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John Nicholl Was Born in Antrim, Ireland, November 19,1822. Married Agnes Booth Hodge, also from his home town in Ireland, 1854. They came to California and first purchased land in Rancho San Pablo(now known as Richmond California)in 1857. Nicholl grew bean crops as I understand and continued to buy land in the area, eventually becomming a major land holder.
In 1897 Nicholl sold land to the San Francisco & San JoaquinValley Railroads which later became the Santa Fe railroad.
In 1895 John Nicholl came To Ventura and purchased 1000 acres of land with his son in law Harry F. Clark, who was married to Nicholls daughter Agnes Booth Nicholl. John Nicholl and My Great Grandfather Harry F. Clark helped to introduce lima beans into this county when they planted most of the original 1000 acres in Saticoy in lima beans.
Harry F. Clark and Agnes Booth Clark had two daughters, Irene, and my Grandmother Edna Clark. My Grandmother grew up on the ranch in Saticoy as well as spending time in Richmond, California, and in another home kept by the family in New York. My Grandmother Graduated from Standford University, met and married my Grand father Dr. Charles Clifford Bradbury. They lived half the time at the old ranch in Saticoy where my Grandfather practiced family medicine, and my Grandmother was very active socially and civically, being one of the founding members of the Pointsetta club. They also built the very first home on Camel Back Mountain in Scottsdale Az. They had two daughters, Jean Bradbury Herian, And my Mother, Janice Bradbury, Meiners, Kelsey, Stewart. My Mother went on to Graduate from Stanford University, and eventually settled here in Ventura County. She taught English, and Social Studies at Balboa Junior High School, and was a favorite among her students because of her creativity, and they way she challenged them to learn by often turning english lessons into word puzzles, or history lessons into lavish plays requiring research on costumes or wepons, even food of the time. She was also always very involved in political and civic causes including the civil rights movement being one of only two original white members of the local chapter of the NAACP. She also belonged to the League of Woman voters and was a charter member of The Citizens to Perserve the Upper Ojai. She was a Docent at the Ventura Museum and remained active buy working the phones from her home even after her health had failed to the point that she could no longer get out and anylonger. I am so very proud of my Wonderful mother and since her death December 31, 1996 I find myself wanting to know more about my rich heritage.
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