Mabel Eleanore was born on March 25, 1900 in Arthur, Illinois.  She was the daughter of Joseph L. Johnson and Alice B. Denton.  In the 1900 Federal Census, Joseph and Alice Johnson live in Jonathan Creek Township in Moultrie County, Illinois with their two daughters, Clara (1896) and Mable (1900) where Joseph was a farm laborer.  By the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Joseph and his second wife, Mollie live in Pana, Illinois.  They have Joseph’s four children living with them, Clara, Mable, Eldon (1903) and Allie (1905, Alice).  In 1905, Alice, Joseph’s first wife, conceived twins.  Tragically during childbirth Alice died and so did a son named Alma.  Alice, the other twin, survived.  Joseph is a laborer on the railroad.  Joseph and Mollie had two children in the next decade; Mary (1911) and Ferol (1915).

Marriage Certificate issued in Montana for Maybelle Johnson and Russel Hayner Bradley – 1917

Maybelle (Mabel) married Russel Bradley in Helena, Montana on July 14, 1917.  Russel was a Lieutenant stationed in Livingston, Montana.  Mable and Russel had two sons while living in Montana; Russel Robert (1918) and Lyle King (1920).

Eleanore and Russel (Jack) in Montana 1918 (Property of Paula Bradley)

In 1921, Russel and Mabel returned to Michigan where they settled in Romulus, where they would eventually have four additional children; Wellington Yale (1922), Gloria Faye (1924), Betty Eleanore (1927), Richard Dale (1931).

In the 1930 Federal Census, Russel and Mable live in Romulus. Mable is listed as housewife and has no outside employment. And they have five children living with them; Russel, Lyle, Wellington, Gloria and Betty.

By the time of the 1940 Federal Census, Mable and Russel have five children living at home; Lyle, Wellington, Gloria, Betty and Richard (1931). The oldest son, Russel (Jack) has moved out and is working in Detroit. He has not yet joined the Army Air Force (as it was known then). Russel and Eleanore are working for the County Infirmary. Eleanore is a cook supervisor. In about 1945, Russel and Eleanore (who prefered to go by her middle name, Eleanore) bought a hardware store. It was called the Bradley Hardware Store which was located on Huron River Drive in Romulus, Michigan.

Four of the Bradley children served in the military.  The oldest, Russel Robert was reported missing in Action in May of 1942 in the Pacific.  He served in the Army Air Force (as it was known then).  It is believed that his plane crashed into the Pacific.  Eleanore and Russel made several inquiries to the War Department about the status of their son but his remains were never found. He was eventually declare deceased. (Reference the Russel Robert post for May 28, 2019 for more information on Russel Robert (Jack) Bradley.)

Eleanore and Lyle King Bradley (property of Paula Bradley)

Lyle King made the military his career.

Eleanore and Wellingon Bradley (Property of Paula Bradley)

Mabel Eleanore Johnson Bradley died sixty four years ago today November 12, 1955.  She died of Leukemia according to the Obituary posted on Ancestry.com by Paula Bradley. She is buried in the Silver Lake Cemetery in Wolverine, Michigan in the Bradley plot.

Rest in peace, Mabel Eleanore.

Love, Jan

Mabel was the wife of my second cousin two times removed, Russel Hayner Bradley.

A “Special Thanks” to Paula Bradley for sharing the family photos and other family documents on Ancestry.com so more distant relatives like me can find them.