Dora Virginia Bridges Boyd -- Carpenter's Wife

 

Dora Virginia Bridges was born on August 27, 1903 in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the fourth of eleven children born to John Trice Bridges and Maggie Dora Cunningham Bridges.  John Trice was a farmer and both he and Maggie were natives of Trigg County.  Maggie was descendant of the large pioneer Cunningham family that settled in Trigg County.  Virginia was a descendant of both Cullen Bridges and Cullen Thomas.

Virginia’s siblings were Lillie Jane Bridges, born in  1899 and died at the age of two; Lucy Lee Bridges, born in 1900 and married James Stevenson “Jimmie Fant” Thomas; Lola Francis “Fanny” Bridges, born in 1902 and married Homer Ervin Francis; John Carl Bridges, born in 1904 and married Julia Bell Thomas; Mary Pauline Bridges, born in 1908 and married Preston Hoover Thomas; Queen Alexander Bridges, born in 1909 and died at the age of one; Hilda Agnes Bridges, born in 1910; Beulah Louise Bridges, born in 1913 and married Homer Blane Thomas; Clifford Elma “Pete” Bridges, born in 1917 and married Lillie Frances Smith; and Dorothy Allene Bridges, born in 1920.

On December 23, 1925, Virginia married Otis Taylor Boyd. The wedding took place in the home of Rev. Luther Sanders in Cadiz.  Taylor was born on May 28, 1903 in the Canton community of Trigg County.  He was the son of William Lackey and Berda “Bird” Serena Lancaster Boyd.  William worked as a farmer and general laborer and both he and Berda were natives of Trigg County.

After their marriage, Taylor and Virginia lived in Cadiz for a short period of time.  They then moved to Princeton, Kentucky where Taylor worked as a carpenter for three years. He accepted a position where he worked on Dam 53 on the Ohio River and they moved to Grand Chain, Illinois to be near his job.  When Dam 53 was completed, they moved back to Trigg County and settled in the Maple Grove community which became their permanent home.  Taylor began farming along with his father-in-law, John Bridges as well as working with him on doing land surveys and carpenter work.

Taylor and Virginia were the parents of three children, Ernest Ragon Boyd, born in 1926 and died at the age of five; Louard Cash Boyd, born in 1928 and died at the age of two months; and Carl Stanley Boyd, born in 1930 and married Audrey Faye Fisher.

Virgina died on September 25, 1978 at the age of 75 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  She was buried in the Drury Bridges Cemetery in the Maple Grove community.  Taylor died on February 26, 1979 at the age of 75 at the Shady Lawn Nursing Home in Trigg County.  He was buried in the Drury Bridges Cemetery next to his wife.

Taylor and Virginia

 

Taylor and Virginia tombstone

 

From Left...back row Homer Francis, Carl Bridges, Frances Bridges Francis, Lucy Bridges Thomas, Virginia Bridges Boyd, James S. Thomas (husband of Lucy) Front row.... Hilda Agnes Bridges, John Trice Bridges, Beulah Bridges Thomas, Dora Maggie Cunningham Bridges holding Clifford (Pete) Bridges, Mary Pauline Bridges Thomas

LINEAGE: (Dora Virginia Bridges was the daughter of John Trice and Maggie Dora Cunningham Bridges.  John Trice was the sixth 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.  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.)

John Wayne Sholar -- Victim of an Automobile Accident

 

John Wayne "Johnny" Sholar

John Wayne “Johnny” Sholar was born on December 18, 1953 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the eighth of nine children born to Ernest William Sholar and Mary Frances Wright Sholar.  Ernest was a farmer and was a native of Trigg County.  Mary Frances was a native of Green County, Kentucky.  Johnny was a descendant of Jemima Bridges Sholar.

