Peter R. Bradbury was born on June 26, 1850, in Montgomery County, Tennessee, to George and Sarah Bradbury. His father was a blacksmith who owned $800 of real estate in 1850. Bradbury grew up in Montgomery County and eventually began working on his family’s farm. By 1870, the family owned $10,000 of real estate and $3,000 of personal property. Bradbury married Molly E. Cummings around 1871, and they had at least four children: Edward, born around 1873; Nora, born around 1876; and Clarence, born around 1879; and Bessie, born around 1882. Bradbury remained in Montgomery County for the rest of his life, passing away there on June 17, 1925.