Betty Jane Bradford Bergmann -- Teacher

 

Betty Bergmann

Betty Jane Bradford Bergmann was born on April 6, 1929 at home, on the main street of the small town of Boatman, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Samuel Nathanial and Monnie Lee McCasland Bradford.  Betty’s only sibling was her brother, Dale Bradford who was born on May 4, 1930. Betty had a great childhood with her brother, Dale, from swimming in Bryan Chapel Branch Creek, swinging from grape vines, roaming around in the woods, and having corn cob fights. Betty attended the Salina School and Bryan Chapel grade schools and graduated from Strang High School with the Class of 1946. 

She went on to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College in Miami, Oklahoma.  At the end of her second year at the college, Betty’s father got her a job back at Strang High School where she started her teaching career at the age of 19.

While teaching at Strang, Betty met William Henry Bergmann. She wanted to get married, but also wanted a car. Henry had told her “I’ll buy you a car. Let’s get married.” And so they were married on October 5, 1951.  Henry was born on October 7, 1927 in Adair, Oklahoma. He was a veteran of World War II and had served in the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.  He worked as a transportation manager. Betty and Henry were the parents of three children, Stanley Marcus Bergmann, born in 1952, Kent Alan Bergmann, born in 1956 and Lisa Anne Bergmann, born in 1959.

After Henry and Betty were married, they moved to Tulsa but later moved to Pryor, Oklahoma where they settled on a farm. Betty began teaching in the nearby Chouteau Public School System and taught at Jefferson Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School. In 1978, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and continued to teach through numerous radiation treatments and a year of chemotherapy.  Betty spent 30 years teaching and retired in 1990.

After retirement, she became the treasurer of the Mayes County Retired Educators and belonged to two teacher conclaves, Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Kappa Iota. She also joined the Daughters of the American Revolution and became active in the Mayes County Historical Society and the Mayes County Genealogy Club.

An article written about Betty by a friend, Thelma Notley, described her: “Betty Bergmann can be described in one word: Reliable. No club assignment or task is ever deemed unworthy by her. From small jobs to those involving more time, Betty will get it done.” And always with the special Betty smile and quiet manner. She never seemed to look for the bad side of life, but always for the good. Betty had a great life. She would say that her happiness didn’t depend on great wealth, but for her many friends and great children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren

Betty died on January 13, 2020 in Pryor at the age of 90.  She was buried in the Bryan Chapel Cemetery in Boatman, Oklahoma, next to her husband, Henry, who had died on April 10, 2000.

Bergmann Tombstone

LINEAGE: (Betty Jane Bradford was the daughter of Samuel Nathaniel and Monnie Lee McCasland Bradford, the granddaughter of Thomas Jesse and Mary Stanley Thomas McCasland, and the great-granddaughter of James Clark “Muck” and Mary Elizabeth Lawrence Thomas.  James Clark was the fourth child of James Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James Jr. was the sixth child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas.  Mary Lawrence was the daughter of Ezekiel and Polly Sholar Lawrence and the granddaughter of Allen and Jemima Bridges Sholar.  Jemima was the first child of Drury Bridges and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Geneva Simmons Thomas and Anthony Thomas -- Victims of a House Fire

 

 

Geneva Simmons was born on July 31, 1917 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the daughter of Arthur and Alma Dawson Simmons, both natives of Trigg County.  The Simmons family lived in the Linton Community and Arthur worked as a farmer.  Geneva had five brothers and three sisters.

On January 1, 1939, Geneva married William Boyd Thomas.  Boyd was born on February 22, 1917 in Trigg County, the fifth child of Lucian M. and Inez B. Crews Thomas.  He had a brother, John Alex, born in 1907; Hubert, born in 1909; Homer Blane, born in 1911, Mary Julia, born in 1917 and Alton, born in 1923.  Lucian lived in the Oak Grove Community and was a farmer

Geneva and Boyd were the parents of three children.  Their first child, a daughter, Wanda Lou was born on June 29, 1940. A second daughter, Judy Nell was born on September 17, 1941.  Their only son, Anthony Boyd “Tony”, was born on December 16, 1944.

