Lewis Rice Bradley, Old Broadhorns: Mule Trader, Cattleman and Nevada Governor

Who Was Lewis Rice Bradley?

Lewis Rice Bradley wore two hats that were common in the early West: stock raiser and politician. According to Wikipedia, he served as the second governor of Nevada from January 2, 1871, to January 6, 1879, after building his name as a cattle driver with a nickname that stuck for life, Old Broadhorns.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum inducted him into the Hall of Great Westerners in 1959.

Early Life as a Virginia Mule Trader

Bradley was born February 18, 1805, in Orange County, Virginia. When he was 13 his father died, and he left school to become a mule trader to support his mother and younger siblings. Some listings give his birth year as 1806, but the Wikipedia article gives 1805.

He later moved to Missouri, which the article calls the nation's mule capital. He married Virginia Hode Willis, who died in 1852 in Fayette, Missouri. The article gives conflicting numbers of children, so the count is not stated here.

The 1852 Longhorn Drive That Earned the Name Old Broadhorns

In 1852, Bradley and his son John R. Bradley drove a herd of Texas Longhorns west. They lost about 40 percent of the animals along the way, and the trip earned him the nickname Old Broadhorns, per Wikipedia.

A loss of two animals in five is a sobering figure for any drive, and it was part of the risk he took on.

Stockton, California, and the Floods of 1861 and 1862

Bradley settled in Stockton, California. He drove horses, mules and sheep from Missouri, and Great Basin College's Bradley biography says he prospered there and served in the California legislature. The floods of 1861 and 1862 then ruined the family's land, according to Wikipedia.

That setback pushed the family east into Nevada.

Cattle in Elko County, Nevada

The Bradleys moved to Nevada, and Lewis Bradley ran a cattle business in Elko County near Jiggs. Great Basin College says he first moved to Lander County, which became part of Elko County in 1869, and made Elko his base.

The pages reviewed do not give acreage, herd sizes or brands for his ranch.

Governor of Nevada, 1871 to 1879

Bradley was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1870, 1874 and 1878. He won twice. His first election was by a margin of 1,052 votes, and he was the first governor to occupy the new stone capitol in Carson City. He hired Hannah Clapp, believed to be the state's first female contractor, to build a wrought iron fence around the grounds.

He vetoed a mining tax break after refusing a blank check from an industry representative, and he sent in the militia to end a standoff at the state prison when Lieutenant Governor Frank Denver refused to hand over control. He lost his 1878 bid for a third term by 495 votes.

Debt, Death and Burial in Elko

Bradley's own businesses suffered during his time in office, and he was in debt by the end. He died in Elko on March 21, 1879, and is buried in the Elko City Cemetery. He was the first of six Elko County men to become Nevada governor.

Legacy and Honors

The Hall of Great Westerners honored him in 1959. His story fits the long arc of Elko County ranching, from Bradley's era to modern cattle families. The Hall of Great Westerners overview lists other inductees.

For related ranch stories, see the ranching section of farm.FM, or read a farm.FM story about Elko County cattle.