Paul Bragg

Paul Bragg (February 6, 1895 – December 7, 1976), nutritionist, was a pioneer in America’s wellness movement. And, died on December 7, 1976, South Shore Hospital, Miami, FL.

Early life
Paul Chappius Bragg was born on February 6 1895 in Batesville, Indiana to Robert Elton Bragg & Caroline Josephine Chappius Bragg.

Paul Bragg's paternal grandparents, James H. & Amanda Bragg, can be traced back into Indiana history at least through 1840, while his maternal grandparents, John and Margaret Chappius, were later arrivals to Indiana, having been born in Switzerland & Ohio, respectively. James H. Bragg's occupation was a "miller", while John Chappius was a "stonecutter".

A few years after Paul Bragg's birth, he, his older brother, James Elton Bragg and his parents left Indiana, where his father had been a "printer" in Indianapolis and Batesville, & moved to Washington. D.C., where his father procured a civil service job as a "Compositor" with the G.P.O. (Government Printing Office) in that city. A third son, John H. Bragg, was born in Washington.D.C. on April 8, 1899. Also, apparently, Paul Bragg's mother, Caroline/Carrie, had a previous marriage, & Paul and his brothers may have had an older half-sibling from that marriage, though perhaps not living with the family during their Washington, D.C. years.

The decadial U.S. Census Reports for the years 1900, 1910 and 1920 (by this time, their three sons had left home) show the Robert Elton Bragg Family first residing in apartment houses/rentals at 1102 Capitol Street & then at #6 Quincy Place, Washington, D.C.

After high school, Paul C. Bragg joined the Washington, D,C, National Guard for a 3-year enlistment, where his rank was a "private". (Line 11, 1917 WWI Draft Registration Card).

Paul married an Indiana-born girl by the name of Neva Parnin in New York City in 1915, and at some point, they moved back to  Indiana where they resided at 2435 N. New Jersey Street, Indianapolis & Paul Bragg became an "insurance agent" with The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in that city. (Lines 7 & 8, 1917 WWI Draft Registration Card).

By the time the 1930 U.S. Census took place (which is the last census currently of public record until the 1940 one becomes available in 2012), Paul & Neva Bragg had divorced, & Neva & her new husband, August Busch, were living with the three Bragg children (Lorraine, Neva Polly and Robert Elton) in Los Angeles, CA. There is no record of Paul C. Bragg being counted in the 1930 Census.

Later life
"Modern Day Philosopher" John Demartini writes, on his websites, that he met the then-93 year old Paul Bragg in Hawaii in 1972. This of course puts his date of birth well before 1895. Paul himself claimed to be born in 1881, but official records indicate that he was actually born in 1895.

Healthy Lifestyle Legacy
Bragg advocated using deep breathing, water fasts, organic foods, drinking distilled water, juicing, exercise and listening to one's body as methods of prolonging life span. He believed that every human can live to 120 by living a healthy life. Bragg however died at age 81.

Patricia Bragg who claims to be Paul's daughter has since taken over Bragg's health empire. It seems more likely from official records that she was actually his daughter-in-law.

Some of his achievements
Bragg was the inspiration and personal health and fitness advisor to top Olympic stars from 4-time swimming Gold Medalist Murray Rose to 3-time track Gold Medalist Betty Cuthbert of Australia, his relative (pole-vaulting Gold Medalist), Don Bragg and countless others. Jack LaLanne, the original TV Fitness King said, “Bragg saved my life at age 15 when I attended the Bragg Crusade in Oakland, California.”

Paul Bragg also wrote many successful books, such as "The Miracle of Fasting".

Bragg died at The South Shore Hospital, Miami Beach,FL on 12/7/1976.

(Also Ref. State of Florida Death Certificate File No. 76-0846ll, Registrar's No. 15075, signed by Seymour B. London, M.D.).