Jesse Leroy Sholar -- Victim of an Automobile Accident

 

Jesse Leroy Sholar

Jesse Leroy Sholar was born on June 15, 1924 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the fifth of seven children born to Henry David Sholar and Maggie Louise Dearing Sholar.  Henry was a farmer and both he and Maggie were natives of Trigg County.  Leroy was a descendant of Jemima Bridges Sholar.

Leroy’s siblings were Mary Louise Sholar, born in 1915 and married Alex Granville Meredith; Ernest William Sholar, born in 1917 and married Mary Frances Wright; Noble Earl Sholar, born in 1919 and married Mary Katherine Sowell; Lacy Hopson Sholar, born in 1921 and married Barbara Gertrude Fowler; Dorothy Mae Sholar, born in 1926 and married William Burley Broadbent, Jr.; and Hilrie Harrison Sholar, born in 1928 and married Myrna Loy Allen.

Leroy grew up in Trigg County and attended the local elementary schools.  At a young age, he began working on the farm along with his father who was a farmer.  Later in his life, Leroy moved to Hopkinsville and worked as a machinist at Hopkinsville Clothing and Flynn Enterprises.

On June 15, 1949, Leroy married Martha Nell Fowler.  Martha was born February15, 1930 and was the fifth on nine children of Joseph Blackford Fowler and Alice Thomas Fowler.  Joseph was a farmer and both he and Alice were natives of Trigg County.  Martha was a descendant of Perry Thomas.  

Martha's siblings were Kenneth Jefferson Fowler, born in 1923 and married Mary Lou Hammonds and later married Nancy Jane McDowell; John Chilton Fowler, born in 1924 and married Goldie Mae Owens and later married Clara Mae Owens and then married Maria Garcia; Joe Blackford Fowler, Jr., born in 1926 and married Sarah Frances Major; Barbara Gertrude Fowler, born in 1928 and married Lacy Hopson Sholar; Maxie Kidell Fowler, born in 1932 and married Margaret Frances Britt; Gracie Jean Fowler, born in 1934 and married Robert Kelly Allen; Dorris Rhea Fowler, born in 1936 and married Shirley Ann Byrd; and Lonnie Hay Fowler, born in 1939 and married Carolyn Louise Gilkey and later married Linda Lewinkind.

Martha and Leroy had no children.  Their marriage ended in divorce on July 12, 1974. 

Leroy married his second wife, Bertha Jewell Wallace Meredith Gray on September 1, 1974 in Christian County, Kentucky.  Bertha was born on December 2, 1919 in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of Flavious Oscar “Fay” Wallace and Mary Lula Cheatham Wallace. Fay was a farmer and both he and Mary were natives of Tennessee.  Leroy and Bertha had no children.

On Sunday afternoon September 30, 2001, Leroy and Bertha were in their car in downtown Hopkinsville when at approximately 1:53 p.m. Leroy, who was driving, attempted to cross South Virginia Street from Morningside Drive when he drove his vehicle into the path of a northbound pickup truck.  Leroy and Bertha were not wearing their seat belts and both of them died of the injuries they suffered in the mishap.  The driver of the pickup truck suffered minor injuries but declined transportation to the hospital. 

Leroy was 77 years old and Bertha was 81 at the time of their deaths. Joint services for the couple were held at the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Hopkinsville. Both Leroy and Bertha were buried in the Green Hill Memorial Gardens in Hopkinsville.

Bertha Wallace Sholar

 

 Jesse and Bertha tombstone

LINEAGE: (Jesse Leroy Sholar was the fifth child of Henry David and Maggie Louise Dearing Sholar.  Henry was the first child of William Henry and Martha Frances Bridges Sholar.  William was the second child of David “Davie” and Temperance Lawrence Sholar.  Davie was the first child of Allen Thomas and Jemima Bridges Sholar.  Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

(Martha Nell Fowler was the fifth child of Joseph Blackford and Alice Thomas Fowler.  Alice was the eleventh child of Chilton Allen and Amanda Ellen Chewning Thomas.  Chilton was the tenth child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Carl Gary "Ned" Davis -- Farmer of the Year

 

Ned Davis

Carl Gary “Ned” Davis was born on May 19, 1938 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the youngest of the three children of Alfred Leroy “Bill” Davis and Lou Belle Thomas Davis.  Bill was a farmer and both he and Lou Belle were natives of Trigg County.  Ned was a descendant of Starkie Thomas and Drewry Bridges.

