[3][4] In 1849, Sargent sailed to California during the gold rush on the passenger ship Edward Everett, which came around the Cape Horn in July 1849 and disembarked in San Francisco.

[1][5][4] In 1850, he joined his three brothers and entered the cattle business in Weaverville, California, in the San Joaquin Valley, under the name of "Sargent Brothers=".

[5][1] They had four children, including Bradley V. Sargent Jr., who became a Monterey County judge and district attorney.

[3][4] The Sargent Brothers acquired and developed sizable holdings in San Joaquin, Santa Clara, and Monterey counties.

[4][5] Sargent was engaged in politics within the Democratic Party, serving for multiple terms as county supervisor, from 1885 to 1887.

[9][10] Sargent died on February 27, 1893, at his Monterey residence, from pneumonia contracted while driving cattle across the Carmel River to his ranch.