Edward Alton Mitchell -- Baptist Minister and Printing Company Owner

 

Edward Alton Mitchell was born on May 24, 1931 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the oldest of three children born to John Carter Mitchell and Mary Cicero Terrell Mitchell.  Carter and Cicero were both natives of Trigg County where Carter was a well-known farmer and county magistrate.  Cicero was a homemaker and a descendant of Simco Bridges, the third son of William Bridges.

Alton’s siblings were Martha Ann Mitchell, born in 1932 and married George Newton King and John Gerald Mitchell, born in 1936 and married Barbara Hayes.

Alton attended elementary school at the Cadiz Graded School in Cadiz and went on to graduate from Trigg County High School in 1950.  In February 28, 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for four years, being honorably discharged in February 27, 1955.  After his military service, he attended Bethel College in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Austin Peay College in Clarksville, Tennessee.

On June 17, 1956, Alton married Laverne Lancaster.  Laverne was born on May 27, 1937 in Trigg County the daughter of Aubrey H. and Julia F. Braboy Lancaster, both natives of Trigg County.

Alton became a minister for the Southern Baptist Convention and his early positions was as pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lyon County and the Cerulean Baptist Church in Trigg County. While pastoring in Trigg County, he was very active in the work of the Little River Baptist Association, serving as clerk of the association and serving on the executive board for four years.  In January 1964 Alton accepted the pastorate of the Sullivan Baptist Church in Sullivan, Kentucky.  The family moved to Union County, Kentucky near his new job.  In 1969 he began serving the Ohio Valley Baptist Association as Director of Missions, a position he held until his death.  In addition to Alton’s pastoral duties, he and his son jointly owned and operated the M&M Printing company in Sturgis, Kentucky.

Alton and Laverne were the parents of two children, Gary Neil Mitchell, born in 1957 and married Debra Ann Henshaw and Casandra Lynn Mitchell, born in 1959 and married Michael Paul Buttram. His son Gary earned the honor of being the youngest registered basketball official in the history of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. He received his official card from the KHSAA in 1974 at the age of 16 following completion of a study course and successful passage of the test required of all officials.

Alton died on February 16, 1985 at the age of 53 at his home in Sturgis, Kentucky of an apparent heart attack. His body was returned to Trigg County where he was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery.

 

Alton Mitchell tombstone

LINEAGE: (Edward Alton Mitchell was the son of John Carter and Mary Cicero Terrell Mitchell and the grandson of Robert and Emma Skaggs Bridges Mitchell.  Emma was the fifth child of William Joseph and Sarah Wills Bridges.  William Joseph was the first child of Simco N. and Emeline Martin Bridges.  Simco was the third child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Charlie and Edna Hughes Flood -- A Farmer and A Cafeteria Worker

 

Charlie and Edna Hughes Flood

Charlie Calvert Flood was born on June 16, 1912 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the sixth of nine children born to William Henry Flood and Florence Chappell Lawrence Flood.  William was a farmer and both he and Florence were natives of Trigg County.  Charlie was a descendant of Starkie Thomas and Jemima Bridges Sholar.

Charlie’s siblings were John Robert Flood, born in 1902 and married Mary Adeline Thomas and then married Lula Gertrude Hughes; Amos Stanley Flood, born in 1904 and married Mildred Ernestine Thomas; Janie Alberta Flood, born in 1905 and died as an infant; Eddie Lee Flood, born in 1908 and died at the age of one and one half years old;  William Ernest Flood, born in 1910 and married Adaline Baker; Myra Lou Flood, born in 1914 and married Paul Anderson Bridges; Unnamed Infant, born and died in 1916; and Cleland Douglas Flood, born 1918 and married Norine Virginia Thomas.

Charlie grew up in Trigg County and like his father, he became a farmer.  He and his family lived with his father until Charlie’s death.

On November 13, 1937, Charlie married Edna Lorene Hughes.  Edna was born on February 7, 1912 and was the sixth of ten children of Luther Lee Hughes and Mattie Patterson Light.  Luther or Luke as he was known, was a farmer and both he and Mattie were natives of Trigg County.  Mattie was also a descendant of Starkie Thomas and was the first child of John J. Light and Emeline Catherine Thomas Light.