Ned’s siblings were Carey Thomas Davis, born in 1923 and married Marian Louise Rye and Ruby Joyce Davis, born in 1928 and married John Turner Banister.

Ned grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the Oak Grove School.  He went on to attend Trigg County High School in Cadiz where he graduated with the class of 1956.  Ned was very active in the Future Farmers of America in high school and earned the Chapter Farmer, State Farmer and American Farmer degrees.

On June 4, 1959, Ned married Martha Ann Rhea at the home of her parents in Benton, Kentucky with the Rev. Marcus Gurley officiating.  Martha was born on February 12, 1941 in Marshall County, Kentucky, the daughter of  Almon Beal Rhea and Emma Jean Cole Rhea.  Almon worked in construction and as a hardware store owner.  He was a native of Kirksey, Kentucky.  Emma Jean was a native of Benton, Kentucky.

Martha graduated from Benton High School in 1959 where she was class valedictorian.  She received her B.S. degree in 1964 from Murray State University and later received her Master’s degree and Education Specialist degree from MSU.  In 1985 she received her Doctor of Education degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.  She went on to serve as the Director of Pupil Personnel with the Trigg County School System.

Ned worked as a farmer and livestock dealer in Trigg County and also in custom farming and trucking. He had a passion for farming and liked to utilize new conservation practices.  Ned lost his right hand in a farming accident in 1958 at the age of twenty.

Ned and Martha were the parents of two children, Rhea Ann Davis, born in 1960 and married James Donald Phillips, Jr. and Gary Kenneth Davis, born in 1964 and married Mary Frances Jackson.

Ned died on March 4, 2022 at the age of 83 at his home in Cadiz.  He was buried in the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Trigg County.

LINEAGE:  (Carl Gary “Ned” Davis was the son of Alfred Leroy “Bill” and Lou Belle Thomas Davis. Lou Belle was the eighth child of Seldon Trimble and Martha Elizabeth “Bettie” Bridges Thomas.  Seldon was the first child of James Jasper and Mary Magdaline Cunningham Thomas.  James Jasper was the fourth child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Martha Elizabeth was the seventh 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.)

Rosie Crenshaw Thomas Aldridge -- Farmers Wife

 

Rosie Crenshaw Thomas Aldridge

Rosie Crenshaw Thomas was born on July 18, 1888 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was one of eleven children born to Robert Allison Thomas and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas. Robert Allison was a farmer and a native of Trigg County.  Emma was also a native of  Trigg County.  Rosie’s siblings were Ernest Thomas, born in 1879 and died the following year; William Robert “Willie” Thomas, born in 1881 and married Mary Jane Ingram and then married Emma Rogers; Alfred Claude Thomas, born in 1883 and married Mamie Jane Stallons; A. F. “Ferd” Thomas, born in 1885 and married Ethel Ora Boyd; Hugh Early Thomas, born in 1890 and married Georgia King Boyd; Lucy E. Thomas, born in 1893 and died in childhood; Clifton Dorris “Eli” Thomas, born in 1896 and married Naomi N. Young and then married Lavada Buntin Patterson and then Dolly Vanell Smith; Relous Carr “Duck” Thomas born in 1899 and married Gladys Crisp; John Clealon Thomas, born in 1902 and married Mary Willie Thomas; and Clovis Thomas, born in 1913 and died in childhood.

Rosie grew up on her father’s farm and attended the local schools.  On June 29, 1905 when Rosie was 16 years old, she married Willie Gordon Aldridge.  Gordon was born on March 9, 1887 on a farm in the Montgomery community near the Sinking Fork Creek.  He was the son of James Washington Aldridge and Rose Ambie Stewart Aldridge. Both James and Rose were natives of Trigg County and James was a farmer.