Johnny’s siblings were Ernest William Sholar, Jr., born in 1939 and married Rachel Redd and later married Martha R. Richardson; Carolyn Sue Sholar, born in 1941 and married Donald Ray Mock; Frances Nell Sholar, born in 1943 and married William Ray Fowler; Maggie Louise Sholar, born in 1944 and married James Arnold Butts; Bobby Ray Sholar, born in 1945 and married Doris Ann Shelby; Wanda Jo Sholar, born in 1948 and married Danny Ray Morris; Martha Jane Sholar, born in 1951 and married James Howard Simdon and later married Roger Lee Northcutt and then married Bradley Wayne Bunn; and Jackie Lynn Sholar, born in 1962 and married Teresa Florence Harris.

Johnny grew up in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He worked as a construction worker in both Trigg and Christian Counties.  He settled in his home in Cerulean, Kentucky

On July 6, 1973, Johnny married Millie Maeve Witty in Christian County.  Millie, a native of Trigg County, was born October 15, 1956 and was the daughter of Roy Vernon and Lucille Francis Witty.  This marriage ended in divorce.  On May 14,1983, Johnny married Jacqueline Rogers McCargo in Christian County.  This marriage also ended in divorce. On December 31, 1994, Johnny married his third wife, Gayla R. Curtis.  Gayla was a native of Christian County and was born on November 8, 1957.  She was the daughter of Boyce and Vivian Carol Jones Curtis.  They were natives of Trigg County and Boyce was a general contractor.

 Johnny and Millie were the parents of two children, Tiffany Leigh (Sholar) Robison, born in 1974, and married Michael Chad Sivills and later married John Gregory Brunson and then married Michael Baker and Jacob Uriah (Sholar) Robison, born in 1976.  Both children were subsequently adopted by Millie’s second husband.

Johnny and Gayla were the parents of one child, a daughter, Lindsey Morgan Sholar, born in 1995.

On the evening of Monday, June 23, 2003, Johnny and his  eight-year-old daughter, Lindsey were traveling in Johnny’s 1992 Jeep Cherokee north on Kentucky Highway1026 about two miles north of Gracey, Kentucky.  It was around 7:00 p.m. when Johnny apparently lost control of his vehicle and ran off the side of the highway. He then apparently tried to overcorrect and the vehicle ran off the highway into a cornfield and overturned.  The vehicle came to rest on its top.  It was not until later in the evening when the accident site was noticed by other drivers and emergency officials were notified.  Christian County Coroner Dorris Lamb pronounced Johnny dead of his injuries at the scene around 10:20 p.m. According to police officials, he was wearing a seat-belt.  Meanwhile, his daughter, Lindsey, the only other passenger in the vehicle was taken by family members to the Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville where she was treated for minor injuries.

Johnny was 49 years old at the time of his death.  He was buried in the Jones Cemetery in Trigg County.

Johnny tombstone

LINEAGE: (John Wayne Sholar was the son of Ernest William and Mary Frances Wright Sholar.  Ernest was the second 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.  David was the first child of Allen Thomas and Jemima Bridges Sholar.  Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)

Smith Thomas -- Teacher and Farmer

 

Smith Thomas was born on September 25, 1879 in a log cabin on the Maple Grove Road in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the third of five children born to Jonathan Starkie Thomas  and Julia Dyer Thomas.  Jonathan Starkie was a farmer and both he and Julia were natives of Trigg County.  Smith was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Smith’s siblings were Forrest May Thomas, born in 1876 and married Jesse Monroe Vinson; Rufus Hayden Thomas, born in 1878 and died in Cuba at an unknown date; Lucian M. Thomas, born in 1881 and married Inez B. Crews; and John Vernon Thomas, born in 1883 and married Clemie Wilson.

Smith attended the local county schools in the Oak Grove community.  As a young man he was a teacher in several different schools in Trigg County. 

On October 26, 1904, Smith married Ida Mae Meador at the home of Ida’s sister, Mrs. Jesse Ricks, south of Cadiz, Kentucky.  Ida was born on July 30, 1883 in the Oakland community of Trigg County.  She was the daughter of Henry Clay Meador and Sephronia Wilson Meador.  Henry was a farmer and was a native of Stewart County, Tennessee.  Sephronia was a native of Trigg County.

