Served as mayor: December 1, 1896–November 30, 1898

William Theodore Bradford was born in Caldwell County, North Carolina, to Tipton and Nancy Baird Bradford. When he was a young man, he moved to Cowpens, South Carolina, where he learned agency work for the Southern Railway. He then moved to Kings Mountain to work in the same type of position for the Southern Railway. He stayed in this position for many years. After serving his term as mayor, he accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Enterprise Mills. He left Kings Mountain for a few years and worked as a farmer. He eventually moved back and became the bookkeeper for the Cora Mills and then on to Phoenix Mill, where he was working at the time of his death.

William was married to his wife, Eliza Black Bradford, for 19 years before his death. The couple had eight children, seven of which were still alive at the time of his death.

William Theodore Bradford passed away at the age of 57.