After their marriage, Gordon and Rosie moved into a small house that was on his father’s farm. Over the years, Gordon remodeled the house and enlarged it as their family grew. With his remodeling skills, Gordon became a carpenter as one of his jobs as well as working on the family farm.  Over the years he also worked as a salesman for Raleigh products.  In the 1920s, Gordon worked on getting telephones installed in the Montgomery community  He also took on the responsibility of overseeing the maintenance of the roads of the community.

Gordon and Rosie were the parents of ten children.  They were Lacy Floyd Aldrige, born in 1906 and died at the age of five; James Robert Aldridge, born in 1908 and married Mildred Mae Mitchell and later married Willie Mae Beckworth; Ambie Delle Aldridge, born in 1910 and married Robert Earl Hite; Willie Douglas Aldridge, born in 1912 and married Fannie Ellis Cunningham and then married Katherine Laverne Curl and later married Inez Duiquid Wilson; Effie Gordon Aldridge, born in 1915 and married Jesse Harrison Adams; Nora Mae Aldridge, born in 1917 and married Martin Luther Manners and then Mark Aaron Ladd; Doris Hopson Aldridge, born in 1919 and married Marie Martha Ramsey and later married Bethzabe “Betty” Cortez; Thomas Chappell Aldridge, born in 1922 and married Martha Jane Morrison; John Allison Aldridge, born in 1928 and married Jo Lena Richardson and later married Barbara Hall; and Hugh Edward Aldridge, born in 1931 and died as an infant.

Rosie died on February 8, 1937 at the age of 49 at her home in the Montgomery community.  Her young death was the result of cancer.  She was buried in the Humphries Cemetery in Montgomery.  Gordon died on March 1, 1962 at the age of 74 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  He was buried in the Humphries Cemetery.

Rosie tombstone

Willie Gordon Aldridge

 

Gordon tombstone

LINEAGE: (Rosie Crenshaw Thomas Aldridge was the daughter of Robert Allison and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas.  Robert Allison was the fifth 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.)

Thelma Dean Thomas Curling Dall -- Office Manager

 

Dean Dall

Thelma Dean Thomas was born on April 21, 1929 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the youngest of three children of Leslie Edwin Thomas and Hazel Mae Gibson Thomas. Leslie was a farmer and a native of Trigg County.  Hazel was a native of Christian County, Kentucky. Dean was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Dean’s siblings were Violet Marie Thomas, born in 1920 and married Joseph William Edlin and Arthur Gibson Thomas, born in 1924 and married Lora Nell Adams.

Dean grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the rural Trigg County and Cadiz elementary schools. On February 17, 1946, Dean married Jesse James Curling.  Jesse was born September 6, 1921 in Trigg County.  He was the son of Robert Thomas Curling and Virgie Ellen Holland Curling.  Robert was a farmer and fisherman and both he and Virgie were natives of Trigg County.

Dean and Jesse settled in Cadiz and he worked as a truck driver and then for the State of Kentucky Department of Highways, where he was employed for a number of years.  Dean was employed by the Kentucky Stone Company as the office manager at their Canton rock quarry where she worked for 30 years until her retirement.

Dean and Jesse had one child, a daughter, Joan Carol Curling, born in 1946 and married Johnny H. Oliver.

Jesse died on February 4, 1969 at the age of 47 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  He was buried in the Curling Cemetery in Canton.

Dean married her second husband, George Willliam Dall, on October 29, 1977.  George was born on July 13, 1934 in Waterville, Maine to John William Dall and Adrienne Rose Bernier Dall.  John worked for the Keyes Fibre Company in Waterville, Maine for over 25 years and was a native of  Topsham, Maine.  Adrienne was a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

George came to Trigg County in July 1976 as President, Plant Manager and stockholder of Viking Engineering located east of Cadiz.  He had rented an apartment in the home of Boyd and Eunice Thomas and Eunice introduced him to Dean.  One year later they were married.  George was veteran of the US Army and served a tour of duty in Korea.

