James Pierce Bridges (1854 - 1893)

Born 17 Mar 1854 in Harrison, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Anne Corder (Huff) Bridges — married 2 Dec 1880 in Luling, Caldwell, Texas, United States

Died 12 Feb 1893 at age 38 in Luling, Caldwell, Texas, United States

Biography

Uncle was Solomon Bridges, Methodist Minister (in old age) at Soda Springs Methodist Church in1870. James lived with this uncle from about age 10. James established the first newspaper in the new town of Luling, TX. After his first wife's death he married my great aunt Annie Corder Huff. He had children by both wives. Dorothy Huff LaBarbera in 2014.

J.P. and his first wife, Luella F. (Sanders) Bridges (c. 1851- 1880) had two daughters,Martha Lula, who survived her mother but did not live to adulthood, and Minnie D. Bridges (1873-1946). these small girls were cared for by their stepmother, Annie Corder (Huff) Bridges, who married their father within weeks of their mother's death. (Family lore is that Mr. Bridges' first wife was an invalid.)

I have found more information on Uncle Solomon Bridges: He is most likely the son of Herod F. and Margaret Garrett (Ware) Bridges. His siblings: Sarah Ware Bridges (1813-1912, buried Uvalde, TX); Andrew Jackson Bridges (1817-1896, buried Sulpher Springs, TX); Mary Bridges; Susana (Bridges) Freeman; Martha Bridges; Henry Bridges; James Pierce Bridges (lived in Greenwood, LA, had children); Asbury F. Bridges; Samuel J. Bridges; and Neley Bridges. Solomon married Martha Taylor in Goliad(?), TX. Solomon took in his orphaned nephew James Pierce Bridges. Church records reveal that Solomon Thomas Bridges died while serving in the West Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was born Dec. 22, 1822 and died Nov. 13, 1870. it has been recorded that he died in Lockhart, TX, Caldwell County but I have yet to locate his burial place. He was serving the Soda Springs Methodist Church in Caldwell County during the year of his death. According to Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature by McClintock and Story: "Mr. Bridges was fervent in spirit, cultured in intellect, and faithful in labor." He was born in Putnam County, GA, and joined the church in 1847. He removed to Texas in 1852, was licensed to preach in 1853, and was assigned to the East Texas Conference in 1854. [Records for the First Methodist Church of Jasper, Texas, list him as their Minister for 1858.] In 1860 he was located (sic). In 1861 he joined the Confederate Army where he served four years, preaching at every opportunity. In 1866 he was assigned to the West Texas Conference. After one year he took a supernumerary relationship which he retained to the end of his life, Nov. 13, 1870. See the Minute of Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 1870, p. 511.

Note: J.P. Bridges' second wife's daughter reported that his family assisted her widowed mother after his death. Who could this have been...other uncles who also lived in Texas?

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Sources

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The Texas Press Association lists J.P. Bridges of The Luling Signal as the association's ninth president (1888-89). Their web page includes his photo. They report he was born in Harrison County, Texas, Mar. 17, 1854. He was orphaned when his mother died in 1857 and his father in 1864. He attended school about three years and in 1868 began his career as Printer's Devil in the office of the Texas Plow Boy at Lockhart. From Printer's Devil he rose rapidly and steadily in the business to the position of foreman at the San Marcos Times where he worked from 1871 to 1873. He became Editor of the Lockhart News-Editor in 1873 - 1878. In 1878 he established the Luling Signal.