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John Butler Bridgman was born March 1870, at Timbo, in Izard County, Arkansas. He was the son of William T. Bridgman and his 2nd wife, Martha Ann Maxey. (Note: This portion of Izard County became Stone County in 1873.) John Butler was named for his Uncle John F. Bridgman and his maternal grandmother, Jane (Butler) Bridgman. He was called "John B".
The 1870 Izard County census shows William T. and Martha Ann, with their one month old son, John B, and John's ten year old half-brother, James Isaac.
John B never knew his mother, Martha. He was only six months old when she died in September 1870.
Within a short time after Martha died, John's father married Martha's sister, Dicey Jane Maxey, and it was Dicey who raised John B.
The 1880 Izard County census shows eleven year old John B with his father, step-mother Dicey and half-brothers, James, Thomas, William and Rufus.
John B's step-mother died in 1885 and his father died two years later in 1887. John B was about 17 when his father died.
The 1900 Stone County census shows John B boarding with the Russell Wilson family in Sylamore Township.
John married Sarah A. Bunker on January 24, 1901, at Timbo in Stone County. Sarah Bunker was born December 18, 1881, in Arkansas.
After their marriage, John and Sarah moved to Conway County, Arkansas. They were living near Grandview when Sarah died September 1, 1907. She is buried in Grandview Cemetery, near Center Ridge, in Conway County.
The 1910 Conway County census shows John B and his three sons living in Lick Mountain Township, Center Ridge Post Office, at or near Grandview. Living with them was John's half-brother, Rufus Calvin Bridgman.
We have not located John B since the 1910 census. We have been told he died in the 1920's or the 1930's and is buried with Sarah in Grandview Cemetery. We believe John B died prior to 1928.
Children of John B. Bridgman and Sarah Bunker
1. Willie Perry Bridgman, b. abt 1902, AR
2. Frank A. "Abbie
Frank" Bridgman, b. Jan 26, 1904, Conway Co, AR; d. Feb 6,
1928, at St. Vincents Infirmary in Little Rock, Pulaski Co, AR.
He was 23 yrs old. His death certificate says
he had surgery on Feb. 2 to drain his abdominal cavity because of
acute gangrenous appendicitis. He died four days later on Feb 6.
His death certificate says he was from Biscoe, AR
and that his brother Edgar Bridgman of England, AR provided the
information for the death certificate. Abbie Frank's occupation
was listed as a laborer. Healey & Roth, 815 Main St, Little
Rock, AR, handled his funeral arrangements. His death certificate
says he was buried at Morrilton, Conway Co, AR. We have been
told he was buried in Grandview Cem near his parents.
3. Edgar A. Bridgman, b. abt 1906, Conway Co, AR