In 1978, George and Chappell Allen merged Viking Engineering with the Cadiz Machine Company and formed the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Company.  In 1983 George and Chappell began the A and D Tubing Company, a tube rolling business that was the first  plant to be built in the new Industrial Park east of Cadiz.

Dean died on March 20, 2021 at the age of 91 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, Kentucky.  She was buried in the Curling Cemetery.  George died on June 8, 2023 at the age of 88 at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, Kentucky.  He was buried in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.

George Dall

 

Jesse Curling tombstone

 

George Dall tombstone

LINEAGE: (Thelma Dean Thomas was the daughter of Leslie Edwin and Hazel Mae Gibson Thomas.  Leslie was the fourth child of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas.  Wesley was the sixth 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.)

Martha Rhea Cunningham Quarles -- Tailor

 

Martha Rhea Cunningham Quarles

Martha Rhea Cunningham was born on April 28, 1934 near a big spring on Beechy Fork Creek in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the fifth of six children of George Clyde Cunningham and Robbie Bell Bridges Cunningham. Clyde was a farmer and both he and Robbie were natives of Trigg County.  Martha was a descendant of Cullen Bridges, Cullen Thomas and Starkie Bridges. 

Martha's siblings were Aubrey Hershell Cunningham, born in 1923 and married Anna Josephine Calhoun and later married Velina Guess England; Albert Dale Cunningham, born in 1925 and died in World War II; Alfred Leslie Cunningham, born in 1927 and married Joe Hazel Bush; Dolly Mae Cunningham, born in 1930 and married William Ray Stokes and later married Thomas Davis Rawlins; and Mava Dale Cunningham, born in 1946 and married Paul Raymond Brown.

Martha grew up attending the country schools in Trigg County.  When she was a young girl, she acquired the nickname of “Cricket” because as her grandfather noted, she was always hopping and jumping around and never seemed to sit still.  She was known by the “Cricket” nickname into her adult life.  One of her first jobs was to work at the Hopkinsville Shoe Factory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky  It was there she met a fellow worker who would become her husband.

On April 18, 1953, Martha married Charles Robert Quarles in Springfield, Tennessee.  Robert was born on October 21, 1925 in Christian County, Kentucky.  He was the son of Ewing Burton Quarles and Cora Eunice Mayes Quarles.  Ewing was a farmer and a laborer and was a native of Gainsboro, Tennessee.  Cora was a native of Robertson County, Tennessee.

Charles was a veteran of World War II.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 26, 1944 and spent eighteen months serving on sea duty in the Pacific Ocean.  He was honorably discharged from the service on July 5, 1946.

Martha and Charles lived in Hopkinsville where Martha was employed as a tailor in furs and leather.  This was a trade that been handed down from her ancestors.  Martha spent most of her time raising her four children.   Charles worked as a machinist and in his retirement years worked as a greeter at Walmart.

Martha and Charles were the parents of four children, Timothy Dwain Quarles, born in 1954 and married Eugenia McGaugh Neves, and then married Gail E. Grossman and then married Mary Erickson; Stanley Robert Quarles, born in 1958 and married Sherry L. Henderson and then married Linda Lee Dunlap Carlton; Kathy Dianne Quarles, born in 1959 and married Peter Joseph Uzelac and then married Jeffery Mitchell Rogers; and Mark Anthony Quarles, born in 1963 and married Valorie Jane Storer.

Charles died on January 22, 2008 at the age of 82 at the Christian Health Center in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.  Martha died on May 8, 2021 at the age of 87.  She was buried in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.