Edna’s siblings were Harmon Marcellous Hughes, born in 1903 and married Georgia Lyle New and later married Mary Dixon Townsend Clayton; Verna Elizabeth Hughes, born in 1904 and married Clinton Harell Stalons; Mary Catherine Hughes, born in 1906 and married Thomas Edward Mize; Lula Gertrude Hughes, born in 1908 and married John Robert Flood; Luther Bertram Hughes, born in 1909 and married Edna Earl Thomas; Richard Stanley Hughes, born in 1914 and married Avernell Boyd; James Raymond Hughes, born in 1916 and married Susie Gertrude Hammonds; Sarah Loutisha Hughes, born in 1919; and Thomas Alton Hughes, born in 1921 and married Hazel Douglas Lancaster.

Edna grew up in Trigg County and attended the Warrenton School.  She worked as a cafeteria employee for the Trigg County School System for 23 years from 1954 to 1977.  After she retired from the school system, she worked at the Trigg County Hospital, Debbie’s Day Care and at the Pennyrile Allied Communities Services Kitchen for Senior Citizens.

Charlie and Edna were the parents of two children, Florence Evelyn Flood, born in 1942 and married Charles Ronald Drennan and Lela Marilyn Flood, born in 1944 and died at the age of  one-year.

Charlie died on October 28, 1944 at the age of 32 at his home on the Canton Road in Trigg County.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery.  Edna died on March 8, 1988 at the age of 76 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to her husband.

 Edna Hughes Flood

 

Charlie and Edna tombstone

LINEAGE: (Charlie Calvert Flood was the son of William Henry and Florence Chappell Lawrence Flood.  Florence was the second child of William Allen and Margaret J. Thomas Lawrence.  Margaret was the fourth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. William Allen was the first child of James Henry and Elizabeth Sholar Lawrence.  Elizabeth was the fifth child of Allen and Jemima Bridges Sholar. Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

(Edna Lorene Hughes was the daughter of Luther Lee and Mattie Patterson Light Hughes. Mattie was the first child of John J. and Emeline Catherine Thomas Light.  Emeline was the seventh child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Falcon Olero Baker -- Department Store Owner and Businessman

 

 Falcon Olero Baker

Falcon Olero Baker was born on December 24, 1876 on his grandfather’s farm in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of eight children born to Franklin Pierce “Pearl” Baker and Cornelia Osburn Baker. Both Franklin and Cornelia were natives of the Richland community in Hopkins County and Franklin was a successful farmer in the Richland area. Falcon spent his childhood and youth on the family farm and attended the neighboring schools for his early education.  At the age of 19, he went to Nebo, Kentucky and enrolled in a course in business administration, which prepared him for a career in the mercantile department store business.

In 1898, Falcon., at the age of 22 moved to Madisonville, Kentucky where he became a clerk in a department store owned by a Mr. Ashby.  In 1901, he bought into the firm and the store’s name was changed to Ashby and Baker.  In 1907, Falcon sold his interest in the store back to Mr. Ashby and he became a cashier in the Farmers National Bank.

After working three years at the bank, Falcon formed an association with L. K. Hickman, an association which continued the remainder of Falcon’s life. Together they bought a two-thirds interest in Mr. Ashby’s store and the department store became known as Ashby, Baker & Hickman.  A few months later, Mr. Ashby died and the store became known as Baker & Hickman, which was a very successful Madisonville mercantile business. In 1917, the two partners built an attractive structure for their downtown business.  Also, for the period 1912 through 1915, Falcon became a partner with F. B. Wilkinson in Cadiz in the department store known as the Baker-Wilkinson Company.  In 1933, Falcon purchased Mr. Hickman’s interest in the Baker & Hickman firm and formed a corporation which retained the name. Baker and Hickman.  Falcon continued to remain as a partner with Mr. Hickman in several real estate, oil and gas developments, and coal enterprises.

