Mike Bryte
Michael Bryte | |
|---|---|
| 11th Sheriff of Sacramento County | |
| In office 1872–1874 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph S. Woods |
| Succeeded by | Hugh McElroy LaRue |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 25, 1828 Ashland County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1887 (age 59) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth |
| Children | 10 |
| Occupation | Sheriff, pioneer, dairy farmer |
Known for | California pioneer |
Michael Bryte (June 25, 1828 – February 3, 1887) was a California pioneer and dairy farmer. He also served two terms as the Sheriff of Sacramento County.
Biography
[edit]Bryte was born in Clear Creek Township, Ashland County, Ohio in 1828.[1] He moved to California in 1849[2] or 1850[3] to find gold but eventually started working for a dairyman named Schaadt, and in 1855 married his daughter Elizabeth.[3] He purchased Schaadt's dairy in 1853 and renamed it Ashland Dairy, which proved to be a successful endeavor in part due to Bryte using California Steam Navigation Company steamships to transport products to other regional markets.[1] By 1879 Bryte owned over 1,500 acres of land and farmed 2,500 acres in Sacramento County.[2][3]
Bryte served on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors,[2] and served two terms as the Sheriff of Sacramento County between 1872 and 1874, beating incumbent sheriff Joseph S. Woods.[4][1][3] During his tenure as Sheriff, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department arrested and hanged notorious stalker and murderer Charles "Mortimer" Flinn.[5]
In 1910,[6] Bryte's son George would sell the family dairy farm, and it would be turned into the community of Riverbank, now known as Bryte, California, named after the family.[1][3][2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "In History's Spotlight". Ancestry.com. Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "History of West Sacramento". City of West Sacramento. City of West Sacramento. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Behind the History of Bryte" (PDF). West Sacramento Historical Society. 2020.
- ↑ "Reel". Facebook. Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ↑ Bernstein, Matthew. "Charles Flinn: The Brutal Murderer Known as 'Mortimer'". HistoryNet. World History Group. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ↑ "6,000 Acres Purchased in Yolo". The Sacramento Bee. 1910-12-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-01-01.