Following their marriage, Smith and Ida moved into a brand new two-room house with an attic located in the Oak Grove community between his parents’ home on one side and his grandparents’ home on the other side. Smith clerked with the firm of Jefferson and Street Department Store in Cadiz and a few years later they bought a farm and a larger new home on the site of his grandfather’s house.  For the latter part of his life, Smith engaged primarily in farming.

Smith and Ida were the parents of two children, Julia Bell Thomas, born in 1905 and married John Carl Bridges and Ora Lucille Thomas, born in 1907 and married William Thomas Armstrong, II and later married Joe Edmond Nunn.

Smith died on September 11, 1938 at the age of 58 at his home in Oak Grove as the result of pneumonia.  He was buried in the Starkie Thomas Cemetery in Trigg County.  Ida died on October 18, 1955 at the age of 72 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  She had married her second husband, Bristo Futrell, after Smith’s death.  She was buried in the Starkie Thomas Cemetery.

Smith and Ida

 

Smith and Ida tombstone

LINEAGE: (Smith Thomas was the son of Jonathan Starkie and Julia Dyer Thomas. Jonathan Starkie 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.)

Edgar Lee Bridges -- Farmer and Defense Plant Worker

 

Edgar Lee and Marie Calhoun Bridges

Edgar Lee Bridges was born on February 9, 1914 on Donaldson Creek in the Boyd’s Hill community of Trigg County, Kentucky.   He was the first of two sons born to John Madison “Matt” Bridges and Huewell Tandy Lawrence Bridges.  HIs parents were both natives of Trigg County and Matt was a prominent farmer in the Boyd’s Hill community.  He was a grandson of Simco N. Bridges. Edgar’s brother was Lawrence Eugene Bridges who was born in 1919 and married Eddie Grace Dawson who died at the young age of 22. Lawrence later married Mary Lou Hall.  Lawrence died in a fatal car accident when he was 54 years old.

Growing up on Donaldson Creek, Edgar began his education at Graham Elementary School and went on to attend high school at Linton High School and graduating with the class of 1932 from Rogers High School.

On November 14, 1936, Edgar married Mildred Marie Calhoun in Cadiz, Kentucky.  Marie was born on August 19, 1917, the daughter of William Joseph Calhoun and Leah Murl Noel Calhoun. Both William and Leah were natives of Trigg County. Marie grew up on her father’s farm in the South Union community which was adjacent to Edgar’s Boyd’s Hill community.  She attended the rural Ross School in her community.

After Edgar and Marie were married, they settled on their own farm.  In 1940 after four years of farming, Edgar and Marie moved to Dearborn, Michigan. With the beginning of World War II, Edgar worked in defense plants throughout the war years.  Following the war, they moved back to Trigg County where Edgar worked in construction for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  He retired from the TVA in 1978 and began working for the Kentucky State Parks at the Lake Barkley State Park while they resided at their farm located on the Tanyard Road in Trigg County.  Marie also worked as a clerk at Lake Barkley State Park.

Edgar and Marie were the parents of one child, a daughter, Celia Glenda Bridges. Glenda was born in 1938 and married Charles Benjamin Littlejohn.

Edgar died on April 20, 1995 at the age of 81 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Marie died on September 1, 1996 at the age of 79 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

LINEAGE: (Edgar Lee Bridges was the son of John Madison “Matt” and Huewell Tandy Lawrence Bridges and the grandson of Alfred Franklin and Lou Ella Turner Bridges.  Alfred was the fourth child of Simco N. 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.)

Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes -- Teacher and Farmer's Wife

 

Mattie Pearl Thomas  was born on February 21, 1882 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the oldest of ten children born to Wesley Gunn Thomas and Eliza Henderson Thomas.  Wesley Gunn was a native of Trigg County and Eliza was  native of Caldwell County, Kentucky. Wesley, who was known as “Cousin Wes” throughout the county was a respected farmer and a grandson of Starkie Thomas.

