|
|
Leonard Archie Bridgeman was born February 10, 1904, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson H. Bridgman and Frances Adeline Catherine Holden. Leonard is the only one of their children that used a variation in the spelling of his surname. He may have been named for his great grandfather, Archibald Holden.
Leonard's family moved to Conway County, Arkansas, in 1917. They settled south of Morrilton where they farmed. Leonard appeared with his family on the 1920 Conway County census, living on Scroggins Farm Road, just off current Highway 113. About 1924, the Bridgman family moved to Solgohachia in Conway County.
Leonard married Lillie May Cargile on May 14, 1932, in Conway County. May Cargile was born January 8, 1912, at Hattieville in Conway County, the daughter of George Wyley Cargile and Rosa Frances M. Barnes.
May's parents died in the flu epidemic in 1918 when she was about 6 years old. May and her brother Thurman L. Cargile (b. Jan 18, 1914) were raised by their Barnes grandparents.
Leonard and May raised their family near Solgohachia. Leonard was a farmer. About 1935, Leonard moved his family to the Spring Valley area of Conway County for a short time. Spring Valley was located southeast of Solgohachia. That was where the family lived when Leonard's sister Aggie died in July 1935.
The family also lived for a number of years at Possum Trot, near Solgohachia. There they lived in a wonderful old house with a dog trot through the center. I remember visiting Uncle Leonard and Aunt May while they lived there. I was fascinated with the house. Leonard later moved his family to the other side of Solgohachia, toward Lanty.
Leonard was a farmer and drove a school bus for the Wonderview School District for many years, where his children all attended school. May worked for many years at Levi Strauss Company at Morrilton.
Leonard died March 11, 1975, and is buried in Friendship Cemetery near Solgohachia.
After Leonard died, May and their daughter, Christine bought a house on Lake Overcup in the Overcup Community, north of Morrilton, in Conway County, where May died until her death on August 15, 1993. She is buried beside her husband in Friendship Cemetery.
Children of Leonard Bridgeman and May Cargile
1. John B. Bridgeman, b. Solgohachia, Conway Co, AR; m. Ruby Faye "Polly" Sledge on Dec 23, 1954. John B. made a career of the Air Force. He and his family returned to Conway Co. when he retired from the Air Firce. They bought property at Robertstown. John worked for Levi Strauss Co. at Morrilton for a time. Polly was manager of Cato's, a clothing store in Morrilton for several years. Children: Debbie Renee Bridgeman and Cynthia Lynn "Cindy" Bridgeman. The marriage ended in divorce abt 2008 and John remarried soon afterward.
2. Harold Dean "Shorty" Bridgeman, b. Mar 15, 1935, Conway Co, AR; d. Apr 6, 2008, Morrilton; bur. Friendship Cem; m. Barbara McSwain on Dec 26, 1956. Shorty was in the Air Force for 5 years and came out of service a Sergeant. He moved to MI in the 1950's and became employed with General Motors. His marriage ended in divorce in January 1972, but he remained in MI until he retired after many years with General Motors. Shorty returned to Conway Co and bought a house in the Lords's School House Community near Morrilton. He worked part-time for Tyson. Shorty m. Jeannie Warren in the late 1990's. Shorty had no children.
3. Rosie Frances Bridgeman, b. & d. Jan 1, 1937, Solgohachia, Conway Co, AR; bur Friendship Cem. near Solgohachia
4. Sturl D. Bridgeman, b. Conway Co, AR; m. Etta Ruth Chism on Feb 21, 1961, Conway Co. Etta Ruth, b. Jan 21, 1944, Center Ridge, Conway Co; d. Dec 16, 2002, Conway Co; bur. Friendship Cem, was the dau. of Thomas Reno Chism and Esta Scroggins. Sturl was with the Conway County Volunteer Fire Dept. for many years. He was in Law Enforcement for 30 years, working for the Conway Co. Sheriff's Dept. and the Morrilton Police Dept, where he retired as a Sergeant. For some years, Etta Ruth cooked at various restaurants in Morrilton. Sturl and Etta Ruth purchased land at Roberstown adjoining that of his brother John B., where Sturl continues to live. Children: Terry Gene "Bo" Bridgeman, Timothy Wayne "Tim" Bridgeman, Tonya Ann Bridgeman and Travis D. Bridgeman (b. Nov 16, 1981; d. Nov 17, 1981, Conway Co; bur. Friendship Cem).
5. Christine Ann Bridgeman, b. Conway Co, AR; d. Oct 26, 2012, Morrilton, Conway Co; m. & soon div. Ronnie Nichols. Christine was employed for several years at Levi Strauss Co. She did not remarry. Christine had no children.
6. Jimmy Lynn "Jimbo" Bridgeman, b. Conway Co, AR; m. Shirley Sue Clay on July 23, 1977. Jimmy served a term in the U. S. Army. He has worked at AM Tram in Conway, AR for many years. Shirley is self-employed. The family lived at Adona in Perry Co, AR. Shirley had children from a prior marriage. Jim and Shirley's children: Amanda Nichole Bridgeman and Cody Clay Bridgeman