Biographical Sketch of Stephen N. Bradford, De Kalb County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888,
				Goodspeed Publishing Company

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Stephen N. Bradford, a proprietor and owner of the Bradford Hotel in
Stewartsville, is a native of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, PA., born
in April, 1823.  His father, Samuel Bradford, was a native of New
Hampshire, and a brother to Gov. Bradford.  At the age of fourteen,
Stephen N. was sent to Belvidere, Warren County, N.J., to learn the
printer's trade, but the confinement of the office being distateful to 
him he was permitted to leave his trade.  Taking his little bundle of 
clothes and a few days' rations, he started from his New Jersey home 
to the Wyoming Valley.  He labored there in different capacities for
about a year, then left for Sag Harbor, N. Y., for a whaling voyage.
He left on the "Manhattan" in August, 1838, for the Cape of Good Hope.
After seven years on the ocean he returned to the Wyoming Valley, PA.,
where he remained until the call was made for troops to go in the 
Mexican army.  He was the first to enlist in Maj. Bowman's company of
volunteers, but was taken sick, and could not muster in.  As soon as 
health permitted, he went to Baltimore, and enlisted in the Valtiguers
as a private, but returned a lieutenant, having been promoted for
meritorious conduct.  Thus in eleven years he had sailed around the
world, being wrecked three times, and once cast away on an unknown
island in the Pacific Ocean for seven months.  Here he built a ship
out of the fragments of the wreck, and assisted in taking thousands
of barrels of oil, but lost nearly all by shipwrecks.  He had also 
taken an active part in the wars of his country, which was honorably
acknowledged by the Government, and returned to his native State at
the age of twenty-four years.  Remaining at home a short time, the
cry of gold in California soon aroused the bold adventurer, and the
year 1849 found him on board the whaler "Huntress" as ship carpenter.
The ship was wrecked on the coast of Kamschatka.  He shipped again
on a sperm whaler from Honolulu, and landed on the island Juan
Fernandez.  At the first opportunity he took a ship for San Francisco,
CA., where he arrived in January, without either hat or coat, and only
$3.50 in his pocket.  He went to Sacramento City, where he was employed
as house carpenter at $7 per day.  He soon formed a partnership, and
made a large sum of money, with which he and his partner purchased a
drove of cattle and more than doubled their money, but after purchasing
the second and much larger drove, a stampede caused the loss of nearly
all, leaving them their saddle horses and $30 apiece.  He then spent
eight months in the mountains, during which time he enlisted in a 
company fighting the Indians.  Returning to Sacramento, he and his old
partner went to "Yankee Jim's Dry Diggings" where they purchased pro-
perty, upon which they built a hotel and sold it.  Again returning to
Sacramento City, they took 150 acres of land, and started a stock market,
which was sold in a short time for $30,000.  Mr. Bradford left for home
with $15,000.  Upon reaching home he bought a farm and hotel, which he
sold in two years, and returned to California, but remained a short time
when he again returned home.  When President Lincoln called for troops
he opened a recruiting office in Scranton, PA., and soon raised a company
of men, with himself as captain, but upon the organization of the regiment
(Fifteenth Pennsylvania Infantry) he was elected major.  At the expiration
of three months' service he raised another company, which was assigned to
the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he afterward became
major.  He did gallant service at the battle of Shiloh, and many others,
and at the head of his regiment received the surrender of Col. Battle, of
the Twentieth Tennessee.  The day after the battle of Perryville, KY., he
was captured, and after being kept prisoner about four months, was ex-
changed but rheumatism prevented him from returning to the war.  He was
appointed provost-marshal of the Twelfth Congressional District of Penn-
sylvania, whih office he filled in a satisfactory manner.  In 1841 he was
united in marriage with Miss Adelia Wedeman.  Three sons and one daughter
are the survivors of this union.  His wife died in Waymart, PA., in 1854.
On June 20, 1865, he chose for his second wife Miss Sarah Fisher.  She
died on May 12, 1874, leaving him two sons.  On April 12, 1879, he was
united in marriage with Miss Jane S. Berry.  In 1865 he engaged in the
livery business in Scranton, PA., where he remained about two years.  He
then bought the National Hotel at Great Bend, PA., for $25,000, and after
running it two years sold it for $30,000.  In 1869 he came to De Kalb
County, MO., and bought 240 acres of land, upon which he built an elegant
residence, but at the expiration of two years he rented his farm, and went
to Grand Rapids, Mich.  After spending eight years in the real estate
business, he returned to De Kalb County, and built another nice residence,
but in two years purchased his present hotel.  He has given four of his
children good farms.  In the last ten years he has traveled considerably
in the West.  Politically he is a Republican.

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