San Diego County
Biographies
COLONEL G. G. BRADT.
Among the self-made men, and the active, energetic workers who have made San Diego what it is, the subject of our sketch takes high rank. He was born at Bethlehem, Albany County, New York, November 18, 1827. His early life was passed in the city of Albany, living with a married sister, and improving such educational privileges as were granted by the high school.
He then filled the position of clerk in a broker's office for a short time, but having caught the California fever with enthusiasm he left Albany, December 1, 1850, for California, taking steamer from New York to Aspinwall, then across the Isthmus to Panama, and there, on account of detentions, he remained until April, 1851; then taking the Old Columbia, with 1,000 passengers, they arrived at San Francisco, May 16, 1851, after a passage of twenty-six days. He there engaged in the jewelry business for one and a half years, and then visited the gold mines, but after prospecting for a few months he returned to San Francisco, and for many years was engaged very extensively in the dray and lightering business. He was instrumental in fitting out a Gold Beach mining expedition for the Oregon coast, and went with the party. After six months spent in search for gold there, he returned to San Francisco and went in the grain brokerage business, which he continued several years. Mr. Bradt was prominently connected with the Vigilance Committee of 1856, an organization of 6,000 members, which were instrumental in regulating the affairs of the entire State. They held secret meetings and punished many evil-doers, which had a very salutary effect. Mr. Bradt was prominently connected with the city government in San Francisco until 1869, when he came to San Diego, arriving May 3, on the steamer Orizaba, at that time a very popular steamer.
He at once started in the hotel business as proprietor of the old San Diego Hotel, corner of F and State streets, at that time the only hotel in town; but after five months of continuance, sold out and launched into the real-estate business, becoming sole agent for Mannasse & Schiller's addition and other very valuable and prominent property, doing a thriving and prosperous business, continuing until 1877. He then opened the well-known house of Bradt & Sons, in groceries and general merchandise, on the corner of Fifth and D streets, which is row being conducted by his son and son-in-law, while Mr. Bradt is more particularly interesting himself in conducting a wholesale commission business, at present located in the Bradt block, on Fifth street, between A and B, his residence being at the corner of Fifth and A streets. Mr. Bradt has served three terms as president of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now a member. He is also president of one of the boards of the Common Council, and is generally conceded to be one of the best and most efficient officers the city has ever had. The Colonel has taken great interest in the solution of the water question, and is recognized as the originator of the absolutely-free-water idea, and maintains that the city should own its own water supplies and distributing pipes. He is chairman of the Special Water Committee, appointed by the Mayor, and a better selection could not be made, as he is one of the best informed men on the water question in San Diego; and the reduction of the present exorbitant water tax to that of a more reasonable rating will be through the instrumentality of that committee of which he is chairman.
Mr. Bradt was married in San Francisco in 1857 to Mrs. Sarah A. Warren, nee Hood. They have five children, of whom four survive, two sons and two daughters, all grown and well known in this community. Mrs. Bradt is a lady of sterling qualities, retiring in characteristics but benevolent in all works of charity and philanthropy. Colonel Bradt is now a well-preserved gentleman of sixty-two years, being a leading citizen and interested in all growth and advancement of the city's and the county's prosperity.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 294-295
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
SAMUEL M. TYSON
is one of Oceanside's pioneers, and was born in Lamar County, Texas, November 15, 1843. His father, John W. Tyson, a native of North Carolina, was born January 19, 1810. His grandfather, Cornelius Tyson, was also a North Carolinian. Mr. Tyson's mother was Elizabeth McClellan. She was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, December 19, 1812, and was married in 1836, and was the mother of three children, two boys and one daughter. The subject of this sketch was the second son. His school days and boyhood experiences were like those of other boys, at home with his father. At this time the quiet of farm life was interrupted by the great civil war. Being a young Southerner, he enlisted in Company A, Third Regiment Texas Cavalry, and saw first service under General Van Dorn, then under the command of Price, then of Beauregard, and finally under Hood and Dick Taylor. He served three years and fifteen days, and was neither wounded nor in hospital during that time. He saw much hard fighting. In the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862, there were 300 men in his regiment, and in two hours 115 of their number were either killed or wounded. The next battle was the second battle of Corinth, October 1 and 2. At its commencement they had 150 men, but lost sixty killed and wounded, leaving ninety men, or less than one-third of their number. They then fell back in Mississippi, were remounted, and under General Van Dorn they captured Holly Springs, Mississippi, and took all the supplies in the rear of General Grant, and caused him to fall back to Memphis. The next fighting was around Vicksburg, and consisted of several minor engagements under Joseph E. Johnston. They were about to cut their way through to relieve the garrison when Vicksburg surrendered. From there they went to middle Tennessee, and had numerous fights around Columbia and Franklin. The principal battle was fought at Thompson's Station. With 3,000 cavalry they captured 3,000 infantry.
From there they came back to Mississippi, and had numerous little fights around Yazoo City, and then marched to Georgia, and at Rome went on the left wing of the army, and was engaged in fighting nearly every day. General Hood took command, and they followed him through Tennessee and back into north Mississippi. February 21, 1865, half of his regiment received a sixty days' furlough. He went home to Van Zandt County, Texas, and when he came back the war had come to a close. He then returned home and engaged in the peaceable pursuit of farming. In 1878 he moved to Wills Point and opened a general store. January 1, 1883, he came to Los Angeles, and January 19, 1883, he drove over the hills with his family in a wagon, to Oceanside, and located the Government claim that is now known as Bryan & Tyson's addition to Oceanside. Mr. Meyers was the only settler in advance of him, and Mr. Tyson is entitled to the honor of being the second settler. Mr. Meyers' house was a shanty, and Mr. Tyson built a house 14 x 28, with a lean-to, so he has the credit of building the first house in Oceanside. In 1883–'84 he set out five acres to raisin grapes, and in 1885 gathered quite a crop of grapes. Although not a carpenter by trade, he built his own house, and since that several others. He is now improving a 160-acre ranch, twelve miles southeast of Oceanside, on the coast. It is designed for a general farm—grain and fruit. He has built a house and barn on it.
He was married in 1874 to Miss Amelia Jane Hamm, of Van Zandt County, Texas. She lived only five years, and left a daughter, Edna, born in Rains County, Texas, September 1, 1876. He was again united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Christen, a native of Adams County, Indiana, and born in 1855. They have one child, John Robert, born in Oceanside, September 30, 1889. Mr. Tyson is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Baptist Church, a member of the school board, and a man of strict integrity. Two of his nephews and his mother reside with him. He has so conducted his life that he has the good word and good will of his fellow-citizens.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 295-296
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler