FOUNDING FATHER: Clayton Vecellio of Lewis Run recently visited the grave of Bradford founder Daniel Kingsbury and his wife Ruby Kingsbury.

Clayton noted that while a sign at the grave site says it was restored in 2016 by Eagle Scout Andrew Amacher of Troop 412, he would love to see more people step up to take care of the site.

“It seems to me it would be a good project for a local group of 7 or 8 civic minded individuals to show some pride for the founding father of Bradford, Pa.,” said Clayton.He explained he had a little trouble walking to the grave site, which he said “is 200 feet west of South Avenue up at the end of Wildwood Avenue. Very easy to drive to. But hard to walk up the 50 or so feet to the grave itself.”

Here is a photo of the site with Clayton’s wife, Gloria.

According to the Bradford Landmark Society website, Kingsbury, “who was a stockholder of the Land Company, made a purchase from it in 1851, of an area of 60,000 acres in and around Bradford. He came to Bradford, established headquarters, offices and bank, and proceeded vigorously to develop this immense tract.” It was a need for postal facilities, in part due to Kingsbury’s growing business activity, that prompted the naming of Bradford. Bradford was the name of the New Hampshire town from which McKean County settler John Melvin came from.

Clayton also tells us about some visitors he recently had. “On 10-22-16 two small baby bobcats appeared in my backyard playing and boxing with each other like kittens.” They played for a few minutes and left.

The bobcat mother stopped by the next afternoon. “She pranced around the same area as the little ones for a few minutes and left in the same direction as the little ones the day before.”