Pearl’s siblings were Hazie Lou Thomas, born in 1885; Eura Wesley Thomas, born in 1887 and married Lucy Pearl Lawrence; Leslie Edwin Thomas , born in 1889 and married Hazel Mae Gibson; Annie Lurline Thomas, born in 1892 and married Garland Drew Bridges; Peachie Ethel Thomas, born in 1894 and married Lewis Smith Terrell; James Stone Thomas, born in 1896 and married Mabel Clara Timmons; Lucian Marquess Thomas, born in 1899 and married Mayma Lewis Boyd; Luther Thompson Thomas, born in 1902 and married Mary Grace Cunningham; and Berta Adeline Thomas, born in 1905 and married Clarence Averitt Francis.

Pearl grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the local one-room school house. When she was a young lady, she became a teacher and taught school in several Trigg County schools.

On Christmas Day, December 25, 1902 Pearl married Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. in a ceremony in the bride’s home in Oak Grove with Rev. John Cunningham officiating.  Mason was born on May 5, 1880 in Trigg County.  His parents were Hampton “Ham” Hughes and Mary Della Guier Hughes., both natives of Kentucky.  Ham fought in the Civil War and was a member of the first Kentucky “Orphan” Brigade of the Confederate Army and participated in the Battle of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as the Battle of Shiloh.  Ham was a well-known farmer in Trigg County.

After their marriage, Pearl and Mason settled on a farm in the Oak Grove community that they had acquired from Pearl’s grandparents, Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. The farm was part of the original farm settled by the James Thomas family.  A portion of this land was donated by Stanley, Emily, Mason and Pearl as a site for the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Mason was a farmer as well as being known as a “horse trader.” Pearl was known as a very quiet and loving person who was very devoted to her family and home. Pearl and Mason lived their entire lives in the Oak Grove community.

Mason and Pearl were the parents of three children.  They were Eliza Dell Hughes, born in 1904 and married Thomas Perry Gentry; 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.

Pearl died on April 3, 1953 at the age of 71 at the home of her son, Twyman Hughes, in the Oak Grove community.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Mason died on July 9, 1959 at the age of 79 at his home in the Oak Grove community.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to his wife.

Pearl and Mason

 

Mason and Pearl in their early years

 

Mason and Pearl tombstone

LINEAGE: (Mattie Pearl Thomas was the daughter of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas. Wesley Gunn 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 Helen Terrell Braboy -- Wife of a Farmer

 

Boyce and Martha Terrell Braboy

Martha Helen Terrell was born on August 23, 1913 in the Blue Spring community of Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the fifth of nine children born to Robert Terrell and Emma Skaggs Bridges Terrell.  Both Robert and Emma were natives of Trigg County and Robert was a farmer.  Emma was a granddaughter of Simco Bridges.  The Terrell farm where she was born was located in what is now the center of the Boots Randolph Golf Course along Blue Spring Creek.  

Martha’s siblings were Mary Cicero Terrell, a twin born in 1907 and married John Carter Mitchell;  Mary Eldo Terrell, the other twin born in 1907 and died at birth; Sarah Frances Terrell, born in 1909 and married Clyde Crenshaw Stallons; Myra Dean Terrell, born in 1911 and married Clarence Monroe Stallons; Virginia Irene Terrell, born in 1916 and married Ernest Lee Bridges; Robert Joe Terrell, born in 1918 and married Nellie Myrtle Peal; George Edward Terrell, born in 1921 and married Gladys Opal Gray; and Grace Annalene Terrell, born in 1924 and married Herbert Haydon Braboy.

On June 23, 1933, Martha married Boyce Taylor Braboy.  Boyce was born on April 23, 1912 in Trigg County, Kentucky.   He was the eighth of eleven children born to Richard Thomas “Dick” Braboy and Lora Boyd Braboy.  Her parents were both natives of Trigg County and her father was a prominent farmer. His grandparents were also natives of Trigg County.  He was born in the Blue Spring community on the Braboy Farm which was on the Cumberland River south of where the Little River empties into the Cumberland, now Barkley Lake.

