Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford
Encyclopedia
Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford (1848–1918) was a prominent Virginia
politician and a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha
Fraternity
.
Bradford, a cousin of fellow Pi Kappa Alpha founder Frederick Southgate Taylor
, was born in Norfolk, Virginia
on July 16, 1848, the son of Edmund Bradford (1816–1889) and Anne Elizabeth (Tazewell) Bradford (1817–1898). Bradford's surname was changed from Bradford to Tazewell when the Virginia legislature gave him permission to adopt the name of his distinguished maternal grandfather, Littleton Waller Tazewell
, who was Governor of Virginia
and one of the state's most revered leaders in 19th century politics, but who had no male heir. This change was made after Bradford's days at the Virginia Military Institute
(VMI) and at the University of Virginia
, where records show him as "T. Bradford" or "L.W.T. Bradford".
Bradford was educated first at Norfolk Academy
, then he was sent to be a cadet at VMI on February 6, 1865 where and he was assigned to the class of 1868. At this time, VMI had been moved from Lexington
to Richmond
. His cadetship lasted only two months until April 1865, when the corps was disbanded as Federal troops moved on Richmond and the capture of the Confederate
capital was imminent. The cadets were directed to escape the best way possible and Bradford escaped in a canal boat taking refuge with relatives further up the James River
.
Bradford entered the University of Virginia
prior to his five co-founders. He was to share Lawn Room 47 with his cousin, Frederick Southgate Taylor. At the University he studied medicine
but for some reason gave up his studies and entered business in Norfolk.
For almost a half a century, Bradford (now known by the surname Tazewell) was active in business and civic life in the city of Norfolk. His avocations were farming and rowing
. He was founder of the Chesapeake Boat Club, where he assembled an all-Pi Kappa Alpha crew, probably the first of "all-Pi Kappa Alphas." For twenty years, Tazewell was a prominent figure in the Norfolk City Council. He was frequently urged to run for mayor
, but he consistently refused.
Tazewell married his wife, the former Mary Louise Walke (1856–1923) on November 6, 1883. He died on July 15, 1918, one day short of his seventieth birthday and was buried in the family square in Elmwood Cemetery, near the grave of his cousin Frederick Southgate Taylor. A monument gives simple details of birth, marriage and death.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
politician and a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
Bradford, a cousin of fellow Pi Kappa Alpha founder Frederick Southgate Taylor
Frederick Southgate Taylor
Frederick Southgate Taylor , was a successful businessman, politician, avid philanthropist, and founder of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity....
, was born in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
on July 16, 1848, the son of Edmund Bradford (1816–1889) and Anne Elizabeth (Tazewell) Bradford (1817–1898). Bradford's surname was changed from Bradford to Tazewell when the Virginia legislature gave him permission to adopt the name of his distinguished maternal grandfather, Littleton Waller Tazewell
Littleton Waller Tazewell
Littleton Waller Tazewell was a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator from and the 26th Governor of Virginia.Tazewell, son of Henry Tazewell, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, where his grandfather Benjamin Waller was a lawyer who taught him Latin...
, who was Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
and one of the state's most revered leaders in 19th century politics, but who had no male heir. This change was made after Bradford's days at the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
(VMI) and at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where records show him as "T. Bradford" or "L.W.T. Bradford".
Bradford was educated first at Norfolk Academy
Norfolk Academy
Norfolk Academy is an independent co-educational day school in Norfolk, Virginia. Chartered in 1728, it is the oldest secondary school in Virginia and the eighth oldest in the United States...
, then he was sent to be a cadet at VMI on February 6, 1865 where and he was assigned to the class of 1868. At this time, VMI had been moved from Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. His cadetship lasted only two months until April 1865, when the corps was disbanded as Federal troops moved on Richmond and the capture of the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
capital was imminent. The cadets were directed to escape the best way possible and Bradford escaped in a canal boat taking refuge with relatives further up the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
.
Bradford entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
prior to his five co-founders. He was to share Lawn Room 47 with his cousin, Frederick Southgate Taylor. At the University he studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
but for some reason gave up his studies and entered business in Norfolk.
For almost a half a century, Bradford (now known by the surname Tazewell) was active in business and civic life in the city of Norfolk. His avocations were farming and rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. He was founder of the Chesapeake Boat Club, where he assembled an all-Pi Kappa Alpha crew, probably the first of "all-Pi Kappa Alphas." For twenty years, Tazewell was a prominent figure in the Norfolk City Council. He was frequently urged to run for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, but he consistently refused.
Tazewell married his wife, the former Mary Louise Walke (1856–1923) on November 6, 1883. He died on July 15, 1918, one day short of his seventieth birthday and was buried in the family square in Elmwood Cemetery, near the grave of his cousin Frederick Southgate Taylor. A monument gives simple details of birth, marriage and death.
External links
- Pi Kappa Alpha at www.pka.org
- Pikes.org - Feature Story at www.pikes.org