On November 24, 1909, Falcon married Myrtle Lynn Golladay in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Myrtle was a teacher in the Madisonville Graded Schools when they were married.  She was born on December 3, 1884 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the oldest of eight children of James Richard Golladay and Ida Thomas Golladay. Both James and Ida were natives of Trigg County, Kentucky. James was a well-known farmer of the Gracey neighborhood and Ida was a granddaughter of Starkie Thomas. Myrtle’s siblings were Ethel Golladay, born in 1887; Edgar Golladay, born in 1889 and died at the age of four months; Edna Golladay, born in 1889, a twin of Edgar, and died at the age of ten months; William Thomas Golladay, born in 1890 and died at the age of 13; Sarah Elizabeth Golladay, born in 1892 and married John Towles Evans; Nora Bell Golladay, born in 1894 and married Joseph Earl Randle; and Alfred Golladay, born in 1897 and died as an infant.

Falcon and Myrtle were the parents of two sons, James Golladay Baker, born in 1914 and married Anne Priest and Falcon Olero Baker, Jr., born in 1916 and married Ernestine Maria Theresa Magagna.

Falcon died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Madisonville on April 7, 1937 at the age of 60.  He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.  Myrtle died on March 2, 1946 at her home in Madisonville, at the age of 61.  She was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery next to her husband.

 Falcon and Myrtle tombstone

 

Falcon tombstone marker

 

Myrtle tombstone marker

 Baker & Hickman Department Store in Madisonville

LINEAGE: (Falcon Olero Baker was the husband of Myrtle Lynn Golladay.  Myrtle was the daughter of James Richard and Ida Thomas Golladay.  Ida was the first child of Alfred Marshall and Eliza Anne Martin Thomas.  Alfred Marshall was the fifth child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Emma Lee Sumner Guier -- Wife of a Farmer

 

Emma Sumner Guier

Emma Lee Sumner was born on January 26, 1875 in the Maple Grove community  of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the second of nine children born to Benjamin Miles Sumner and Henrietta Gabrella Bridges Sumner.  Benjamin Miles was a farmer and both he and Henrietta were natives of Trigg County.  Emma was a descendant of Drewry Bridges.

Emma’s siblings were Julia Louise Sumner, born in 1873 and married Starkie William Thomas; John Calvin Sumner, born in 1877 and married Lucy Ethel Lawrence; James Ottawa Sumner, born in 1880 and married Martha Miller Thomas; Durwood Floyd Sumner, born in1882 and married Lillie Jane Thomas, Elmer “Elmo” Thomas, born in 1885 and died at the age of nine; Nora Pearl Sumner, born in 1888 and married John Starkie Armstrong; Beulah May “Eula” Sumner, born in 1890 and married Joshua Light; and Mattie Maud Sumner, born in 1893 and married Starkie Thomas.

Emma grew up on the family farm in Maple Grove and attended the one-room Maple Grove School where she completed the eighth grade.

On November 22, 1891, Emma married Nathan Stanley Guier in Dover, Tennessee.  Nathan was born on October 20, 1867 in Trigg County, the youngest son of Nathan Tart Guier and Martha Mitchell Guier.  Nathan was a farmer and both he and Martha were natives of Trigg County. 

Nathan was known as “Little Nath” as he was so much younger than his brothers.  He attended the old Guier School which was located on the family farm.  After their marriage, Nathan and Emma lived on his family farm where Nathan farmed with his father.  After his father’s death, he purchased his brother’s interest in the farm and he and Emma lived on the farm until his death.

Unfortunately, Nathan died at the age of 31 and Emma was forced to raise her family alone.  She continued to live on the family farm after Nathan’s death, but rented the land to her father until after the children were grown.  She became a very strong, efficient, organized, and independent woman. She ran a very orderly life in an extremely well-run home.  Emma always had time to help other people, nursing the sick, sewing for neighbors and helping family members.  The last years of her life were spent in Toledo, Ohio where she lived with her oldest son and his family.

Emma and Nathan were the parents of four children, Frank Elmer Guier, born in 1893 and married Eula Franklin Thomas; Amos Ira Guier, born in 1894 and married Ambie Lois Bridges; Jesse E. Guier, born in 1896 and died at the age of 17 with pneumonia; and Mallie Mae Guier, born in 1898 and married Carey Thomas Vinson.

