This information was taken from the book: Dickens County – Its Land and People
Published 1986, page 47
Ira was born October 26, 1907 in Dickens County, the son of Clad and Alvie Bradford. He had eight sisters and one brother. They lived on a farm at Glenn, Texas. His father had homesteaded there about the turn of the century. When Ira was a small boy his mother became very ill. They moved into Dickens so they would be close to the doctor. There Ira sold bottles to Mr. Gipson at the drug store for a nickel apiece for his spending money. They put vinegar into the bottles. They moved back to the farm when his mother recovered.
I met Ira when I went home with one of his sisters. I am the daughter of I. S. and Lena Holcomb. My father was from Georgia and my mother was from Corsicana, Texas. I was born September 28, 1917. My parents built and owned the store which was later known as the Rigsby store.
On March 9, 1935, Ira and I married. We have five children, 3 boys and two girls. Janell, born December 6, 1936, married Kenneth Stoneman July 19, 1963; Roger, born December 2, 1940, married Peggy Henderson June 1, 1961, Duanita, born December 23, 1943, married Bill Rich July 4, 1961; Dewain, born November 4, 1949, married Judy Heintz August 1, 1981, and Ronny, born October 27, 1956, married Linda Moore February 24, 1979.
Ira supervised and help build the log cabin behind my father’s store. It still stands today and is owned by a grandson.
Ira worked on several ranches. He worked on the Bradley Ranch, Everett Williams Ranch, Foster Everett Ranch, and the Lewis Ranch all of Kalgary. He also worked on the Cliff Bird Ranch for several years. I worked for the Spur Laundry and Cleaners for 15 years. Later we bought the Y Grocery and ran it from 1969 to 1976 at which time we retired.
We are members of the Methodist Church. The last 13 years of Ira’s life he was disabled. He passed away August 17, 1980. At this time we have 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. I still live at home.
By Juanita Bradford
PS: Ira was my mother’s Uncle.