Boyd owned and operated a walk-up restaurant known as Boyd’s Dairy Dip located on Highway 68 west of Cadiz near the Pete Light Spring Restaurant.  Boyd also served as a board member of the Bank of Cadiz and Trust Company.

On the evening of Tuesday, May 28, 1946, Boyd, age 29, was building a fire in a wood stove in the living room of their home. Geneva was sitting near the stove dressing their 17-month-old child, Tony.  Boyd was apparently using kerosene to help start the fire in the stove when the kerosene can and stove exploded setting the six room house on fire.  Boyd, his clothing aflame, carried his wife and baby outside the home and dipped then in a pool of water near the Thomas house.  He then immediately took them to the Futrell Clinic, located approximately five miles away.   The explosion was heard by neighbors who lived more than a half mile away.   The two Thomas daughters, Wanda Lou and Judy, four and five years of age, managed to escape as the home burned quickly to the ground. Geneva and Tony were transported to Jennie Stuart Hospital in nearby Hopkinsville because of the seriousness of their burns.  Unfortunately, Tony died of his burns a few hours after reaching the hospital.  A few days later, on Saturday, June 1, Geneva, who was 28 years old, became the second fatally injured person of the fire when she died at the hospital as the result of her wounds.  Boyd, who was painfully burned and was also a patient in the hospital, planned to accompany the body of his wife back to Trigg County for her funeral services.

Both Geneva and Tony were buried in the Starkie Thomas Cemetery in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County.  Boyd married a second time when he married Eunice Grace Thomas on June 28, 1947.  He died on June 18, 1998 and was buried next to his first wife, Geneva.

 Tombstone of Geneva and Boyd Thomas

Tombstone of Anthony Thomas

LINEAGE:   (Anthony Boyd Thomas was the son of William Boyd Thomas and Geneva Simmons.  William Boyd was the son of Lucian M. and Inez Crews Thomas, the grandson of Jonathan Starkie and Julia Dyer Thomas and the great-grandson of William Bridges and Nancy Jane Rogers Thomas.  William Bridges Thomas was the first child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas and Mary Bridges was the seventh child of Drury Bridges and Charity Cahoon Bridges.)

Jesse Monroe Vinson -- Farmer

 

 

Jesse Monroe Vinson was born on October 21, 1874 in Lonoke County, Arkansas.  His parents, Henry Cullen Vinson and Mary Catherine Sumner had lived in Trigg County, Kentucky, but in the early 1870s had moved to Arkansas.  His father, Henry was born in Stewart County, Tennessee, but his family moved to Trigg County when he was a youngster. Mary Catherine was born in Trigg County and married Henry on November 9, 1865.

Jesse had two siblings who were born in Trigg County before the family moved to Arkansas, a brother, Alfred Thomas Vinson who was born in 1866 and a sister, Alice Lula Vinson who was born in 1869. Jesse’s second brother, John Robert Vinson, was born in Arkansas in 1874. His third brother, Clyde Herman Vinson, was born in 1882 after the family had returned to Kentucky.

When Jesse was three years old, his family after spending seven years in Arkansas, returned to Trigg County, Kentucky and eventually settled on a farm located about three miles west of Cadiz.  Jesse grew up on his father’s farm.

On November 13, 1895, at the age of 21, Jesse married Forrest May Thomas. Forrest was native of Trigg County having been born on December 27, 1876, the daughter of Jonathan Starkie Thomas and Julia Dyer.  Jesse and Forrest were the parents of four children, but only one of their children grew to adulthood.  Their first son, Clifton B., born on September 2, 1896 died the following day.  Their second child, Carey Thomas Vinson was born on June 1, 1898 and grew to adulthood.  Their third child, Mary Julia Vinson was born July 20, 1907 and died two months later on September 18.  Their fourth child, Lula Vinson, born November 20, 1908 died at the age of 1½ on May 2, 1910.