Charles Quarles

 

Martha tombstone

 

 

Charles tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Martha Rhea Cunningham was the daughter of George Clyde and Robbie Bell Bridges Cunningham.  George Clyde was the third child of Elmer Elsworth “Ell” and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham.  Rosa Lee was the seventh child of Cullen T. 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.  Robbie Bell was the second child of Drew Manley and Lena Mae Guier Bridges.  Drew Manley was the seventh child of Starkie T. and Elizabeth Lawrence Bridges.  Starkie was the second 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 Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Andrew and Carol Bridges Thomas -- Electrical Engineer and Beautician

Andrew and Carol Bridges Thomas

 Andrew Thomas was born on August 7, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan. He was one of a set of triplets born to Hubert Jackson “Tige” Thomas and Vada Helena Wallace Thomas.  Hubert operated an automobile body shop and was a native of Trigg County.  Vada was a native of Dover, Tennessee. Andrew was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Andrew’s siblings were Carolyn Sue Thomas, born in 1934 and died at the age of one day; Billie Joe Thomas, born in 1935 and married Carolyn Raquel Williams; fellow triplets, Bruce Thomas, born in 1937 and married Joyce Ann P’Pool; Charles Thomas, born in 1937 and married Martha Ann Myers and later married Clara Ellen McKinney; and Dennis Glyn Thomas, born in 1944 and married Linda Dale Hancock.

Andrew spent his first nine years growing up in Detroit, but moved to Trigg County, Kentucky in 1946, He enrolled in Trigg County High School and graduated with the class of 1958.  He was very active in the high school band as a trumpet player and continued to play the trumpet in the Western Kentucky University Band and with the U.S. Army Band during his military service.  He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska and had the honor of playing in the ceremonies when Alaska became a state.  

Andrew along with his brothers Bruce and Charles enlisted in the U.S Army together on February 18, 1959. They received their basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and then were assigned to a unit at Fairbanks.  They were exceptionally recognized as the only set of triplets to be serving together in the army at that time.  The triplets were discharged in February of 1961.

On July 8, 1961, Andrew married Frances Carol Bridges,  Carol was born on October 1, 1941 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the oldest of three children born to Paul Anderson Bridges and Myra Lou Flood Bridges. Paul was a custodian at the Trigg County Hospital and he and Myra were both natives of Trigg County.  Carol was a descendant of both Simco Bridges and Starkie Thomas.

Carol’s siblings were Sara Pauline Bridges, born in 1943 and married James Wilford Thomas and then married Curtis Earl Joiner and William Edward Bridges, born in 1946 and married Betty Rene Joiner and then married Pamela R. Hutchinson.  Carol had previously been married to Rex Lynn Holland, who was born on December 16, 1939 and was the son of Rex Lynn Holland, Sr and Ethel Harrell Holland, who were both natives of Trigg County. Carol had one child from this marriage, Deborah Lynn Holland, born in 1959 and married Bobby Ray Thomas.  Rex died on February 9, 1959.

Andrew began his work career as a power use advisor with the Pennyrile Rural Electric in the Cadiz District office in 1967. In 1971 he became an electrical inspector for the Pennyrile area of Trigg, Lyon, Caldwell and Christian counties while still working with Pennyrile Rural Electric.  Andrew retired as an electrical engineer with Pennyrile Rural Electric after working with them for over 30 years. Carol was a graduate of the Ezell School of Cosmetology and she worked as a beautician.

Andrew and Carol were the parents of two children, Steven Andrew Thomas, born in 1962 and married Kimberly Dean Thomas and then married Kellye Sue Brazil and later married Tammy Fuller and Andrea Carol Thomas, born in 1965 and married Jerry Wray Jordan.

Carol died on November 13, 2009 at the age of 68 at her home in Cadiz.  She was buried in the Lucien Thomas Family Cemetery in Trigg County.  Andrew died on January 24, 2021 at the age of 83 at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was buried in the Lucien Thomas Family Cemetery next to his wife.

