Thomas Edison Bridges -- Survivor of an Arctic Shipwreck

 

Thomas Edison Bridges

Thomas Edison Bridges was born on February 19, 1916 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the third of six children born to Garland Drew Bridges and Annie Lurline Thomas Bridges.  Garland was a farmer in Kentucky and later worked as a hospital employee after moving to Arizona. Both he and Annie were natives of Trigg County.  Edison was a descendant of both Drewry Bridges and Starkie Thomas.

Edison's siblings were Troy Hughie Bridges, born in 1910 and married Isabel Mary Wilde and later married Dorothy May Kerr; Peachie Shirley Bridges, born in 1913 and married Benjamin Franklin Futrell and later married T. J. Owens; Garland Drew Bridges, Jr., born in 1924 and married Johnnye Faye Buth; Anna Louise Bridges, born in 1926 and married Edward Thomas Foose; and Willa Dale Bridges, born in 1929 and married John Wesley Mathis and later married Arliss Worley.

Edison grew up in Trigg County and when he was eighteen years old, in May of 1934, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the Navy Recruiting Station in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was then transferred to the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia where he received twelve weeks of recruit training.  After two years in the Navy, Edison was discharged and he joined the Merchant Marines and served on commercial ships. Edison's career ultimately led him to serve as an engineering officer in the Merchant Marines. He served in the Merchant Marines until his retirement in 1976.

After World War II, Edison almost lost his life after being shipwrecked in Arctic waters.  During the war when Russia and Germany were involved in many battles, and Edison was serving with the Merchant Marines, his ships were involved in carrying supplies to the hottest European spots including the Russian city of Murmansk. Murmansk is, one of the largest cities north of the Arctic Circle and nicknamed the “Gateway to the Arctic.” Edison’s fleet was later honored by the Soviet government for their services to Russia. Edison was shipwrecked on three earlier ill-fated voyages and was successfully rescued.

Following the war on February 5, 1946, Edison who had been serving at sea for more than a year when he was among seventeen survivors of the sixty-man crew of the American liberty ship, SS William H. Webb, sank in the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea after a voyage to the city of Murmansk.  Two lives were known to be lost at the time with Edison being one of the fortunate survivors.  A Russian patrol vessel rescued the seventeen men from the cold Arctic waters and later transferred them to Greenock, Scotland.  The 7,176-ton ship which was built in Baltimore in 1943 broke into two sections and quickly sank in the cold Arctic waters. The lifeboats got away from the wreck, two of them being picked up soon afterward by the Russians. The third whose occupants included the skipper W. R. Schlining of Baltimore was swamped in the surf of an uninhabited island.  "We only managed to scramble ashore" Schlining said “Snow was several feet deep on the Island and we plowed through this to an old hut We knew we could not live long there without food and we decided to set the hut on fire. We knew it would put some heat into us and hoped the blaze would be seen by the Russians"  Schlining and his companions were rescued after spending 24 hours on the island The captain said some of the men were taken to a Murmansk hospital for emergency treatment.

In 1947, Edison married Mary Henrietta “Dolly” Armstrong.  Dolly was born on July 22, 1923 in Trigg County.  She was the daughter of John Starkey Armstrong and Nora Pearl Sumner Armstrong. Both John Starkey and Nora Pearl were natives of Trigg County.  Dolly worked as a nurse.

Edison and Dolly were the parents of one daughter, Gretchen Bridges, born in 1949 and married Stanley C. Kronenberger.  Gretchen was adopted by Dolly’s second husband and was known as Gretchen Green.

Edison and Dolly were divorced and in 1972  Edison married his second wife, Caroline Fox Harned.  Caroline was born on June 13, 1924 in Binghamton Broome, New York .  She was the daughter of John Fox and Anna Kozup Fox who were both natives of Poland. Thomas and Caroline had no children.  Caroline worked at the Norfolk Naval Supply Center for over 25 years.

Edison died on January 3, 1993 at the age of 76 in the Dupaul Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky.  His wife, Caroline, died on June 27, 1999 at the age of 75 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  She was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Edison tombstone

 

Caroline tombstone

LINEAGE: (Thomas Edison Bridges was the son of Garland Drew and Annie Lurline Thomas Bridges. Garland was the twelfth child of Drewry and Nannie Gresham Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Annie Lurline was the fifth 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.)

