This information was taken from the book: Dickens County – Its Land and People
Published 1986, page 47
Clad Bradford was born February 27, 1871 in Springfield Missouri. When he was 4 years old, he and his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Allen, came in a wagon train to Fort Griffin, Texas. They lived there for 6 years. In 1881 they came to Dickens County and homesteaded 160 acres at what in later years would be Dobbs City.
In 1901 he married Alvie Newcomb who was born January 26, 1883, near Albany, Texas. He brought her to his farm where they lived for 43 years.
Through the following years they had 15 children. Five of these children died in infancy. Lydia died in 1951, Lillie and Virgie in 1979 and Ira in 1980. The 6 remaining are Velma Bradford, (Odessa, Texas); Virgil Bradford, (Madera, California); Vada Norris, (Spur, Texas); Flora Rich and Mildred Woods, (Midway, Texas); and Odelle Goss, (Dickens, Texas).
Alvie died in December 1944 then Clad in August 1945. They left a long line of descendants, many who never left Dickens, County.
I was 2 years old at the time so my memories of them are only recollections of someone else; but I’m proud of you, Grandpa and Grandma. Proud of your years of hard work, your struggles to keep your large family going. My hat is off to you, Ggreat mrandma Sarah Elizabeth Allen for your true pioneering spirit, you must have done something right, 4 generations of your family still live in Dickens county.
By Norma Fitzgerald