Biography of Evie Davis Bridges, Sr., Coosa, alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/coosa/bios/edbridges.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Ronald D. Bridges ================================================================================ August 2000 Biography of Evie Davis Bridges, Sr. Evie Davis Bridges, Sr. was born 31 Jan 1890 in Coosa County, Alabama near Hatchett Creek, northwest of Rockford on his father's farm. His parents, Mary Virginia Wilson and Alvin Lafayette Bridges, gave him the nickname Buck. He learned about farming from his father, who was considered an excellent, progressive farmer. This agriculture skill provided him with a living at different intervals of his life. In his youth he gained a reputation in Coosa County as the most productive cotton picker to hire in Coosa as well as the surrounding counties. Reverend Marlin White of Coosa County stated, "I remember that your Grandfather Buck could pick more cotton quicker than anyone in the county or anyone I can remember." I had heard this previously from Tera McEwen, during a McEwen's family reunion at Sears' Chapel. In his youth Buck attended the Liberty Hill Primitive Baptist Church, located about 2 miles west of Rockford. Buck courted Emma Catherine Miller. She was born 3 Jan 1896 near Sears Chapel, located about 2 miles north of Rockford, to James Alexander Miller and Emma Jane McEwen. Kate became Emma's nickname. As a spry young lady she played in pace with any boy of the community. She was well educated by her father, who taught in the county and was called "Professor". Kate was active in her Methodist faith at Sears Chapel as well as other community services. Her talents in sewing and cooking were well known.=20 On 17 Dec 1913, they were married in the home of Kate's parents by J. A. Crawford, Minister of the Gospel. The reception was given in Buck's father's home. Buck's mother died before the wedding in 24 Jun 1906. Buck and Emma lived in Coosa County for a couple of years. He worked for wages for different farmers. He brought back from Florida produce, which he sold to the community to earn extra money. Then they moved near Downsville, Union Parish, Louisiana, where Buck's uncle, John William Bridges, and aunt, Martha Ada Wilson, owned a large farm.=20 Buck's brother, James Eppes Bridges, lived there also with his wife, Lovda L. Thomas. Buck farmed there. He also made a living by trapping wild boars that lived in the swamp area of Bayou D'Arbonne and selling the meat to the community. While there Buck and Kate's first child, Mary Ruth, was born on 9 Jul 1916. Mary Ruth was a twin, but her twin died during birth and was buried in Mt. Nebo Methodist Church Cemetery, north of Downsville, Union Parish, LA. Later they returned to Coosa County and Martha Mabel was born on 23 Aug 1918. A few of years later they moved to Grady County, Georgia. Kate's brother, Andrew Jackson Miller and wife, Linnie Pearl Newberry, owned a farm there. A few years later they moved to Montgomery, Alabama. In Montgomery Buck earned a living as a prison guard for the State of Alabama at Kilby Prison. Buck rode a horse with shotgun in hand, while watching the prisoners as they worked fields and took care of the animals. The shotgun once belonged to his father and later sold to his brother, Thomas Lafayette Bridges.=20 In Montgomery Buck and Kate's only son, Evie Davis Bridges, Jr., was born 28 Jan 1926. Since Buck's prison guard job depended upon political patronage in those days, he was out of a job at different intervals. Kate developed asthma, and because her health was deteriorating, the family moved back to Coosa County near Rockford. It was 16 Sep 1932 in Coosa County that their last child, Miller Pauline, was born. Kate's health deteriorated even more in early 1933. Friends and relatives visited her often and The Rockford Chronicle covered the visits. On 11 Mar 1933 Kate died and she was buried in Sears Chapel Cemetery. My father, Evie Davis Bridges, Jr., informed me that he remembered a Christmas cactus red bloom laid on her bosom at the funeral. Due to the Great Depression and other family considerations, Mr. and Mrs. William Gothard became Pauline's guardians. William was a first cousin to Buck. He and his wife had no children. Buck eventually moved back to Montgomery. He worked as a laborer for the WPA during the depression. He helped refurbish Balwin School during this time. (My daughter, Rachel Bridges now attends this school: Baldwin Magnet Jr. High.) When the politics changed he was once again hired as prison guard on Kilby Prison. To earn extra money, he would transport produce from Florida to Montgomery and sale it. During this travel he met his future wife, Vera A. Steele. She was born 11 Apr 1901 in Florida. They married in her parent's home in Laurel Hill, Florida, June 1938. After the United States entered World War II, work in Mobile's naval shipyards increased. After acquiring a job in the shipyards, Buck moved Vera and Evie to Escambia County to live. His two oldest daughters had married. While working in the shipyards, Buck signed the papers for his seventeen-year-old son to join the Navy to do his part in World War II. He took Evie to Birmingham to be sworn into the Navy. Later Evie was in the Philippines preparing for the invasion of Japan. The atomic bombs were dropped and Evie returned to Montgomery, where his father was once again working on Kilby Prison.=20 Buck eventually retired. He and Vera moved to Laurel Hill, Florida, where she owned several acres to do what he appreciated the most - farming. He grew more than what Vera and he needed, but that was his plan. He gave most of his harvest to friends, neighbors, and the needy. Buck also carved wood with a pocketknife as a hobby. When he acquired this skill is not known. His favorite things to carve were ornate walking canes, which he gave to people in the community. An elderly African-American in Laurel Hill received one of his carved canes, which she cherished. =20 Buck died of a heart attack 18 Nov 1962 one late evening while feeding the farm animals. Vera lived on the farm until her death on 14 Jun 1985. Mary Ruth died 9 Mar 1991 in Montgomery. Martha Mabel 23 Mar 1993 died in Walton Co., Florida. Evie died 14 May 1998 in Montgomery.=20 Pauline is living in Alabama near Camp Hill. Written by Buck's Grandson, Ronald D. Bridges on 20 March 1999. Updated on 7 June 2000. Sears Chapel News "Mr. Evie Bridges and family spent Sunday with Mr. Kid Bridges and family near Flint Hill."(1) (1)The Rockford Chronicle, Sears Chapel News, 20 Apr 1933, p. 1. Printed in Rockford, Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives and History, Montgomery, AL. Reverend Marlin White of Coosa County stated, "I remember that your Grandfather, Buck, could pick more cotton quickly than anyone in the county or anyone I can remember." I had heard this previously from Tera McEwen during a McEwen=92s family reunion at Sears=92 Chapel, located abo= ut a mile north of Rockford, Alabama. Tera also said he remembered Buck working a farm near Lightwood community in Elmore Co., AL. My Grandfather Buck Bridges, who I wish I knew before he died, had a reputation of picking up hitchhikers on the Coosa County roads. By the time he dropped them off, he had convinced them they were kin to him. This story was told to me, Ron Bridges, by my Father, Evie D. Bridges, Jr.