Thomas Jefferson Howard Bridgman

My grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Howard Bridgman was born October 3, 1872, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas.     He was the eldest child of William Taliaferro Bridgman and Dicey Jane Maxey.    (Note: Thomas was probably named for his Uncles Thomas W. Bridgman (b. 1848; d. 1918) and Howard Bridgman (b.1843; d. 1864 in a POW camp during the Civil War).

Seven year old Thomas appears on the 1880 Izard County, Arkansas census.     The census shows William Bridgeman, 46, a farmer; Dicy J., 41, wife; James I., 20, son, working on farm; John B., 11, son, working on farm; Thomas H., 7, son; William H., 5, son and Rufus C., 2, son.     The family was living in Sylamore Township.

Thomas was not yet thirteen years old when his mother died in 1885.    His father died about two years later in 1887.    The Stone County court awarded guardianship of William T.'s minor children, Thomas,  Henry, Rufus, Mary Jane and Hazine, to Rufus M. Broyles of Stone County.

 Thomas Bridgman married my grandmother, Frances Adeline Catherine Holden, on October 25, 1894, at Timbo, in Stone County.   

Frances Adeline Catherine Holden was born October 14, 1872, near Timbo.     She was the daughter of Richard James D. Holden and Martha Caroline George.    Adeline was named for two of her mother's sisters, Rachel Adeline George and Permelia Catharine George.

Adeline's mother died April 1874, when Adeline was about a year and a half old.    Adeline's dad re-married about a month later, on May 17, 1874. 

Adeline appears twice on the 1880 census.     She appears first on the 1880 Marion County, Arkansas census, in Buffalo Fork Township.    The census, dated June 11, 1880, shows Richard Holden, 44, born MS; Mary, 31, wife, born AR; Betty, 15, daughter, born AR; James, 11, son, born AR; Fances, 7, daughter, born AR; Josepin, 11, daughter, born MO and Nancy, 2, daughter, born AR. 

     Adeline then appears on the 1880 Stone County census, in Sylamore Township with her aunt.     The census, dated June 16 & 17, 1880, shows Catharine Cole, 45, widow; Josephine, 18, daughter; Sarah D., 16, daughter and Frances A. Holden, 8, niece.    

We believe Adeline's father died about 1882-1884.     Adeline always said she was an orphan, who was raised by family and friends.

On September 22, 1895, Thomas and Adeline sold 160 acres of land in Stone County.    It is possible part of that was land Thomas received in 1887 when his father died.   Thomas was a farmer.

The 1900 Stone County census, Sylamore Township, shows Thomas Bridgman, 26, born November 1873, in Arkansas, married 5 years, a farmer; Adaline, wife, 25, born October 1874, in Arkansas, married 5 years, given birth to 2 children, 2 children still living; William B., son, 3, born December 1876; Willis, son, 2, born June 1898 and Rufus Bridgman, brother, 21, born October 1878, in Arkansas, a farm laborer.

The 1910 Stone County census shows Thomas and Adeline with five of their children in Sylamore Township.    Boarding with the James E. Avey family was their eldest son, Bill Bridgman.    He was fifteen years old and was probably working for James Avey and boarding with him through the week.

Between April 1917 and November 1917, Thomas and Adeline moved their family to Conway County, Arkansas.     They settled near Morrilton, where they farmed.

The 1920 Conway County census shows the family living in Welborn Township, near Morrilton, on the Scroggins Farm Road.     Listed with them were six of their children.    The oldest son had married and was living near Thomas.    The widow Annie Fryer and family was living next door to Thomas.     Thomas' brother, Henry Bridgman, was boarding with the Fryer family at the time.  Thomas' two oldest sons, Bill and Willis, married Annie Fryers' daughters, Dessie and Ina.

Thomas' family lived in a couple of different houses during that time.     One of the houses was located just off Highway 113, just west of Rigg's Hill.     The children walked about two miles one-way each day so they could attend school at the Monastery Ridge School near Morrilton.     They attended school there for one or two school terms.   

About 1924, Thomas moved his family to Solgohachia, in Conway County, where they remained.

The 1930 Conway County census, Washington Township, shows Thomas H. Bridgman, 57, rented his farm for $25 a month, 57 years old, married at 31; Frances A., 50; Leonard A., 22, a farm worker; Thomas F., 20, a farm worker; and Herby H., 14, a farm worker.

Thomas died at Solgohachia on July 2, 1949, and is buried in Friendship Cemetery near Solgohachia.

After Thomas died, Adeline's son Frank continued to live in the house with her.     After Frank married in 1949, Adeline moved into the house with her youngest son Herbert and his family.     She remained in their home until the early 1960's, at which time her health became so bad she had to be placed in a nursing home, where she died about three years later. 

Adeline died October 17, 1964, at Morrilton, in Conway County and is buried beside her husband in Friendship Cemetery.

Children of Thomas Bridgman and Adeline Holden

The music you are hearing is Long, Long Ago.