USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee from its first settlement to the year 1895 > Part 64
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John Bradford was the first of the sons to find his way into the Northwest and his early associa- tions were with one of the most famous of Western men.
Born in New Boston, October 15, 1815, he was educated in the schools of that town and while still quite young went to Amherst where he engaged as clerk in a merchandising establishment. From there he went to Philadelphia where he was em- ployed in the same capacity.
In 1839, Zachariah Chandler, who endeared himself to the people of the United States in later years as a statesman and patriot, was a merchant in the city of Detroit. A native of Bedford, New Hampshire, Mr. Chandler had for many years been acquainted with Rev. Ephraim P. Bradford, and on the occasion of one of his visits to New England, he called on his old friend and requested him to allow one of his sons to come West and take a place in his mercantile establishment in Detroit. In pursuance of this request and at the suggestion of his father, John Bradford came with Mr. Chandler to Detroit in 1839 and for six or seven years thereafter was intimately associated with him. His relations with Chandler during much of this time were of a confidential charac- ter and the conduct and management of the busi- ness devolved upon him in the absence of the distinguished head of the firm.
While in this employ Mr. Bradford became thoroughly conversant with the conditions of trade and commerce in the Northwest, and having acquired valuable experience and accumulated some capital he naturally enough became ambi- tious to begin business on his own account.
Looking about for a location he selected Mil- waukee, and in 1844, in company with his brother Joseph, he came here and established the whole- sale and retail dry goods house of Bradford Brothers. The business of the firm soon grew to large proportions and the brothers became widely known as merchants of high character and esti- mable qualities of mind and heart. Known to everybody in the city, as were all the merchants of Milwaukee forty years ago, they were greatly liked because of their kindliness, their geniality and generosity, and they were quite commonly spoken of by their contemporaries of that period as the "Cheeryble Brothers," on account of a real or fancied resemblance to those charming characters -the employers and benefactors of Nickolas Nickleby-whom Charles Dickens sketched from real life. When we call to mind the fact that Dickens described the twin brothers as men " whose liberal charity, singleness of heart, noble
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natures and broad benevolence prompted them every day to some generous deed," we can appre- ciate the compliment paid to the Bradford Brothers by their friends and associates among the business men of Milwaukee a generation since.
John Bradford continued to be associated with his brother in business until 1858 when he retired from the firm. At a later date he was for several years at the head of the carpet house of Bradford & Stark, was the second president of the Board of Trade, and vice-president of the National Ex- change Bank, but did not participate actively in business. Having accumulated a comfortable for- tune, he retired from business other than giving attention to his investments, while still a com- paratively young man, and died at his home in Milwaukee, May 3, 1879.
In 1850 he married Miss Elizabeth Sewell Nor- ris, of Boston, who died some years later, and in 1861 he was married to Mrs. Henrietta Badgely, who survived him but a few weeks. The son and daughter of his second wife, for whom he cher- ished a fatherly regard, are the only members of his immediate family now living, and neither are residents of this city.
Following in the footsteps of his father, he was a Presbyterian in his religious faith, and during the later years of his life was a member of Emanuel Church.
JOSEPH T. BRADFORD, the junior mem- ber of the firm of Bradford Brothers, when it was first established, was born in New Boston, New Hampshire, March 5, 1824. His early education was thorough, but, as in the case of his elder brother, it was necessary for him to leave school when he had acquired sufficient knowledge to qualify him for commer- cial pursuits. Leaving home as a boy he first went to Boston, where he found employment as clerk in a store. His brother John having come West as far as Detroit, a correspondence was kept up between them which impressed him with the re- sources and advantages of the country, and when an opportunity offered to join the army of young New England men at that time moving Westward, he quickly took advantage of it.
Entering Mr. Chandler's store in Detroit he had an opportunity there of familiarizing himself with the business of what was at that time one of the largest merchandising establishments in the West. Detroit was then the city of greatest consequence
in what was known as the lake region, and its trade extended over a wide area of territory. It was practically the metropolis of the Northwest and no other town or city of this region afforded the same facilities for acquiring thorough familiarity with the resources of a vast region, the development of which had just begun.