Jesse and Forrest lived in the home of Jesse’s parents for about two years and then purchased an adjacent farm. Jesse continued to pursue a career as a farmer and was considered one of the most successful farmers in the community.  He was also in the horse-trading business which he was also very successful.  Jesse was known as a very compassionate man who was always willing to help his friends and neighbors.  He was always the first to offer kindly assistance and loved to bring joy and relief to those in distress.

Forrest was a woman with an independent personality. She liked to visit her many relatives and would make her visits driving her own horse and buggy and often rode side saddle on her horses.  She bought one of the first Model T Fords and learned to drive it on her own.

During the late winter and early spring months of 1916, Jesse complained of stomach problems.  He consulted with local physicians and they referred him to a specialist in Nashville.  It was determined that he was suffering from a form of cancer of the stomach.  At that time, there were little treatments for his medical condition so Jesse returned to his family farm to continue about his business. As his life drew to a close, he arranged his business affairs and made plans for the welfare of his wife and son, who was only 18 at the time.  Jesse died at his home at 5:30 a.m., on Friday, November 10, 1916.  He was only 42 years old at his death.

His burial took place the following Saturday afternoon at the family cemetery located near his home. It was said that one of the largest crowds ever seen in the community was present to pay respects to one of the county’s foremost citizens.

His wife, Forrest, lived to the age of 76 and died on February 18, 1953 in Cadiz, Kentucky.  She was buried next to her husband in the Vinson Cemetery near their home.

Jesse and Forrest Vinson Tombstone

(LINEAGE:  Jesse Monroe Vinson was the son of Henry Cullen and Mary Catherine Sumner Vinson and the grandson of Thomas Allison and Emeline Thomas Vinson.  Emeline was the fifth child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Ora Agnes Bridges Thomas -- Accomplished Early Family Member

 

 

 

 

 

Ora Agnes Bridges Thomas was born on June 15, 1869 in the Maple Grove Community of Trigg County, Kentucky.   She was the fourth child of Civil war veteran Cullen Thomas Bridges and his wife, Martha Ann Virginia Thomas.  Her siblings were the well known Bridges Brothers who made a name for themselves in the early 1900s in the Trigg County community.  Those brothers were Ghent, Mark Dale, John Trice, Cleveland and Jesse Clyde.  In addition, Ora had three sisters,   Rosa Lee, Mollie May and a sister, Sallie who died as an infant.

Around 1900, Ora married Robert Henry “Bob” Thomas, a widower whose first wife, Lillie Belle Thomas had died in 1899.  Ora and Bob were the parents of three children, Ruby Virginia Thomas, born May 11, 1902, Henry Cullen Thomas, born November 24, 1903 and Edison Hugh Thomas, born June 5, 1912.  Ora also raised Robert Peyton Thomas, Bob’s son by his first wife, Lillie.

Ora and Bob settled in the Donaldson Creek Community where Bob was a farmer.  The farm was not far from where James Thomas, Sr. had settled in 1806.   Except for a short time when they lived in Paducah, Kentucky, she and Bob lived their entire married life on the Donaldson Creek farm. 

Ora was an accomplished musician.  She played the organ and guitar and sang.  She had a keen interest in current events and was “well read” for a woman of her time.  In addition, Ora was an excellent cook.  Photography was another one of her talents, using a small box camera with roll film.

Ora was also before her time a feminist, a word that she never heard during her lifetime.  She was appointed as an assistant clerk in the Donaldson Creek Baptist Church at a time when women were not even permitted to speak pertaining to business matters of the church.  After the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, she was one of the first women to vote in the Donaldson Precinct.

Ora was a humanitarian, who helped her friends, neighbors and relatives when they were in need and during an illness. But most of all, Ora was a devoted mother and grandmother.

Ora died on October 28, 1933 in Trigg County at the age of 64.  She was buried in the Drury Bridges Cemetery in the Maple Grove Community near the site where she was born.  Her husband, Bob, died on January 27, 1948, at the age of 80.  He was buried in the Peyton Thomas Cemetery on Donaldson Creek next to his first wife, Lille Belle Thomas.

