Biography - Henry Bridgman
HENRY BRIDGMAN. Our subject comes of a German family whose
characteristics have been modified in some directions and made more intense
in others, by a residence in the Southern states. His grandparents were
natives of Virginia, although of German ancestry. His grandfather Bridgman,
whose given name our subject does not know, died when in middle life. After
his death, his wife removed to Tennessee with her family of children and
later to Illinois, where she died at about eighty years of age in Morgan
County. She had a family of seven or eight children, of which Martin
Bridgman, the father of our subject, was one of the younger, his birth State
being Virginia.
Our subject's father was quite young when his father died and at an early
day, with his mother, went from Virginia to Granger County, Tenn., and there
he grew to manhood, occupying himself as a farmer. He was there married to a
Tennessee lady whose maiden name was Anna Dyer. She was born and reared in
the place where her marriage occurred and was one of an old and highly
respected family. After the birth of all the children but one, Martin
Bridgman, wife and family, came to Morgan County, this state, in 1851 and
afterwards secured a farm devoting themselves to improving it. Our subject's
parents are both yet living. His father was eighty-one years old February
18, 1891. His mother will be seventy-eight years old November 10, 1891. On
that day the old people will have lived together for sixty-two years; a
reminder that in some cases, at least, marriage is not a failure. Our
subject is one of ten children, one of whom died in infancy. Of the
remaining children there are five sons and four daughters yet living. All of
these have married and have families of their own. Henry Bridgman was born
in Granger County, Tenn., September 10, 1837. He was fourteen years of age
when his parents removed to Morgan County, this State. They came over the
prairies with teams and it was after a long journey, varied by many
adventures, that they found a home near Jacksonville. Here they located and
there our subject became of age.
In March 8, 1866 he of whom we write united himself in marriage to Lavina
Angel. She was born in Morgan County, near Arenzville, October 24, 1845, and
is a daughter of John and Susan (Smith) Angel, natives of Indiana and
Tennessee. When young people, they came with their parents from their
respective States to Morgan County, Ill. This was in the early part of the
'30s. There John Angel was reared having been only four years of age when
his father and mother, George and Elizabeth (Turnam) Angel, settled here,
securing a tract of land upon which they lived and died, being well known
pioneer settlers. After marriage, John Angel and his wife began life on an
almost new farm, which they improved and made their home for many years.
They have now retired from the active proprietorship of the farm and live in
Jacksonville. They are advanced in life, being respectively sixty-eight and
sixty-four years of age. They are prominent members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Angel is a man of firm financial standing. He is the
owner of more than six hundred acres of land in this township, and of large
property in Morgan County and in Jacksonville.
Mrs. Bridgman is the eldest of fourteen children, three of whom died while
quite young. Eleven still living, and of these eight are married. After the
marriage of our subject and his estimable wife, they adopted agriculture as
their calling. They own and improved the greater part of three farms. In the
spring of 1880, they sold their places and came to Shelby County, purchasing
the farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 13, Flat Branch Township,
which they at present occupy. Here they have ever since lived. The whole of
this large farm bears the best of improvements and on it is a fine brick,
two-story residence that is a picture of comfort and tasteful arrangement.
There are also other buildings upon the place in the best condition. Mr.
Bridgman has, besides, forty acres of timber land, in section 14, of this
township.
The original of our sketch and his capable and amiable wife, have welcomed
eight children to their home and hearts. One of these Henry C., is deceased.
The living children are John M., R. Guthrie, Ada B., Charles W., William R.,
L. Edgar, and Nellie L. John took to wife Addie Ponties and resides on a
farm in Pickaway Township. The next son resides at home. The other children
are all still inmates of the home nest. They are bright and intelligent
young men and women, and are a credit to their parents.
He of whom we write, and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church
at Locust Grove, in this county. Mr. Bridgman is a rabid Republican, having
fought for the principles that that party strive to maintain. In August,
1862, he laid aside his private interests and affairs and enlisted in the
War of the Rebellion, joining Company One Hundred and Fifteen of the Indiana
Cavalry, Col. John H. Moore and Capt. Newman being in command. The regiment
was with the army of the Cumberland and fought in the battles of Resaca,
Chickamauga and Franklin. In the second named battle, Mr. Bridgman was shot
by an enemy in the right wrist and was then placed in the field hospital at
Nashville, after which he came home for a furlough, but later returned to
the field of battle and served with his regiment about one year longer.
During his war experience he did good service and was finally discharged at
Springfield, Ill., after serving two years and ten months. He first enlisted
as a private, and was then a Corporal. He had the good fortune to escape
being captured. His war experience is an interesting topic as told by Mr.
Bridgman, and a comparison of notes with an old comrade is only less than an
engagement itself.
Extracted 13 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 440-441.
