Stillwater Valley News
April 6, 1928

HELPED TO DEVELOP BRADFORD VILLAGE

Late Nathan Iddings Was Active in All Town Affairs

Nathan Iddings, 87, native of Miami County, and leading citizen of Bradford for a half century, who died Tuesday night at his home on N. Main Street, Dayton, where he had resided the last several years after retiring from active life, was one of the early residents of Bradford and took a foremost part in the development of that village. He was active in all civic affairs and for many years practically dominated the business and political life of the community. Mr. Iddings was born on a farm near Pleasant Hill, March 17, 1841, the son of David and Sarah Iddings. He was reared on the farm and educated in the county schools. He later took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1862. For the next 35 years he followed the business of court reporting, serving as court reporter in 10 different counties in this section of the state. He served Miami Co. in that capacity for some years and is said to have reported the first trial in shorthand in Miami Co. which Judge Williams presided over.

He opened the first general store in Bradford in 1862 and was instrumental in having the village incorporated and the school district established in the late sixties. He was a member of the first board of education of the village. In 1893 he organized the Bradford bank and was its president for many years. He was also attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for more than 30 years.

Mr. Iddings accumulated much property during his long and active career and at one time is to have owned nearly 2,000 acres of land located largely in the western part of Miami Co. and the eastern part of Darke Co. In recent years he had disposed of considerable of his land but still had large holdings at the time of his death. He also owned much real estate in Bradford.

He is survived by his widow, Nan Iddings, and two grandchildren, Mildred and Sarah Iddings