Willis Andrew Bridgman

Willis Andrew Bridgman was born June 2, 1898, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson Howard Bridgman and Frances Adeline Catherine Holden.

In 1917, the Bridgman family moved to Conway County, Arkansas.  The family lived and farmed along Scroggins Farm Road, just off current Highway 113, southwest of Morrilton.  The 1920 Conway County census shows 21 year old Willis living at home with his family.  Living next to them was the family of Fate and Annie Fryer. 

Willis married Ina Bell Fryer on August 14, 1921, at Morrilton, Conway County, Arkansas. Ina Fryer was born January 18, 1905, at Timbo, 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 (Willis' brother); (2) Ina Bell Fryer, b. 1905; m. Willis Bridgman; (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 family moved to Solgohachia about 1928.  The 1930 Conway County census, Washington Township, shows the family living in Solgohachia Village. The census shows W. A. Bridgman, rented his farm, 31, married at 20; Ina, 25, married at 16; Sherman, 5 and Thurman, 1 1/2 years old.

About 1935, Willis bought land at Solgohachia, which he farmed, raising cotton and milking cows. He also transported cotton choppers and pickers to the bottoms to work the farms. Later tractors and cotton-pickers took the place of these field laborers.  Ina worked on the farm with Willis and the farm hands.   In the later 1940's and the early 1950's, Willis rented farm land in the Portland bottoms, at Plumerville, in Conway County. There he raised cotton and soybeans.

In the late 1950's, Willis owned and operated a fruit and produce market in Morrilton.  The first fruit stand I remember my Uncle Willis had was in a very small wood frame building located in the corner where the alleys intersected behind Oklahoma Tire Store (which was located on N. Moose St. next door to E. E. Mitchell Furniture Store) and Morgan's Cafe (which was located on N. Moose St. across the alley from Oklahoma Tire Store).  A short time later this building was replaced with a slightly larger cinder block building.  About the mid 1960's Willis moved his fruit and produce business into the former Wilson's Dairy Bar located at the corner of Moose Street and Commerce Street (current location of Hart's & Flowers).

Willis died February 10, 1981, at Solgohachia and is buried in Friendship Cemetery at Solgohachia. Ina sold the farm in 1983 and moved to Morrilton. She died September 20, 2004, at the age of 99, and is buried beside Willis.

Children of Willis Bridgman and Ina Fryer