Mr. Bradford's training while in the employ of Mr. Chandler was therefore such as to admirably qualify him for merchandising on his own account, and when he came to Milwaukee in 1844 he had valuable capital in the experience which he had gained.
When the brothers began business here, the wholesale trade was in its infancy, and whether or not it could be profitably conducted in so young a town was a question. Milwaukee was just emerg- ing from the trading post stage of its existence and the starting of a wholesale dry goods house here was therefore in the nature of an experi- mental venture. Close attention to business, however, and keen mercantile instincts enabled the brothers to build up almost immediately a thriv- ing trade which increased in volume until the firm took a leading place among the pioneer merchan- dising establishments of the Northwest. Joseph T. Bradford became senior member and recog- nized head of the firm after the retirement of his brother John and in company with his brother James continued the business under the same firm name and style until within a few years of his death which occurred June 28, 1883. During the later years of his life he was not engaged actively in business but a connection of more than twenty- five years with the mercantile interests of the city made him a conspicuous figure among the old merchants of Milwaukee.
Personally, Mr. Bradford was much esteemed by all classes of people. No more genial, kindly spirit than his impressed itself upon the history of the pioneer period. Coupled with goodness of heart he had business tact and sagacity, unswerv- ing integrity, a strict regard for all the proprie- ties of life, and a correct conception of the duties of good citizenship.
Soon after coming to Milwaukee he married Miss Fannie E. Rogers, a daughter of the distin- guished pioneer, James H. Rogers, and his widow and their sons, James R., Robert C. and Fred B. Bradford, still reside in this city.
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE.
JAMES A. BRYDEN was one of the young men who came to this city within the decade which immediately preceded the war period, whose business, social and official relations have since made him one of the well-known citizens of Milwaukee. Of Scotch nativity, Mr. Bryden was born at Bankside, near Lockerby, in Dum- friesshire, July 3, 1835. His father, John Bryden, was a thrifty and intelligent Scotch farmer, who married Agnes Carrouthers. Both the Bryden and Carrouthers families have been prominent in Scotland for generations, and some of his ancestors shed lustre on the name he bears in the old-time wars, in which they fought bravely to repel invasion and maintain Scottish rights and Scottish nationality.
The elder Bryden emigrated to this country in 1840, and settled on a farm in the town of Kirk- land, Oneida county, New York, where he reared a family of twelve sturdy sons and daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. James A. Bryden was five years of age when the family removed to the United States, and his education, begun in the infant school of his native town, was continued in the common schools of New York state. What he learned at the public schools was supplemented by a course of study in the Clinton Liberal Insti- tute, one of the old-time academies designed to fit students for college, in which institution he acquired a knowledge of the higher mathematics and completed a fair English education. A marked fondness for athletic sports and games was one of his distinguishing characteristics in early boyhood. An active participant in these healthful and recreative amusements in his yonth and young manhood, he has manifested the same zealous interest in them in later years as a patron and president of the Milwaukee Curling Club and the St. Andrew's Society. Mr. Bryden probably did more than any other man to organize the Mil- waukee Curling Club and was for many years the "skip" chosen to lead the champion rink in its matches with other clubs. Perhaps the greatest triumph ever won by the curlers of the United States was under his lead. It was in the great international bonspiel at Montreal in February of 1885. The prize was a splendid gold medal, pre- sented by Hon. Robert Gordon, of New York, to be competed for by the United States against Canada. A rink of four great curlers was made up to represent the Dominion, one from Toronto,
one from Cobourg, one from Fredrickton and one from Quebec, while Mr. Bryden met them with four of the Milwaukee Club and defeated them twenty-three to thirteen. At the Curling Club banquets, Mr. Bryden has always contributed much to the entertainment by his speeches and recitations and more than once has he celebrated the victories of his club in original verse. The same may be said also of his presence at the ban- quets of the St. Andrew's Society, where more than once he has given with great effect Burn's "Ad- dress to the Haggis" and "Tam O'Shanter." At the annual games of the St. Andrew's Society Mr. Bryden was for years the leading spirit, and many times carried off more prizes than any other athlete on the ground.
