William F. Bradshaw was born in Christain County, Ky., in 1849.  He is a son of Albert Bradshaw and Marianne Bradshaw, nee, Rumsey who removed in 1856 to McCracken County, settling near the city of Paducah, where William F. was reared and where he received the elements of an English education. In 1868, he became a student in the University of Mississippi, where he remained with the exception of one year, until 1872, when he graduated with the degree of B.S. He then decided upon the prefession of law doing his preparatory reading under Judge Q.Q. Quigley of Paducah with which he combined teaching and in 1873 he was principal of the third district school of the city of Paducah. In 1874 he passed the required examination and was admitted to practice and has since devoted his attention to the profession. In 1878 he was elected to the office of county attorney for McCracken County serving four years. In February 1885 he was elected to the responsible position of county treasurer for McCracken County to succeed Dr. A.B. Kinkead, first and only treasurer since 1871 up to his (subject's) election. The vacancy was caused by death of Mr. Kinkead; the office was created in 1871. Mr. Bradshaw was married to Miss Virginia E. Wheeler, of Christain County., in January 1877. They have two sons : William F. and James W. Bradshaw.