Nathan died on August 26, 1899 at the age of 31 at his home of typhoid fever.  He was buried in the old Tart (now Guier) Cemetery.  Emma died on June 25, 1936 at the age of 61 at the home of her son in Toledo, Ohio.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.

Nathan Guier

 

Emma tombstone

 

Nathan tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Emma Lee Sumner was the daughter of Benjamin Miles and Henrietta Gabrella Bridges Sumner.  Henrietta was the first child of Drewry and Peachie Ann Tart Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Preston Beauford Bridges -- Garage Shop Foreman

 

Preston and Monico Bridges

Preston Beauford Bridges was born on October 5, 1909 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of three children born to William Stanley “Willie” Bridges  and Bessie Earl Ricks Bridges.  Willie was a farmer and both he and Bessie were natives of Trigg County.  Preston was a descendant of Drewry Bridges.

Preston’s siblings were Eston Mitchell Bridges, born in 1913 and married Mavis Pauline Skinner and Ernest Lee Bridges, born in 1915 and married Virginia Irene Terrell.

Preston grew up in rural Trigg County and attended the local schools.  His highest level of education was the completion of elementary school which was the norm for youth of his time. As a young man he worked as a farm helper along with his father who was a farmer. He worked on the farm through most of the 1920s.

On March 8, 1931, he married Monico Dell Guier.  Monico was born on July 9, 1912 in Trigg County.  She was the daughter of John Gilbert “Gip” Guier and Docia Baker Guier.  Gip was a farmer and both he and Docia were natives of Trigg County.

In the 1940s, Preston began working as a shop foreman at the Henry C. White Chevrolet Company in Cadiz and the family settled in Cadiz. He worked at the company for 44 years at the time of his retirement.  In addition, he and his wife Monico operated a day care center for young children for a number of years.

Preston and Monico were the parents of three children, Preston Blandford Bridges, born in 1931 and married Peggy Jo Murphy; Dolores Dean Bridges, born in 1934 and married John William Calhoun; and Patsy Jane Bridges, born in 1961 and married Herbie D. Connors and later married William Belmont Gregory.

Preston died on November 5, 1986 at the age of 77 at the Nashville Memorial Hospital in Madison, Tennessee.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Monico died on January 5, 1999 at the age of 86 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

Preston and Monico tombstone

LINEAGE: (Preston Beauford Bridges was the son of William Stanley “Willie” and Bessie Earl Ricks Bridges. Willie was the third child of William Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Lancaster Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drewry and Peachie Ann Tart Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Nelle Cleveland Bridges McCarty -- Wife of an Insurance Company Employee

 

Mark and Nelle Bridges McCarty

Nelle (Nellie) Cleveland Bridges was born on October 14, 1892 in the Maple Grove community of  Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the oldest of five children born to Mark Dale Bridges and Mallie Mae Lancaster Bridges.  Mark Dale was a traveling salesman and both he and Mallie were natives of Trigg County.  Nelle was a granddaughter of Cullen Thomas Bridges.

Nelle’s siblings were Flo Templeton Bridges, born in 1897 and married Ira Clifton Bridges; Preston Dale Bridges, born in 1899 and died at the age of 1½ years of age; Percy Dillard Bridges, born in 1902 and married Edna Pearl Thomas; and Douglas Eugene Bridges, born in 1909 and married Katherine Elizabeth Edwards and then married Dixie Louise Minton and later married Letha Louise Plumbee.

Nelle went to elementary school in the Maple Grove community at the one-room schoolhouse.  She later went to the Cadiz High School where she graduated on May 11, 1909 in a ceremony held in the Court House in Cadiz.  Nelle was a talented musician and played several instruments. She played a trumpet for the Bridges Brothers Band, a family instrumental group and taught music in several schools.  She also played the organ and the piano.  Her father was a traveling salesman who went to schools in western Kentucky to sell organs and pianos and Nelle would travel with him and play the instruments for prospective customers.  It was while she was teaching school in Lyon County that she met her future husband.

