Santa Clara County
Biographies
BRADLEY
SMITH
BRADLEY SMITH. This
veteran of the Civil war, who was one of the pioneers of Santa Clara county,
and for many years has made his home here, is a descendant of one of the oldest
families of Maine, and was himself born in that far eastern state, Calais,
Washington county, being his native place, and January 20, 1841, the date of
his birth. His father, George Stillman Smith, a
native of Maine, conducted a general mercantile store in Calais for a long
period, remaining a resident of that place until he died in 1850. In early life
he embraced the Congregational religion and ever afterward retained his
connection with that church. In politics he supported the Whig party, which did
not permanently disintegrate until after his death. For a wife he chose Miss
Elizabeth Page Bradley, who was born in Cumberland county, Me., and now, at the
age of eighty-seven years (1904) makes her home in Sandusky, Ohio, retaining
her physical and mental faculties to an unusual degree considering her great
age. She was a daughter of Rev. Caleb Bradley, who was born in Dracut,
Mass., in 1792, and during the war of 1812 served as a chaplain of a militia
regiment stationed at what was then Falmouth now Portland, Me. The genealogy of
the Bradley family is traced back to Hannah Dustin, of Revolutionary renown.
In a family consisting
of four sons and four daughters Bradley Smith was third in order of birth.
After he had completed the studies of the common schools he attended the
Westbrook Academy, where he availed himself of every opportunity offered for
the acquisition of knowledge. Having his own way to make in the world from an
early age, he worked on an uncle’s farm from the time he was sixteen, and was
thus occupied when the Civil war began. In August, 1861, he enlisted as a
member of Company G, Ninth Maine Infantry, and was mustered into the Union
service as second sergeant, from which he was promoted to be orderly sergeant
and sergeant-major. In 1863 he was raised to the rank of second lieutenant, and
during the same year became first lieutenant of Company A, in which capacity
he took command of the men in several charges. During the battle of Bermuda
Hundred he was wounded in both arms by minie-balls
and his wounds forced him to remain in the hospital at Fortress Monroe for a
considerable period.
During the progress of
the war the young lieutenant was given a fifteen days’ furlough, which he
utilized by returning to the north, and March 5, 1864, in Ohio,
became the husband of Miss Sophronia Shaw,
a native of Maine. From Ohio he returned to his regiment and continued in active
service until he received the serious injuries previously mentioned. When able
to leave the hospital he was still in an almost helpless condition, unfit for
active duty at the front, and therefore was honorably discharged. Returning to
Maine he gradually regained his strength and, as soon as able, took up farm
work once more. During 1866 he went to Illinois and for a year engaged in the
sheep business in Ford county, but not liking the location sold out and
returned to New England. In 1869 he left the east permanently and came to
California, settling in the Willows district, Santa Clara county, where he
bought five acres on Pine avenue, to which he subsequently added by purchase.
This tract he planted in trees, making of it a valuable and productive orchard.
For thirty-three years he made his home on the same property. In the spring of
1903 he settled on his present place on Minnesota avenue, San Jose, where he
has a small, but well-kept and attractive homestead. On this property he and
his wife live quietly and happily, enjoying the friendship of neighbors and the
esteem of associates. Though not active in politics, he is stanch in his
support of the Republican party. The days of his army service are commemorated
through his membership in the Phil Sheridan Post No. 7,
G. A. R., of which at one time he officiated as commander.
Fraternally he is associated with the Loyal Legion of the United States in San
Francisco and friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., of
his home city.
Mr. Smith has engaged
to a considerable extent in the buying and selling of real estate and has been
quite successful in his operations. At present he owns about thirty acres of
full bearing orchard in Santa Clara county, on which prunes are principally
raised.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
19 April 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 461. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.