James was born the son of James & Susannah (Sinclair) Bridger in 1777 in Virginia. He would own a tavern and inn in Richmond, Virginia and would eventually marry Chloe Tyler, a waitress in his establishment, in around 1802. Together, James and Chloe would have at least four children as follows:
Elder son Bridger (1803-1818)
James Felix Bridger (1804-1881)
May Bridger (1806- )
Virginia Bridger (1808- )
In addition to being a tavern owner and innkeeper, James was also the County Surveyor. Hearing of a need for surveyors out west, James packed up his family and in 1812 moved to a spot just outside of Saint Louis called Six-Mile Prairie. By around 1818, both James and Chloe, along with their eldest son, had died of undisclosed causes leaving a son and a daughter orphans. James was around 41 years old at the time of his death.
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