They are buried at St. Gabriel’s Cemetery in Prairie du Chien. In the summer of 1993 the log cabin/school Martin Bouska built was moved to Spillville to be used as a museum. The dedication was held 16 Jul 1994.

Bradley, Elton and Kathreen “Katy” (Gunderson)

(Katy Bradley)

Elton Bradley

Elton Bradley was born in Winneshiek Co. , the first of 3 children born to Howard and Ruth (Herwig) Bradley of Decorah. Elton graduated from the Decorah Public Schools and then attended Luther College.

As a young man Elton worked at many odd jobs, including the cleaning and waxing of cars in his father's Pontiac car dealership. At age 18 he decided that he would like to go into sales and started his career in selling cars at his family’s business. He later formed a partnership with his father which lasted until his father’s death in 1985. In 1990 he formed a partnership with his son James and is still active in the business.

On Palm Sunday 2 Apr 1944 Elton married Kathreen Gunderson of Ossian, IA at the Ossian Lutheran Church. Kathreen was the daughter of the late Otto and Mayme Gunderson of Ossian. Elton and Kathreen have 3 children: Kay Bradley Lee of Columia, MD  Janice Bradley Larson of Iowa Falls, IA ; and James of Decorah .

Elton and Katy were fortunate enough to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary 2 Apr 1994 at a party hosted by their 3 children and 7 grandchildren, all of whom were present. They feel that God has truly blessed them.

Bradley, Howard A. and Ruth (Herwig)

(Kathreen Bradley)

Howard Andrew Bradley was born in Wymore, NE in 1902 to Reuben Hill Bradley and Elizabeth Bradley. Elizabeth had been raised in New York State and Reuben had migrated from North Carolina. Although they shared the same surname Howard’s parents were not related.

There were 8 children in the family: Ruth, Frank, Martha, Howard, Florence, Maude, George and Dorothy.

The family left Nebraska after their father, who was a brakeman for the railroad, lost his leg in a train accident. They moved in a covered wagon to the Rapid City, SD area and lived there on a farm until the eventual break up of the parents’ marriage. It was at that time that Howard and his brother Frank, who were in their early teens, left home to find work so they could help support the family. They accepted any job that was offered to them from working as a farm hand to serving on a construction crew.

By the time Howard was 20 years old he had traveled to the Kansas area and was working on a farm near Lamed when he met his future wife, Ruth Herwig of Decorah, IA. Ruth was there visiting her sister and husband, Mabel and Louis Stoskopf, who owned a farm in the area.

Howard and Ruth were married in Kansas and soon after moved to Decorah. They became parents of 3 children: Elton of Decorah ; Dean of Champaign, IL; and Jean Bradley Kistler . Unfortunately Ruth died from breast cancer at age 44 and did not live to see her 2 younger children mature. After her death Howard and the children lived with Elton and Katy until Dean and Jean left home. Howard continued to reside with them until he died at their home in Mar 1986.

Howard, Ruth and Elton Bradley.

Howard and Ruth belonged to the Methodist Church in Decorah and were members of the Oneota Golf and Country Club as early as 1933. Howard later joined the Silvercrest Golf Club, the Elks Lodge and the Odd Fellows Lodge.

When Ruth and Howard first moved to Decorah there were no available jobs in the area so Howard accepted a