Boyce and Martha initially started out living on the Braboy farm located on the Cumberland River.  Boyce became an extremely active farmer and in 1942 they left the Cumberland River farm and purchased a farm six miles south of Cadiz in what was then called “The Big Woods” area.  In 1945, they purchased a farm in the Warrenton community located about 2½ miles west of Cadiz. Boyce was a successful tobacco farmer and a producer of “country hams” which became a famous Trigg County product.  As an active farmer, Boyce was a strong supporter of the local and state agricultural programs.  After a dedicated career of farming, he retired in the late 1970s.

Boyce and Martha were the parents of three daughters, Virginia Nell Braboy, born in 1934 and married John Marshall Gray; Bernice Rhea Braboy, born in 1940 and married Jessie Reide Brown; and Janice Carol Braboy, born in 1944 and married Robert Michael Holloman, and then married Troy Lee Josey and later married Joe Powell.

Martha died on November 24, 1993, at the age of 80 at the Britthaven Nursing Home in Benton, Kentucky.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz, Kentucky.  

Boyce married for the second time to Mary Pauline “Polly” Lisanby Mason.  Polly was born on December 27, 1920 and was the daughter of Albert Lisanby and Bertha Jane Menser Lisaby.  She was a Licensed Practical Nurse and also worked as a secretary for State Farm Insurance in Hopkinsville.

Boyce died on December 24, 2006 at the age of 94 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery next to Martha.

Martha in the 1930s

 

Boyce and Martha tombstone

LINEAGE: (Martha Helen Terrell was the daughter of Robert and Emma Skaggs Bridges Terrell.  Emma was the fifth child of William Joseph and Sarah Wills Bridges.  William Joseph was the first child of Simco N. 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.)

Isabelle Thomas Francis -- Hospital Employee

 

Isabelle Thomas was born on November 17, 1904 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky, the oldest of two daughters born to John Vernon Thomas and Clemmie Wilson Thomas.  John Vernon was a farmer, an automobile accessory dealer, hospital and drug store employee as well as the operator of a tourist home.  He and Clemmie were both natives of Trigg County and John Vernon was a great-grandson of Starkie Thomas.  Isabelle’s younger sister was Louise Thomas, born in 1913 and married Herman Jefferson Boyd.

Isabelle grew up in the Oak Grove community, attended the local schools and graduated from the Cadiz High School.  She went on to teach in several elementary schools and in the Civilian Conservation Corps.

On December 25, 1922, Isabelle married Otis Houston Francis at the home of their minister, Rev. John T. Cunningham. Otis was born on Beechy Fork Creek on November 29, 1898, the son of George Washington Francis and Miranda Arthelia Brown Francis. Both George and Miranda were natives of Trigg County and George worked as a farmer. 

Otis did not complete grade school, but basically went out on his own working as a farmer. He first rented land, becoming a sharecropper and later owned and managed his own farm in the Oak Grove community.  He also worked as a carpenter and worked several years on large projects such as dams, bridges and large buildings.  In the late 1920s, Otis and Isabelle moved to Toledo, Ohio where they lived for several years before moving back to Kentucky where Otis again worked on their farm and Isabelle assisted her husband in his farming operations.

Otis and Isabelle were the parents of two sons, Thomas Houston Francis, born in 1923 and married Mary Helen Alvey and Philip Vernon Ragon Francis, born in 1928, who married Mary Lillian Shelton and later married Patricia Ann Zimmerman.

On December 29, 1948, Otis died at the age of 50 on his farm in Trigg County after a long illness with cancer.  He was buried in the Starkie Thomas Cemetery in Trigg County.

Following Otis’ death, Isabelle began working at the Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville.  In this job she served as an aide, nurse, receptionist, switchboard operator and other areas of service. Isabelle retired after working over 20 years at the hospital.

Isabelle died on May 29, 1985 at the age of 80 in Owensboro, Kentucky at the Owensboro-Davies County Hospital.  She was buried in the Starkie Thomas Cemetery next to her husband.  

 

Isabell Francis tombstone

 

Otis Francis tombstone

LINEAGE: (Isabell Thomas was the daughter of John Vernon and Clemmie Wilson Thomas.  John Vernon was the fifth 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.)

