Biography of William B. Bridges, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company William B. Bridges (deceased) was a man well known to the early settlers of Randolph County, Ark., and was respected for his straightforward course through life, and for his noble, Christian qualities of mind and heart. He was born in North Carolina in 1810, and was a son of Benjamin Bridges, who was also born in that State, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a blacksmith by trade, and William B., like the majority of sons, followed in his father's footsteps and became a blacksmith also. He was the eldest of sixteen children, and in his youth was taken by his parents to Tennessee, where he grew to manhood. When eighteen years of age he was married to Miss Rebecca Sherrel, a native of Wilson County, that State, and after residing there the eight years following his marriage he emigrated to Arkansas, locating at Pittman's Ferry, but one year later removed to Pocahontas, having been identified with the interests of this place for many years. His death, however, occurred in Gainesville, Greene County, Ark., in 1868, at the age of fifty-eight years, his widow dying June 9, 1882. Both were members of many years' standing of the Baptist Church, and were earnest and devoted Christians. Mr. Bridges was a well-posted man, and was a leader in the church of which he was a member, as well as in public affairs, and was an eloquent and fluent speaker. He was very popular in the community in which he resided, and for many years held the office of justice of the peace, and socially was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Of his large family of children six [p.378] grew to maturity, the only surviving member being A. M. Bridges, who is a leading farmer of Wiley Township. At the age of nine years he accompanied his father to Randolph County, Ark., and his youth was spent in learning the intricacies of farm work and blacksmithing, he also acquiring a fair education in the common schools of his adopted county. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861 he joined the Seventh Arkansas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, took a stirring part in the battle of Corinth, and was in numerous skirmishes. At the second battle of Corinth he was one out of eight of his company to escape unhurt, and at the close of the war he went to the city of St. Louis, and served a three-years' apprenticeship at the machinist's trade under G. H. Timons; then came to Randolph County and purchased 160 acres of land, on which he now lives. The property at that time was raw timber land, but be has made valuable improvements in the way of building, fences and clearing, and has added to his original purchase until he now has a fine tract of land embracing 400 acres, of which 175 are under cultivation. He has been married four times and has four living children: Susan, wife of Paul S. Leonard, of Randolph County; Martha, wife of John Ball, also of this county; W. B., at home, and one other. Mr. Bridges has been the architect of his own fortune, and through his own exertions has acquired his present property which is one of the finest farms in the county. For the last few years in connection with his farm work he has also conducted a blacksmith shop on his farm, and is considered a skillful mechanic.