Biography of Robert Sharpe Bridgman, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Robert Sharpe Bridgman was born in Moultrie County, Ill., in 1853,
being the son of William and Amanda Bridgman. The former was born and
reared in Illinois; the mother was born in Kentucky, and died in 1867
in Cumberland County, Ill. William Bridgman married again, and came to
Arkansas in December, 1877, and located near Charleston, Franklin
County. He has been a Baptist minister for over forty years. Robert S.
was reared on a farm near Charleston, Ill., and had the advantage of a
common-school education. He began teaching school at the age of
seventeen, and at twenty embarked in merchandising in Casey, Ill., in
the stove and tinware business. In 1877 he studied medicine in the
office of his brother, Dr. N. S. Bridgman, at York, Ill., but gave up
the study of this profession, and came to Arkansas in December, 1877.
He resumed business again the following year, at Roseville, Ark., and
after a short time removed to Charleston, where he has built up a good
trade. His goods and effects consist of a stock of merchandise, houses
and lots, farming lands, the Vindicator office, etc., etc., worth
$5,000. Mr. Bridgman was married November 26, 1879, to Miss Laura
Swinney, the only daughter of James O. and Lucinda Swinney. They have
two children, Clarence, a boy of seven, and Nettie, aged three years.
Mr. Bridgman took no part in the late war, being too young at the time
to enlist. He has never aspired to office, but has filled various
minor positions, such as recorder for the town council, clerk of the
Concord Baptist Association, and in 1884 was elected mayor of
Charleston, Ark. He is a Democrat, and himself and wife are members of
the Baptist Church. They have always contributed to any and all good
causes to the full limit of their ability. He is a member of the K. of
H. Mr. Bridgman bought the Vindicator in 1885, and has been its editor
ever since, conducting the paper with signal success and marked
ability.