William Berry Bridgman

William Berry "Bill" Bridgman was born December 19, 1895, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas. He was the eldest child of Thomas Jefferson Howard Bridgman and Frances Adeline Catherine Holden.

The 1900 Stone County census shows three year old Bill living with his parents and his two year old brother, Willis. Boarding with the family at that time was Bill's uncle, Rufus Bridgman, age 21 years.

The 1910 Stone County, Sylamore Township, census shows 15 year old Bill boarding with James E. Avey and his wife, Lucinda. Bill and James were cousins. Bill was working as a hired hand on their farm. James Avey was 60 years old and possibly in ill health, as he died four years after the census was taken.

In 1917, Bill's father moved the family to Conway County, Arkansas.  They live and farmed along the Scroggins Farm Road, located just off current Highway 113, southwest of Morrilton. 

Bill entered the Army on May 26, 1918. He was a Corporal in Co. L, 53rd Pioneer Infantry during World War I. He trained at Camp Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina, and saw hostile action in France.

Bill married Dessie A. Fryer on October 5, 1919, in Conway County.  Dessie Fryer was born December 31, 1901.  She was the daughter of Harris Lafayette "Fate" Fryer and Anna Rebecca Taylor. 

     Fate Fryer was born April 15, 1881, in Arkansas.   Annie Taylor was born April 15, 1883, in Arkansas.  They married June 22, 1901, in Stone County, Arkansas and settled near Morrilton, in Conway County, Arkansas prior to 1910.  The 1910 census shows them living on the Atkins Road in Welbourn Township of Conway County.  Three daughters had been born by that time.  Living with the family was Annie's 22 year old brother, Bill Taylor.  On Sept 12, 1918, Fate signed his World War I Draft Registration Card at Morrilton, in Conway County.  He was described as medium height, medium build, brown eyes, black hair and a farmer by occupation.  Their children were: (1) Dessie A. Fryer, b. 1901; m. Bill Bridgman; (2) Ina Bell Fryer, b. 1905; m. Willis Bridgman (Bill's brother); (3) Deliah Fryer, b. 1907; m. Orville West; (4) Ralph Fryer, b. abt 1911; (5) Ollie Fryer, b. abt 1914; m. Loyd Mansfield Martin; (6) James Fryer, b. abt 1916 and (7) Roy Fryer, b. 1918.  Fate died in Conway County on November 5, 1918 and was buried in Friendship Cemetery at Solgohachia, north of Morrilton, in Conway County.   Annie died December 25, 1927 and was buried beside her husband.  (Note: They do not have gravestone markers.) 

The 1920 Conway County census shows Bill and Dessie living in Welbourne Township near Morrilton. They lived near both the Bridgman and Fryer families.  About 1924, Bill and Dessie moved to Solgohachia, north of Morrilton, in Conway County.

The 1930 Conway County census, Washington Township, shows William B. Bridgman, rented his farm, 34, married at 23; Dessie A., 26, married at 18; Mildred F., 8; Lonnie M., 6, a farm worker; Harmon W., 4; and Helen M., 3 years old. Living in the same area were Bill's parents and siblings.

Bill bought and rented land near Solgohachia, and at one time he farmed close to 500 acres. Bill and Dessie had a dairy barn and raised and milked cattle. They sold the milk to the Morrilton Cheese Plant. They also raised cotton, corn, hay, all kinds of produce, and always had a large garden for their private use.

In the 1930's, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt instigated programs to give people employment, trying to bring the country out of the deep depression, a Civil Corp of Engineers, called CCC Camp was established at Solgohachia. Dessie started a laundry business from her home for the boys in the Camp. Family members helped and her oldest son often did the pick-up and delivery.

In the early 1940's, while Bill farmed, Dessie started raising laying hens. She sold the eggs to the Montgomery Chicken Hatchery at Morrilton. Also during the 40's, when tractors came into use, Bill and his sons farmed soybeans on rented river bottom land near Morrilton.

Before World War II there was no electricity in the rural areas of Arkansas. Rural people were still using ice boxes and coal oil lamps for lighting. Bill and Dessie were the first in their area to have a refrigerator. They bought one that ran on gas, since electricity was not yet available. Soon after, they added gas lighting, and even gas powered flat irons for the laundry business. Later still, they added a gas operated washing machine.

Bill was a trucker as a sideline business. In those days, before the automated cotton picker, Bill hauled passengers to and from the river bottom cotton fields of Conway County, for a fee. He also hauled farm commodities, such as cotton, to the gins, and feed and seed to local farmers.

In the late 1950's, because of age and declining health, Bill and Dessie sold their home and most of their acreage near Solgohachia, and purchased a house on about 37 acres of land in the very heart of the town of Solgohachia. This is where they lived when Bill died January 12, 1970. He is buried in Friendship Cemetery near Solgohachia. Dessie died March 2, 1992, and is buried beside her husband.

Children of Bill Bridgman and Dessie Fryer