Another feature of his early life has influenced the tastes and habits of later years. His father engaged successfully in stock farming in New York state, and the son grew up with a strong liking for domestic animals of all kinds. Good horses have, as a natural consequence, been es- pecially attractive to him, and he has not allowed himself to be deprived of the pleasure of owner- ship through living in a city.
He has always evidenced a thorough knowl- edge of practical farming in all its details. Soon after he came to Milwaukee the State Agricul- tural Society gave a handsome prize to the best ploughman. The contest took place in a field near Milwaukee and Mr. Bryden's friends persuaded him to enter the lists. The result was that the young Scotsman from Utica distanced all competitors and carried off the prize.
Leaving school in 1857, Mr. Bryden came west to begin life on his own account and first found employment in this city as clerk in a flour and feed store at the corner of Grand avenue and Second streets. His salary was thirty dollars a month, and that he husbanded his resources is proven by the fact that at the end of six months he had one hundred dollars.
Having obtained considerable knowledge of the business in which he had served this apprentice- ship, he launched out on his own account, start- ing with his one hundred dollars capital a small flour and feed store on the South side. The busi- ness prospered and after a time he moved into more commodious quarters at the corner of Lake and Reed streets. From there he removed to
James a. Bydlení
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West Water street, and a little later built a double brick store on that street, in which for several years he carried on an extensive business as a commission merchant.
In 1884, he bought what was known as the old Helfenstein warehouse on Erie street, and was engaged extensively in the warehouse and com- mission business until 1892, when he sold out and retired from active participation in trade with a snug fortune, accumulated as a result of thirty- . five years of intelligent, well directed effort.
As a business man, Mr. Bryden has been con- spicuous for his tenacity of purpose, correct meth- ods and strict integrity. The pyrotechnics of business, or perhaps it would be better to say pyro- technical methods of doing business, have had no attraction for him, and the good old Scotch sys- tem of economics has governed him in all his trade operations. Although he has been for many years an active member of the Chamber of Com- merce, and has traded extensively in grain and other products, his operations have been in real commodities and in no sense speculative ventures. He has served with great efficiency on some of the most important committees of the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1890 he went abroad and spent several months visiting the different countries of Europe. He visited New Orleans in 1891, as a delegate from the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce to the National Board of Trade meeting, and he has traveled extensively in California and other parts of the United States.
A staunch Republican in politics, believing in its principles and policies from conviction, he has interested himself actively in promoting the suc- cess of that party, but has had no taste for either the honors or emoluments of office holding. In 1894, however, at the solicitation of many friends and neighbors, he accepted the Republican nomi- nation for alderman in the Seventh ward, was elected, has served on important committees, and in other capacities has rendered valuable services to his constituents and the general public of Mil- waukee.
His attachment to the land of his nativity, and to the customs and traditions of his ancestry, has been manifested in his connection with the various Scottish societies of the city and his liberality to any of his needy countrymen who asked his aid, while his devotion to his adopted country
and city have been evidenced in his business enter- prise and good citizenship.
ROBERT WILLIAMS PIERCE was born in Bnekland, Franklin county, Massachusetts, Febru- ary 14, 1821, son of Richard and Sarah Pierce. His grandfather, Josiah Pierce, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, was one of the patriots who participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and lived to be ninety-four years of age, being pensioned by the government during the later years of his life. The immigrant ancestor of the family, to which he belonged, came to this country from England in 1632.
