Joseph Putnam Bradlee (1817 - )

Biography
Joseph Putnam Bradlee  was born on June 10, 1817. He was educated in the private schools in Boston and as a result he was a successful businessman. He became Commander of the New England Guard for a while; and during the Civil War, though he was physically unfit to serve, he was a very effective worker He first worked with Joseph baker & Son which was a South American house on Central Wharf in Boston. He was the Treasurer of the Ballardvale Woolen Mills near Andover, Massachusetts who reorganized the company and brought it to new success and perhaps even saved the business. He eventually took over the business and payed all of its debts with his own money. He established new schools in the city and also built three new churches. In 1878 he built a public library which had seventeen hundred volumes which were free to use. He had grossed a large income and became very wealthy. As a politician he was a Whig and Chairman of the State Central Committee. He was Director of the City’s Public Institutions and eventually President. His was of running business were so successful that they were continued after his death. He was responsible for making the House of Correction to be able to operate on there own. He was a member of the Common Council from 1847 to 1849 and President of the Common Council from 1858 to 1860. By his generosity over one hundred youths   Mr. Bradlee left the greater part of his large fortune to hospitals and charitable institutions selected by his sister, Miss Helen Bradlee.”