Minnie Ella was born at Pilot Mound on January 24, 1887.
During her first three years she lived at Pilot Mound and on the family farm at Blyth, Ontario, moving to the Pierson farm
in 1890. She attended school in Pierson and taught there in later years. She also took piano and organ lessons.
Minnie married Fredrick James Bradley on January 24, 1911. He had come to
Canada from Worcester, England in 1900 and found work in the Ontario and Quebec lumber industry. He went back to England in
1906 but only stayed a few months. On returning to Canada he came to the Pierson area to work as a farmhand. By
chance he was in the Pierson hardware store where a customer was having trouble obtaining a "Pickle Handle". No one
could help him, but Fred, having known this item in the Cavalry, stepped in to inform them that the customer wanted a "Pitch
Fork Handle". The store owner immediately offered Fred a job in the store. This led to the purchase of the hardware
around 1909-10.
Minnie and Fred had three children - Muriel Eileen born March
8, 1912, who died November 16, 1992, Gwendoline Louise born July 4, 1913 and Horace Gerald
(Bud) born September 10, 1919.
The hardware store failed and the family moved to Minnedosa in 1920. Shortly
after Fred moved on to Edmonton to find work and Minnie and the three "kids" went to Warren to live with her Mother and brothers.
Fred found work in the hardware business finally settling at the H.J. Ashdown Hardware Wholesale where he worked until retirement.
In 1923 Minnie and the "kids" followed him to Edmonton, finally residing at 12045 - 95 A St. where the kids grew up, married
and had children of their own.
Minnie was a good mother, active in the community and well liked. She died
on September 14, 1931.