 

Ora Bridges Thomas Tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Ora Agnes Bridges was the daughter of Cullen T. Bridges and Martha Virginia Thomas Bridges and the granddaughter of William Bridges and Mary Thomas Bridges and Peyton Thomas and Sarah Ethridge Thomas.  She was the great-granddaughter of Cullen Thomas and Elizabeth Futrell Bridges and Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  She was the great-great granddaughter of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

James Irving Harrison, Jr. -- Pharmacist and Philanthropist

 

Jimmy Harrison, Jr.

James Irving "Jimmy" Harrison, Jr., was born on July 11, 1932 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the son of James I. Harrison, Sr. and Elizabeth Doherty Harrison.  Jimmy graduated from St. John the Baptist Catholic High School in Tuscaloosa and Baylor Prep School in Chattanooga before accepting a basketball scholarship to the University of Alabama. He went on to Howard College (now Samford University) in 1952 to study pharmacy, graduating with honors.

At Howard College he met Peggy Joyce Thomas, and they were married on May 30, 1954. Peggy was the daughter of Keidell Thomas, a native of Trigg County, Kentucky and Phyllis Rebecca McGee Thomas, a native of Christian County, Kentucky. They became the parents of five children, three sons, James, III, Ronald Patrick and Kei Anthony and two daughters, Rebecca and Cheri.

After college, Jimmy returned to Tuscaloosa to work with his father at the family's Central Drug Store in downtown Tuscaloosa.  He later managed their popular new campus location, Druid Drug. In 1967 Jimmy went on to found Harco Drug, which became one of America's most respected business chains with 156 stores in three states. Under his leadership, Harco Drug merged with the Rite Aid Corporation in 1997.

In addition to founding Harco Drugs, Jimmy found Carport, an auto products retailer, which he established in 1983 and grew to 53 stores in Alabama and Mississippi.  In 2001 Carport merged with Advance Auto Parts, Inc.   Recognized throughout the national retail industry for personal integrity and business savvy, Jimmy received top honors on behalf of Harco and for personal achievement, including Outstanding Small Drug Chain in the U.S. 1996; Retailer of the Decade 1990 and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

One of the Harrison family's proudest moments took place in January 2015 when Jimmy was honored by the Samford University Athletic Department for holding the highest scoring record in their basketball history – hitting 48 points in a game against Chattanooga on January 6, 1956. That record still stands. Then on April 13, 2019, Samford University honored Jimmy again by inducting him into Samford University Athletics Hall of Fame. The Harrison family's legacy of service and commitment to education have been recognized in many ways, including the establishment of the James I. Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University, named in honor of Jimmy's parents. The Harrison Center for Academic Excellence at Judson College was dedicated in 2001, and the James I. Harrison Family Endowed Teaching Excellence Facility Fellowship at The University of Alabama was established in 1999. Jimmy received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Alabama and Judson College,

After the Rite Aid sale, Jimmy and Peggy devoted even more time to community service and ­philanthropy. “It already is a difficult adjustment for me. You just can’t do something 47 years intensely and all of a sudden turn the faucet off,” Harrison said in a 1997 interview with The Tuscaloosa News. Jimmy and Peggy founded the James I. Harrison Family Foundation which over the years has contributed to a long list of charitable organizations devoted to families, the arts, education and improving the lives of citizens in western Alabama and beyond. “The philanthropic work from the foundation is probably the best thing the family ever did,” he said in an interview with Tuscaloosa magazine, published in 2017.

Jimmy died in Tuscaloosa on February 24, 2020 at the age of 87.  He was buried in the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park cemetery.

LINEAGE:  (James Irving Harrison, Jr. was the husband of Peggy Joyce Thomas.  Peggy was the daughter of Keidell and Phyllis Rebecca McGee Thomas, granddaughter of Jerome Scott and Rosa Payton Marquess Thomas and great-granddaughter of Winfield Scott and Cassandra Jemima Futrell Thomas and Marion and Mary J. Thomas Marquess.  Winfield Scott was the son of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Elizabeth was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary J. Thomas was daughter 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.)