Circa 1890, he dropped out of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, owing to his father's business going bankrupt. After returning to North Carolina, he was a public school teacher for about a year, and soon thereafter opened a drug store in New Bern named the "Bradham Drug Company" that, like many other drug stores of the time, also housed a soda fountain.
This drug store, located on the corner of Middle Street and Pollock Street in downtown New Bern, is where Bradham, on August 28, 1898, invented the recipe—a blend of kola nut extract, vanilla, and "rare oils" -- for what was initially known as "Brad's Drink," but that soon was renamed Pepsi-Cola. Bradham named his drink after a combination of the terms “pepsin” and “cola,” as he believed that his drink aided digestion much like the pepsin enzyme does, even though it was not used as an ingredient. His assistant James Henry King was the first to taste the new drink.
On December 24, 1902, the Pepsi-Cola Company was incorporated in North Carolina, with Bradham as the president, and on June 16, 1903 the first Pepsi-Cola trademark was registered. Also in 1903, he moved his Pepsi-Cola production out of his drug store and into a rented building nearby. In 1905, Bradham began selling Pepsi-Cola in six-ounce bottles (up until this time he sold Pepsi-Cola as a syrup only), and awarded two franchises to North Carolina bottlers.
On January 1, 1901, Bradham married Charity Credle in New Bern, North Carolina.
Bradham was elected steward of St. John's (Masons') Lodge No. 3 in 1895[citation needed]; he was later elected or appointed junior warden in 1898, senior warden in 1899, and Worshipful Master in 1900, 1901, and again in 1927.[citation needed] By the time of his death, Bradham had attained the 32nd degree of Scottish Rite, acted as grand commander in the York Rite, served as provincial grand master of the Order of Colonial Masters of North America, recorder and treasurer of the Sudan Shrine Temple, eminent commander of St. John's Commandery, and master kadosh of Carolina Consistory No. 3.[1] He also served as an exalted ruler of the New Bern Elks Lodge.[citation needed]
In addition to running his drug store, he served as the president of the People’s Bank of New Bern, and was a chairman of the Craven County Board of Commissioners. At one point he was even suggested as a candidate for governor of North Carolina. He also served as an officer in the naval reserve for 25 years; he was named a lieutenant in the North Carolina Naval Militia, was promoted to commander in 1904, and to captain in 1913. He retired as a rear admiral. Additionally, in 1914 he was appointed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to the General Naval Militia Board.[2]
At the peak of success, Bradham had authorized Pepsi-Cola franchises in over 24 states; however, on May 31, 1923, Bradham and his Pepsi-Cola Company declared bankruptcy. The major factor for Bradham’s business failure was the price of sugar immediately following World War I, when prices went up to 28 cents per pound (it was three cents per pound pre-war), and Bradham had purchased a large amount of sugar at that price but the price of sugar nosedived soon after he purchased it. The assets of his company were sold to the Craven Holding Company for $35,000. After declaring bankruptcy, Bradham returned to operating his drug store.
Bradham died on February 19, 1934, after succumbing to a long-term illness. His funeral was held at New Bern's First Presbyterian Church, of which Bradham was a member. He is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New Bern; Masonic rites were administered at his graveside, and the pallbearers were from his Masonic lodge.
Nicholas Sparks, a fiction author who lives in New Bern, mentioned Mr. Bradham in his book Bend in the Road.