R. W. Pierce was brought up in New England, came west in his early manhood, and settled in Milwaukee in 1844, where he engaged first in the manufacture of matches, and later in the lumber trade, with which he has been identified during the greater part of his active business life. He has also for many years been an active operator in real estate, and is now head of the firm of R. W. & O. H. Pierce. He has been an active and enterprising man of affairs, and has also been somewhat prominent in public life. He was elected to the Wisconsin General Assembly in 1882, and served as a member of that body during the years 1883 and 1884, and by re-election during the years 1885 and 1886. As a member of the legislature, he represented the Fourth ward of Milwaukee, was elected as a Republican and has affiliated with that party ever since its organiza- tion. He was at one time a director of the Farmers and Millers' Bank and was also for some years director of the Minerva Iron Company, a corporation which did a large business in this city.
Mr. Pierce married, in 1846, Elizabeth M. Bur- dick, who came to Milwaukee with her parents in 1835. She has now been a resident of the city for over sixty years, and there are few persons living whose residence in Milwaukee dates back to so early a period.
WILLIAM A. PRENTISS was distinguished among the pioneers of Wisconsin for the honora- ble part he bore in laying the foundations of the present splendid commonwealth and for his efforts to build up the city of Milwaukee and promote its welfare; and the distinction which he thus achieved proved him a worthy descendant of his illustrious ancestors. The family to which this noted Wis- consin pioneer belonged is one which began its ex-
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istence in America in 1632, when Capt. Thomas Prentice settled in Newton, Massachusetts. This Capt. Thomas Prentice was born in England, and the family history is traced back to the year 1318, through certain official and other authentic rec- ords. Capt. Prentice was a notable personage among the early colonists of New England, and gained his military title in "King Philip's War," valuable services being rendered by him in sup- pressing the most formidable Indian uprising of the colonial era. Some of his descendants settled at Stonington and others at Norwich, Connecti- cut, and in this way two branches of the family originated in that state. A third branch of the family was established in Maine, to which province -as it was called in those days-one or more of the descendants of Capt. Prentice emigrated early in its history.
From these three branches of the Prentice fam- ily, descendants bearing the name have gone out into all parts of the United States, and so many of them have achieved unusual distinction that the name has long been a familiar one throughout the country. Sargeant S. Prentiss, the renowned ora- tor and poet-lawyer of Mississippi, came of the Maine branch of the family; George D. Prentice, of Louisville, Kentucky, famous as journalist and wit, was descended from the Norwich family, and the Stonington branch gave to the country the distinguished jurist, Samuel Prentiss, chief justice and United States Senator, of Vermont.
William Augustus Prentiss was born in North- field, Massachusetts, March 24, 1800, to Dr. Sam- uel and Lucretia (Holmes) Prentiss. His father was born at Stonington, Connecticut, in 1759, and was the son of Col. Samuel Prentice, with whom he served as surgeon in the Revolutionary War. His great, great grandfather, who was born at Stonington, September 28, 1710, fought in the French and Indian war. He was a son of Samuel Prentiss, who was born about 1680, a son of Thomas Prentiss, who was a son of Capt. Thomas Prentiss, trooper, of Newton, Massachusetts, who was born in England. The family name, which was originally spelled P-r-e-n-t-i-c-e, was changed by the sons of Col. Samuel Prentice to its present form.
Dr. Samuel Prentiss died at his home in North- field, Massachusetts, December 3d, 1818. He served as surgeon through the Revolutionary War and then settled at Worcester, where he was
Secretary of the Medical Association till 1785. About the time of " Shay's Rebellion " he removed to Northfield and was active in support of the government. He had an extensive surgical prac- tice in western Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, being for twenty years the only operating surgeon in that region. His wife, who was a daughter of Captain John Holmes, a wealthy farmer, was born January 14, 1759, and attained the advanced age of eighty-three years, her death occurring September 20, 1841.
William A. Prentiss received a common school and academic education, and while yet a boy engaged in mercantile pursuits, intending to make that his life work. He spent one year with his brother, at Cooperstown, New York, thence went to Albany, where he remained one year, and then spent five years in the employ of Pomeroy. Prior & Brown, of Northfield, Massachusetts. In 1822 he began business for himself in Montpelier, Vermont, and two years later removed to Jericho in the same state, where he was engaged in mer- chandizing until he removed to Milwaukee in 1836. While residing in Jericho he served eight years as chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Overseer of the Poor, was justice of the peace several years, and in 1829 was a member of the Vermont legislature.