On August 2, 1914, Nelle married Mark McCarty in Cairo, Illinois.  They traveled by train from Paducah, Kentucky to Cairo and returned to Paducah to live.  Mark was born May 2, 1895 in Lyon County, Kentucky.  He was the son of William Herny McCarty and Sarah Bell Barnett McCarty. William was a farmer and a native of Caldwell County, Kentucky and Sarah was a native of Lyon County.

Mark and Nelle left Paducah to live on a farm in Lyon County, later returning to Paducah where they owned and lived on a farm in the St. John’s community of McCracken County.  They finally ended up living in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  Mark left farming and worked for the National Life and Accident Insurance Company for the rest of his career. Nelle was primarily a housewife but did work part time at Gordon Cayce’s Gift Shop in Hopkinsville.

Mark and Nelle were the parents of two children, Harry Clifford McCarty, born in 1915, and married Marguerite Everhart and later married Rosa Lorene McClain and Marian Virginia McCarty, born in 1918 and married Sherewin Hallis Northcutt.

Mark died on October 7, 1953 at the age of 58 of a heart attack in his home in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Nelle died on February 14, 1968 at the age of 75 in Coalmont, Tennessee at the home of her daughter with whom she had made her home. She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

Baby Nelle

 

Mark and Nelle tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Nelle Cleveland Bridges McCarty was the daughter of Mark Dale and Mallie Mae Lancaster Bridges. Mark Dale was the fifth child of Cullen Thomas and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Martha Ann was the third child of Peyton and Sarah L. Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Emma Elizabeth Thomas -- Living Life in Total Darkness

 

Emma Elizabeth Thomas was born on November 15, 1894 on a farm in Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the oldest of four children born to George Walton Thomas and Margaret “Jennie” Thomas Thomas. Both George and Jennie were natives of Trigg County.  George was a farmer and was a grandson of Perry Thomas.  Jennie was a homemaker and a granddaughter of James Thomas, Jr. 

Emma’s siblings were three brothers, Perry Amos Thomas, born in 1896 and married Hattie Bell Adams; John Herbert Thomas, born in 1901 and married Willie D. Meador; and Ewing Odell Thomas, born in 1907 and married Virginia Leona Francis.

In her early childhood, Emma was afflicted with blindness which left her in total darkness.  In spite of her handicap, Emma showed strong perseverance.  She lived all of her life with her parents in the Donaldson Creek community.

When she was 15 years old, she joined Donaldson Creek Baptist Church and became one of the most earnest workers for the church’s activities.  Even though she was blind, she went about among her neighbors and organized several groups relating to her church, including a Women’s Mission Society, Mission Study Classes and she helped to organize Sunday School classes.  She was so successful with her organization skills in her home neighborhood that she traveled about the county to various other churches and helped to organize similar group there.  As she traveled about the county, she made many friends wherever she went.

As a young woman, Emma took a study course on the Braile System which she easily mastered. She obtained several books of the Bible printed in that system so that she might read them.  A member of the family taught her to use a typewriter where she was able to do most of her correspondence.  She also completed a course of study from the Southern Baptist Convention and received her diploma even though she was completely blind.

In the last years of her life, Emma was stricken with an illness that prevented her from putting forth physical effort and rendered her almost helpless.  She died on May 8, 1939 at the age of 44 at her parent’s home on Donaldson Creek.  It was said that the community of Donaldson Creek had lost one of its best and most loved personalities.  At her funeral at the Donaldson Creek Baptist Church, people from all over Trigg County and several from other counties were present to pay a final tribute to this widely known and beloved person. It was expressed at the funeral that: — “No funeral could be said which would do her justice; she lived a life that needed no words said.”

Emma Elizabeth Thomas was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz, Kentucky.

 

Emma Thomas tombstone

LINEAGE: (Emma Elizabeth Thomas was the daughter of George Walton and Margaret “Jennie” Thomas Thomas.  George Walton was the sixth child of Rufus King and Alvie Adeline Dunn Thomas.  Rufus King was the fifth child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.   Margaret was the daughter of Carroll and Margaret Jane Reid Thomas. Carroll was the second child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr., was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)