California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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WILLIAM
BARTON BRADFORD A
study of the Bradford genealogy indicates that the family were
identified with the pioneer element in every portion of our country.
Beginning near the shores of the Atlantic they followed the westward
drift of migration and always were to be found in the vanguard of
civilization, developing land, building up villages and aiding in the
transformation of forest or prairie into regions of productivity and
scenic charm. Some remote ancestor had erected a mill on one of the
Connecticut streams and around it were built a few houses, thus starting
a hamlet known as Bradford Mills, but later called merely by the title
of Bradford. There occurred the birth of George Brad- ford in 1790 and
there he early learned lessons of endurance of hard- ship and
self-reliance in labor. The location and period alike precluded
educational opportunities, yet he was fortunate enough to attend a
neighboring school for some years prior to the age of thirteen. After
that his information was gained solely by experience, reading and
observation. When
the great valley of the Mississippi was in the infancy of its
development George Bradford traveled along much of its length and
studied its possibilities. Settling in New Orleans he began to operate
keel boats on the river and for some five years continued to do a
freighting business with his small crafts. At the expiration of that
period he disposed of his interests in the south and settled at
Washington, Daviess county, Ind., where he soon acquired varied
commercial connections. For a time he owned a mill. The distilling
business also engaged his attention. Mercantile pursuits contributed to
the variety of his occupations, while the ownership and cultivation of
land kept him in close touch with the most important occupation of the
county. While living at Washington he met and married Miss Mary Bruce, a
native of Mason, Ky. During 1856 he followed his sons to California and
after having made the trip via Panama to San Francisco he proceeded to
Sacramento, where lie made his home until his death. Born
in Washington, Ind., February 10, 1826, William Barton Bradford spent
the years of boyhood in attendance upon the country schools of the
period and in helping with the work on the home farm. Possibly he might
have settled on an Indiana farm and passed his entire life in that state
had it not been for the discovery of gold in California. As soon as he
had heard the exciting tales brought by messengers from the far-distant
mines he decided to come to the west and the year 1849 found him en
route for Panama, whence he came to San Francisco. His first experience
as a miner occurred at Georgia's bar on the American river in 1850 and
proved not especially encouraging. An unprofitable summer in the mines
was followed by return to San Francisco and a trip on the ocean from
there to Portland, Ore., where he remained for one year, returning in
the fall of 1851 via the Oregon trail to Sacramento, where he bought a
team and engaged in the hauling business with his brother, James B., for
eighteen months, with headquarters at Diamond Springs. An
experience of six years in the teaming business was followed by the
removal of Mr. Bradford to Yankee Jim's, but later he came back to
Sacramento and bought a livery barn on Eighth and K streets. His
ventures had proved so successful that when he resumed mining he had a
large sum with which to work. However, an experience in the mines at
Last Chance proved so disastrous that he lost $45,000 within eighteen
months. It was then necessary to start anew. Dissolving a long-continued
partnership with his brother he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres in
the fall of 1859. During the following year he bought a team, drove to
Aurora and engaged in the general mercantile business for three years.
Following 1864, however, he resided continuously on the ranch which he
bought in 1859 and which lies near Bruceville, Sacramento county,
operating it until liis death, August 17, 1912. A specialty was made of
the grape industry, one hundred and twenty acres being in vineyard and
the balance of the ranch, forty acres, in pasture. To an unusual degree
he met with success in the development of his vineyard and the sale of
the annual product. The reputation of his grapes extended throughout the
surrounding country and the crop always commanded the highest market
prices. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |