Eva M. Bradley was a businesswoman who founded Bradley, Inc., Dry Goods, in Marysville. She was born in Westfield, New York, to Isaac Bradley and Frances Cooper Bradley. Her mother was a relative of James Fenimore Cooper and came from Cooperstown, New York, which had been named after their family.

Eva graduated from Dansville Seminary in New York in 1884. After her graduation, she came to Marysville to join her father, who had traveled here the previous year. Her uncle, Samuel H. Bradley, had come here in 1849 for the Gold Rush and served on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors. Upon his arrival in Marysville, Isaac Bradley had gone to work at his brother Samuel's wagon and carriage shop. Isaac later served on the Marysville City Council.

Eva was first hired as a clerk in the office of Edward Weilander, who ran a dry-goods store in Marysville. She was the first female clerk in Marysville, this being an unusual position for women to hold at that time. During her first day at that job, she pleased one important customer so much that Weilander immediately promoted her to sales representative. In this capacity she first earned ten dollars per week, but she soon earned five raises during her first year on the job.

In 1903, Eva formed a partnership with Mr. H. A. Bruce that bought out the Weilander dry-goods store. Six years later, she sold her portion of this store to Bruce and started her own dry-goods store at the corner of 5th and D Streets. This was considered at that time to be outside of the business district, and many locals predicted that her business would fail as a result. However, it was successful immediately. She expanded the original 40-foot by 60-foot floor space dramatically, adding 30 feet the second year and another 40 feet the third year. She installed the first plate-glass front window anywhere in Marysville, having it designed by a San Francisco architect, and also installed a modern carrier system. Each year until her retirement in 1921, she took two trips to the east coast to look for new ideas for improving her store.

Eva Bradley was a charter member of the Marysville Art Club and the first woman member (and charter member) of the Marysville Chamber of Commerce. She was also the first woman to serve as chairperson of the Democratic Central Committee of Yuba County.

Links

Miss Eva M. Bradley from History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, 1924