Bradish Johnson was born in Islip, Suffolk County, New York, into a wealthy Long Island farming family. He was the son of John Dean Johnson and Hellen M. Wederstrandt. He was the second of their five sons and one daughter. He attended the Naval Academy, but left before graduating and started what would be his lifetime of work at sea. He arrived in Key West in 1882, where his wrecking career began in earnest. Within the year, he met and married Irene Bethel, the oldest daughter of Olivia Archer and Charles Walter Bethel. The couple was married October 16, 1883 and went on to spend over 30 tumultuous years together. Their last home was on Whitehead Street. They lived in the two story white house at 303 Whitehead, and used a second house at 305 Whitehead to store their treasures. Bradish was one of the most colorful and successful wrecking captains of the late 1800s and early 1900s, earning the nickname "Hog" Johnson for his zeal in being the first to reach and claim a wreck. He is referred to as "a great wrecker β in one way at least the greatest in Key West." Substantive biographical sketches appear in: Gilpin, Vincent, "Bradish W. Johnson, Master Wrecker," Tequesta, Vol. I, No. 1 (1941), 21-32; Shepard, Birse, Lore of the Wreckers, Boston: Beacon Press, 1961, Chapter 20; and Viele, John, The Florida Keys Volume 3 The Wreckers, Sarasota: Pineapple Press, 2001. Β©2010 by Claudia Naugle
Bradish Johnson was born in Islip, Suffolk County, New York, into a wealthy Long Island farming family. He was the son of John Dean Johnson and Hellen M. Wederstrandt. He was the second of their five sons and one daughter. He attended the Naval Academy, but left before graduating and started what would be his lifetime of work at sea. He arrived in Key West in 1882, where his wrecking career began in earnest. Within the year, he met and married Irene Bethel, the oldest daughter of Olivia Archer and Charles Walter Bethel. The couple was married October 16, 1883 and went on to spend over 30 tumultuous years together. Their last home was on Whitehead Street. They lived in the two story white house at 303 Whitehead, and used a second house at 305 Whitehead to store their treasures. Bradish was one of the most colorful and successful wrecking captains of the late 1800s and early 1900s, earning the nickname "Hog" Johnson for his zeal in being the first to reach and claim a wreck. He is referred to as "a great wrecker β in one way at least the greatest in Key West." Substantive biographical sketches appear in: Gilpin, Vincent, "Bradish W. Johnson, Master Wrecker," Tequesta, Vol. I, No. 1 (1941), 21-32; Shepard, Birse, Lore of the Wreckers, Boston: Beacon Press, 1961, Chapter 20; and Viele, John, The Florida Keys Volume 3 The Wreckers, Sarasota: Pineapple Press, 2001. Β©2010 by Claudia Naugle
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