was organized under his direction. Several companies that were a part of Camden's commercial and industrial scene for many years were founded, including J.B. Van Sciver & Company, the Linden Worsted Mills, and the Lace and Embroidery Manufactory. Mayor Bradshaw also had to deal with an earthquake in August of 1884. Running for a third term in 1886, he was defeated by Jesse Pratt.

After leaving office Claudius Bradshaw operated a confectioner's business at 528 South 3rd Street, the corner of 3rd and Clinton, where he also made his residence, in the late 1880s. By 1890 he had moved to 520 South 2nd Street.

The Trenton Times newspaper reported Claudius Bradshaw as being very ill in its March 21, 1899 edition. He died not long afterwards, survived by his wife, son Charles, daughters Leonia and Florence, and at least three grandchildren.

*Philadelphia Inquirer February 2, 1883**

Josiah Rawlings - John A. Furey - James Ayres - James Dudley Claudius Bradshaw - James M. Cassady - John W. Donges Josiah D. Rogers - Henry B. Wilson Sr. - Jonathan Burr Edmund E. Reed - Christopher J. Mines Sr. - William P. Tatem Jesse E. Hueston - E.E. Reed Jr. - George W. Gilbert - William S. Scull William W. Bozarth - John Burr - Charles Wilson - Rudolph W. Birdsell John W. Wartman - Samuel Hibbs - St. John's Episcopal Church Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church Camden Fire Insurance Association