Drewry Bridges -- Early Trigg County Kentucky Pioneer

Drewry Bridges, one of eleven children and the fourth son of William and Mary Thomas Bridges, was born January 20, 1827.  He was named for his grandfather Drury Bridges, the early Trigg County pioneer who came from North Carolina to Kentucky in 1804.  On October 25, 1849 he married Peaches “Peachie” Ann Tart who was the daughter of Richard P. and Elizabeth “Betsy” Lawrence Tart.  The ceremony was performed by James Thomas, Jr., a justice of the peace and uncle of the groom.

Drewry acquired the home place where his father William had settled, and eventually became one of the most successful farmers and livestock breeders in Trigg County.  He had always been a farmer and enjoyed the distinction of being perhaps the most prosperous citizen of his community.

Eleven children were born to Drewry and Peachie:  Henrietta Gabriella, Mary Louisa, James Fillmore, William Henry, John Richard, Durwood Stanley, Martha Elizabeth, Drewry E., Creta, Peachie Ellen and Eddie Adeline. All their children grew into adulthood except James Fillmore, Drewry E. and Creta, who died in childhood.

Peachie Ann, his wife, died on March 26, 1884 at the age of 50.  Three years later on June 13, 1887, Drewry married his second wife, Nancy “Nannie” Gresham.  Nannie was the daughter of James Lawson and Mary Shirley Gresham.  They had two children, Garland Drew, and Hugh who died July 11, 1895, at the age of five.  Nannie died on July 7, 1901.

He was a member of Donaldson Creek Baptist Church for more than sixty years, and was active in the Canton Masonic Lodge.  He died at his home near Maple Grove on July 4, 1916, at the age of eighty-nine years, outliving all his brothers and sisters.  He and Peachie, his first wife, are buried in the William Bridges Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky.  Nannie, his second wife and their son Hugh, are buried in “the garden”, a site once used as a vegetable garden located to the right of their home.

His obituary stated that “He was a man of fine judgment, enjoyed a large circle of friends, and until failing health overtook him, was always found in the front of any movement looking to the betterment of his county and community and for the uplift of mankind generally.  Mr. Bridges always lived a life that his family and friends delighted in pointing to with pride.  For almost a year he had been one of five living generations, a distinction that come to but few people.”

Peachie Ellen, Drewry, Martha Elizabeth, Peachie Ann and Eddie Adeline

The Drewry Bridges Homeplace

 

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(Drewry Bridges was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)