In the summer of 1836 he came to Milwaukee, which was at that time a mere village, and a month after his arrival here formed a co-partner- ship with Dr. Lemuel W. Weeks, and engaged in general merchandising in a primitive store room, twenty by forty feet in its dimensions, located on what is now East Water street. This partnership lasted nearly two years, when Mr. Prentiss with- drew from the firm and for many years thereafter gave a large share of his time and attention to the discharge of official duties which he was called npon by the people of Milwaukee and Milwaukee county to perform. Early in 1837 he was appointed by Governor Dodge, Justice of the Peace for Milwaukee county, and the office was one giving him jurisdiction throughout Milwaukee county in both civil and criminal cases. Milwau- kee county at that time comprised the territory which is now embraced in the counties of Milwau- kee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington and Jefferson, and also took in a part of what is now Dodge county. In the early history of the county the position was an important one, and Mr. Pren-
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tiss continued to discharge the duties of the office with marked ability until the organization of the state government in 1848. He was also elected a member of the County Board of Commissioners in 1837 and served three years as chairman of that board. In 1838 he was elected a member of the council, at that time the upper branch of the territorial legislature, and served four years as a member of that body. During the session of 1840 he served as president of the council and wielded throughout his entire term of service an important influence in shaping the legislation of that period, and perfecting the organization of the territorial government. When he made his first trip to Madi- son, to sit as a territorial legislator, the experiences of himself and colleagues were so different in char- acter from the experiences of legislators of the present day, as to be worthy of mention in this connection. Instead of leaving Milwaukee in a palace car, they left here in November of 1838 in an open two horse wagon. The weather was extremely cold, and although the Milwaukee river was frozen over solid enough for foot passengers to cross, it was not safe for teams. It became necessary, therefore, for them to take the horses over one at a time and draw the wagon across the stream by hand. The first night they stopped at a small log house at Muckwanago, where the accommodations were of the most primitive kind and in marked contrast to the hotel accommodations of to-day. The following day they crossed Rock river near where the city of Janesville has since grown up, and two miles fur- ther along on their journey spent the second night in another log cabin. The journey to Madison was completed in another day, a drive of forty miles landing them at the capital at ten o'clock at night. The sessions of the legislature for the first few weeks after its organization were held at the old American House, the House of Repre- sentatives occupying the dining room in the base- ment and the council the sitting-room above. It was under such adverse circumstances that the early legislators of Wisconsin laid the foundations of the state government, and enacted legislation which has developed and built up the splendid institutions of to-day.
It was while Mr. Prentiss was serving as a member of this legislature that the two rival villages, which had then taken the name of Mil- waukee, were consolidated and brought under one
form of government, Mr. Prentiss contributing materially to the bringing about of this result. In 1837 he had been chosen a member of the Board of Trustees of the village of " Milwaukee on the East side," but although his interests were largely in this portion of the city, he took a broad and liberal view of the situation and advocated a policy which would mould the two sections into a har- monious whole, under a system of government which would enable all good citizens to do their utmost for the growth and prosperity of the entire community. During the entire period of the existence of Milwaukee as an incorporated village, he continued to represent his ward as a member of the Board of Trustees, serving several years as chairman of the board and contributing largely through his enterprise and executive ability to the improvement and general upbuilding of the city. After the incorporation of the city in 1846, he served in both branches of the city government, and in 1858 was elected mayor, retiring from that office with the enviable record of having been one of the most capable and effi- cient mayors the city has ever had. In 1866 he was again elected a member of the general assem- bly of Wisconsin, and was re-elected in 1867. He was connected with the city government as a member of the council the greater part of the time up to 1872, when he retired from official life, giving himself up to the enjoyment of his comfortable fortune, devoting himself to his pri- vate business affairs, and to the perusal of choice literature of which he was always a great lover, and of which he was a wide reader in the course of his life.
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