Mavis Lorene Ford Wolfe -- Elementary School Teacher

 

Mavis Ford Wolfe

Mavis Lorene Ford was born on September 20, 1909 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the third of seven children born to William Albert Ford and Annie Emmaline Bridges Ford.  William was a farmer and he and Annie were both natives of Trigg County.  Annie was a granddaughter of Simco Bridges.  Mavis’ siblings were Henry Kirklin Ford, born and died as an infant in 1906; Betty Earle Ford, born in 1907 and married Thomas Odell Adams; Willie Glenn Ford, born in 1915 and died at the age of one; Elaine Marie Ford, born in 1917 and married Troy Amos “Dave” Calhoun; Howard Blane Ford, born in 1919 and married Irma Maxine Williams; and Nida Merle Ford born in 1924 and married James Burwick Downs.

In 1927, Mavis was in the first graduating class of the Rogers High School in Linton, Kentucky.  The following fall she entered Murray State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Only one year later in 1928, she began her teaching career by teaching in a one-room school. Among the one-room school where she taught were Saline Creek, Lower Donaldson, Delmont and Graham schools.  She went on to teach for fourteen years at the Linton Graded School.

On October 17, 1931, Mavis married James Franklin Wolfe.  Frank was born on October 23, 1906 and was the son of Napoleon B. Wolfe and Ida Martin Hughes Wolfe, both natives of Trigg County.  Frank was also in the first graduating class of the Rogers High School in Linton. He attended Murray State University and was a teacher for twenty-six years in Trigg County.  In 1954, he retired from teaching and became a full-time farmer.

Mavis was transferred from the Linton Graded School to the Cadiz Graded School in 1957.  She taught there until 1962 when the Trigg County school district consolidated all of the 1 through 12 classes into one single school center.  She taught in the new consolidated schools until her retirement in 1975 ending a career of more than 45 years teaching the school children of Trigg County.

Frank and Mavis were the parents of three children, Billie Frank Wolfe, born in 1932 and married Robbie Dell Johnson; Elizabeth Ann Wolfe, born in 1936 and married Rex Allen Thompson; and James Dwight Wolfe, born in 1949 and married Linda Sue Clark and then married Sharon Ezell Birdsong.

Mavis died on September 6, 1987 at the age of 77 in the Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky.  She was buried in the Lawence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Frank had died on January 16, 1983 at the age of 76 at his home in Trigg County.  He was also buried in the Lawrence Cemetery.

Frank Wolfe

 

Mavis and Frank tombstone

LINEAGE: (Mavis Lorene Ford Wolfe was the daughter of William Albert and Annie Emmaline Bridges Ford. Annie was the third child of Alfred Franklin and Lou Ella Turner Bridges.  Alfred was the fourth child of Simco 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.)

James Judson Patterson -- Farmer and State Representative

 

James Judson Patterson was born on January 25, 1852 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the third of nine children born to George Alexander Patterson and Margaret F. Carloss Patterson.  George was a prominent Baptist minister., as well as his father, and both he and Margaret were natives of Berkley County, Virginia, now West Virginia.  They had settled in Trigg County as early as the 1820s.

James grew up on a farm in Trigg County and on January 24, 1877, he married Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas in Trigg County.  Sallie was born on November 12, 1849, one of nine children of Allison William Thomas and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas. Allison was a farmer and a native of Trigg County. Catherine was a native of Sumner County, Tennessee.  Sallies’ siblings were Benjamin Clay Thomas, born in 1852; Charles Edgar Thomas, born in 1854 and married Fannie Quick; Martha Jane Thomas, born in 1856 and married John Carr Quick; Tommy Wilson Thomas, born in 1858; John Quincy Thomas, born in 1860 and married Catherine Moore Bruff; Mary Allison Thomas, born in 1862 and married James. Henry Carloss; Kate Eliza Thomas, born in 1864 and married John Howard and later married James Watson “Pete” Bruff; and George Prentice Thomas, born in 1869 and married Annie Laurie Meacham.  Sallie was known as an ardent scholar and before her marriage, she taught school in Trigg County and was well remembered as being a fine instructor.