 

 Andrew Thomas

Carol Bridges Thomas

 

The Thomas triplets in the military

 

Andrew and Carol tombstone

LINEAGE: (Andrew Thomas was the son of Hubert Jackson and Vada Helena Wallace Thomas. Hubert was the second child of Lucian M. and Inez B. Crews Thomas.  Lucian was the fourth child of Jonathan Starkie and Julia Dyer Thomas.  Jonathan was the third child of William Bridges and Nancy Jane Rogers Thomas.  William was the first child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

(Frances Carol Bridges was the daughter of Paul Anderson and Myra Lou Flood Bridges.  Paul was the first child of Luther Edward and Cora Lula Banister Bridges. Luther was third child of William Joseph and Sarah Wills Bridges.  William was the first child of Simco N. and Emeline Martin Bridges.  Simco was the third child of Wiliam and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Myra Lou was the seventh child 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.)

Drury Bridges -- The First Bridges in Trigg County

 

Drury Bridges was born on August 30, 1765 on a plantation in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  He was the oldest of the six children born to William Bridgers and Jemima Hobby Bridgers.  William and Jemima were natives of Halifax County, North Carolina.  Drury had a sister named Priscilla Bridges and a sister named Sylvias Bridges, also a third sister and two brothers whose names are not known.
Drury met Charity Cohoon in Edgecombe County and they were married in late 1789 or early 1790.  The exact date cannot be determined because the marriage bonds of Edgecombe County are missing for years 1774 through 1798. Charity was the daughter of John Cohoon and Pricilla Flowers Cohoon of Edgecombe County.

Drury, Charity and their family migrated from Edgecombe County to Christian County (now Trigg County), Kentucky in 1804. They traveled over 600 miles overland by oxen-drawn covered wagon across North Carolina to East Tennessee and through the Cumberland Valley of Tennessee into Western Kentucky where the family settled in western Trigg County. Drury acquired 85 ½ acres of land on Beechy Fork Creek in an area now known as Maple Grove, where he built a log cabin for the family home.  The cabin that Drury built stood until 1907 when it was torn down to build a modern home by his grandson.  Over the years, Drury acquired more than 700 acres in the Maple Grove community.

Drury and Charity were the parents of seven children. One child died in North Carolina, four traveled with the family from North Carolina and two were born in Kentucky. These children were Jemima Bridges, born in 1795 and married Allen Sholar; Piety Bridges, born in 1797 and married Noah Brunk; Selethia Bridges, a twin, born in 1797 and married Joel Futrell; William Bridges, born in 1800 and married Mary Thomas; Orren Dates Bridges, born about 1802 and died in childhood; Elizabeth Josephine Bridges, born in 1804 and married Perry Thomas; and Mary Bridges, born in 1807 and married Starkie Thomas.

William Bridges was Drury’s only son to grow to adulthood and the Bridges family name in Trigg County lives through William. William and his wife, Mary Thomas, daughter of James Thomas were the parents of twelve children, nine of them were sons.  It is through five of these nine sons that the Bridges name was well established in Trigg County.

The seven children of Drury and Charity had a total of 53 children.  These 53 had 221 children. The third generation produced 884 children and by the fifth generation, Drury and Charity had over 3,500 descendants.  The majority of these descendants also claimed James and Mary Thomas as their ancestors.  

In 1820 Trigg County was officially formed out of the western section of Christian County and Drury took a prominent part of the political, religious and cultural affairs of the newly formed county.  Drury’s formal education is unknown but it is believed he was well educated for a person of his time, apparently acquired at schools in Edgecombe County.  While living in Kentucky, he was often called upon to help his neighbors and others in his community for help with their business affairs.  He was among the 27 charter members who organized the Donaldson Creek Baptist Church in 1814.

In his later years, Drury was disabled by a stroke which required him to use crutches for the remainder of his life.  Drury died on June 13, 1840 at the age of 74 at his home on Beechy Fork Creek. Chairty outlived Drury by 12 years and died on October 16, 1852 at the age of 81.  Both Drury and Charity were buried in the family cemetery located about 100 yards from their home, now aptly named the Drury (Drewry) Bridges Cemetery.

 

Drury tombstone

Charity tombstone

The original Drury Bridges log cabin is on the right side of

 this later enlarged portion of the house

LINEAGE: (Drury Bridges and Charity Cohoon Bridges are the original ancestors of the Bridges family of Trigg County, Kentucky.)