Jesse Clyde Bridges -- Prominent Farmer and Carpenter

 

Jesse and Myrt Bridges

Jesse Clyde Bridges was born on February 13, 1887 in the Maple Grove Community of Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the youngest of ten children of Cullen Thomas Bridges and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges. Cullen was a Civil War veteran and early Trigg County farmer and teacher.  Jesse’s siblings were Sallie, born in 1846, who died at the age of one; an unnamed infant born and died in 1865; Ghent Alfred, born in 1867; Ora Agnes, born in 1869; Mark Dale, born in 1871; John Trice, born in 1874; Rosa Lee, born in 1876; Cleveland, born in 1878; and Mollie May, born in 1880.

Jesse was a farmer as were his forefathers.  He was also known as an excellent carpenter. He was in partnership with four of his brothers to create the Bridges Brothers Nursery located in the Maple Grove Community. They had several large orchards where they sold fruit and fruit trees that they grafted.  They also made gallons of apple cider that they later sold as apple vinegar.  In addition, they raised all kinds of farm products for sale such as chickens, geese, turkeys and guineas as well as tobacco, corn, wheat and sorghum.

On April 6, 1908, Jesse married Myrtress “Myrt” Grace Davis, at the home of her parents. Following the wedding the bridal party went to the home of the groom where they were given “a supper and the evening was spent with music, singing and social enjoyments,” according to the local newspaper.  Myrt was born April 14, 1890 and was the daughter of John Forrest and Julia Ella Sumner Davis.

Jesse and Myrt lived in the homestead that had been his father’s, grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s home and would later become his youngest son’s home which made five generations of the family to reside in the home place.  Jesse and Myrt had five children, Conrad Hershel, born in 1909 and married Annie Opal Calhoun; Myra Lou, born in 1911 and married Clyde Layton Lawrence; Robert Chappell, born in 1913 and married Virginia Mize, Blanche Elaine, born in 1916 and married Chaffin Moorfield; and Clyde Taylor “C. T.”, born in 1920 and married Willie Lee Sharp.

The Bridges’ home was a place where visitors were always welcome. Myrt was noted as an outstanding cook as well as being a very talented in sewing, crocheting and quilting. Her quilts were sought by many local people and well as from other states.  She was recognized as a professional quilter with her heirloom needlework being located throughout the country.  Myrt also worked in the Maple Grove Post Office from 1908 to 1913 assisting her father-in-law, Cullen, who was the Postmaster.

Jesse died on August 21, 1963 in Cadiz at the age of 76.  He was buried in the Drewry Bridges Family Cemetery located across the creek from his family home in the Maple Grove Community.  Myrt died on May 1, 1988 in Cadiz at the age of 98.  She was buried in the Drewry Bridges Family Cemetery next to her husband.

Young Jesse and Myrt

Jesse and Myrt's Home

The Nursery

Jesse and Myrt's tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Jesse Clyde Bridges was the son of Cullen Thomas and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges and the grandson of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)