James was a prominent and well-known farmer in Trigg County.  He desired to be a public servant and in 1923 he ran for state representative for Trigg County as the Democrat candidate.  He was successful and served in the 1924 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.  He ran for re-election and served a second term in 1926.  Several of the main roads of Trigg County were placed in the primary road systems through his efforts in that body and he served on many prominent committees during his terms in the Legislature.  James did not shy away from controversy as a legislator.  In the 1924 session he was one of the legislators who helped to put through a controversial anti-parimutuel bill through the state house. The legislative controversy over parimutuel betting still exists even up to the current time.  In February of 1926, the House of Representatives was enlivened when he endeavored to put through a bill to punish teachers who taught anything concerning the Darwin Theory. The bill was killed when the speaker of the house ruled against it.

James and Sallie were the parents of three children, Anna Olivia “Annie” Patterson, born in 1877 and married William Samuel Wade; Allison Thomas Patterson, born in 1880 and married Nancy “Nannie” Quick Fort; and George Alexander Patterson, born in 1883.

James died on October 3, 1933 at the age of 81 at his home near Cadiz.  Four years earlier, he had suffered a stroke and been paralyzed.  He was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Trigg County.  Sallie died on October 20, 1944 at the age of 94 at her home in Trigg County. She had suffered a recent fall resulting in a broken hip which was listed as the cause of death.  She was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery next to her husband.

 

James and Sallie tombstone

LINEAGE: (James Judson Patterson was the husband of Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas.  Sallie was the daughter of Allison William and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas.  Allison was the third child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Eliza Dell Hughes Gentry -- Farmer's Wife

 

Eliza Hughes Gentry

Eliza Dell Hughes was born on August 31, 1904 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the oldest of three children born to Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes. Mason was a farmer, and a “horse trader.”  Mason and Pearl were both natives of Trigg County.  Pearl was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Eliza;s siblings were Hazie Irbell Hughes, born in 1911 and married John Clayton Light and Twyman Mason Hughes, born in 1914 and married Eldo Myra Boyd and later married Nora Ambie Bridges.

Eliza grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the local schools.  On December 25, 1924 Eliza married Thomas Perry Gentry in a ceremony in Hopkinsville, Kentucky officiated by Rev. John T. Cunningham. Their marriage was on the  22nd anniversary of her parents wedding which was also officiated by Rev. Cunningham in 1902.  Thomas was born on May 5, 1894 and was the son of Robert Henry Gentry and Lillian Hicks Jefferson Gentry. Robert was a native of Dover, Tennessee and Lillian was a native of Trigg County. Robert was a farmer and had served as a deputy sheriff in Cadiz.

Thomas was a veteran of World War I.  He was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 25, 1918 and received his initial training at Fort Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. He was assigned to Company D, of the First Pioneer Infantry where he served for his entire tour of duty.  He served overseas in Germany and France from July 9, 1918 to July 7. 1919.  He was stationed on the Rhine River when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Thomas received an honorable discharge with a rank of corporal.

After Eliza and Thomas were married, they purchased a farm from Eliza’s parents which had been part of the original Stanley Thomas property.  They were engaged in farming on this property in the Oak Grove community for their entire lives.

Eliza and Thomas were the parents of five children.  They were Thomas Hughes Gentry, born in 1925 and married Nellie Evelyn Thomas; Lillian Pearl Gentry, born in 1927 and died at birth; Rachel Louise Gentry, born in 1931 and married Robert William Erath; Clara Dell Gentry, born in 1937 and married Ernest Ronald Lawrence; and Mary Jo Gentry, born in 1939 and married Carol Wayne Whitmer and later married Eugene Carrol Riley.

Thomas died on September 9, 1980 at the age of 86 at the Jennie Stuart Medica Center in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Eliza died on January 19, 1986 at the age of 81 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to her husband.

 Thomas Perry Gentry

 

Eliza and Thomas tombstone

 

Thomas military tombstone

 

Eliza foot tombstone

LINEAGE: (Eliza Dell Hughes was the daughter of Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes.  Pearl was the first 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.)