Bobby Gene Thomas -- Military Civil Service Worker

 

Bobby Gene Thomas

Bobby Gene Thomas  was born on July 31, 1931 in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the second of five children born to Preston Hoover Thomas and Mary Pauline Bridges Thomas.  Preston was a well-known property surveyor and both he and Mary Pauline were natives of Trigg County.  Bobby was a descendant of both Cullen Thomas and Cullen Bridges.

Bobby’s siblings were Harry Clifford Thomas, born in 1929 and married Ingeborg Babette Grunaug; Nina Beatrice Thomas, born in 1933 and married Frank Thomas Alderson; Buster James Thomas, born in 1935; and Michael Lane Thomas, born in 1946 and married Patricia Ann Myers.

Bobby grew up in the Maple Grove community and attended the one-room Maple Grove School during his elementary years and went on to attended the Trigg County High School in Cadiz, Kentucky.

On March 27, 1951, Bobby was sworn into the United States Air Force in Owensboro, Kentucky.  He received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  He served for two years at Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda working as an aircraft instrument mechanic. He was then sent to Seward Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee where he served the remainder of his military term.  He served during the Korean War but did not see any combat action.  He was discharged as a staff sergeant from Seward on March 26, 1955.

On December 29, 1962, Bobby married Eunice E. Boyd.  Eunice was born August 3, 1940 in Trigg County, Kentucky the daughter of Thomas Earl Boyd and Nora Mae Broadbent Boyd, both natives of Trigg County.

Bobby and Eunice settled in Trigg County and  Bobby went to work at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he served as a civil service employee with the Department of Defense  He worked at the post until his retirement in 1986. Eunice worked in Cadiz as the manager of the Yours, Mine and Ours Clothing Store.

Bobby and Eunice were the parents of two children, Pamela Aileen Thomas, born in 1959 and married James Edward Jarboe, then married Roger Timothy Edwards and later married Ralph Edward Metts; and Darla Jean Thomas, born in 1965.

Bobby died on March 20, 2012 at the age of 80 at the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was buried in the Trigg Memory Acres cemetery in Trigg County,

Bobby tombstone

LINEAGE: (Bobby Gene Thomas was the son of Preston Hoover and Mary Pauline Bridges Thomas.   Preston was the second child of James Peyton “Buck” and Avia Franklin Eggner Thomas. James Peyton was the first child of James Dillard and Sarah Armentia Sholar Thomas. James Dillard was the fifth child of Peyton and Sarah L. Ethridge Thomas. Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Mary Pauline was the sixth child of John Trice and Maggie Dora Cunningham Bridges.  John Trice was the sixth child of Cullen T. and 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.)

Mark Dale Bridges -- Early Trigg County Farmer and Salesman

 

Mark Dale Bridges

Mark Dale Bridges was born on November 7, 1871 in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky.   He was the fifth of ten children born to Cullen Thomas Bridges and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  HIs parents were both natives of Trigg County and Cullen was a veteran of the Civil War.  Mark’s siblings were Sallie Bridges, born in 1864 and died at the age of one; an unnamed infant, born and died in 1865; Ghent A. Bridges, born in 1867 and married Nettie Linden Cunningham; Ora Agnes Bridges, born in 1869 and married Robert Henry Thomas; John Trice Bridges, born in 1874 and married Maggie Dora Cunningham; Rosa Lee Bridges, born in 1876 and married Elmer E. “Ell” Cunningham; Cleveland Bridges, born in 1878 and died at the age of one; Molly May Bridges, born in 1880 and married Benjamin Flood Grigsby; and Jesse Clyde Bridges, born in 1887 and married Myrtress Grace “Myrt” Davis.

Dale married Mallie Mae Lancaster on November 8, 1891, Mallie or “Mal” as she was known was born on February 20, 1873 in the Maple Grove community and was the daughter of William Dorsey “Doss” Lancaster and Leonora Armitage Lone Whitaker Lancaster. Doss was a farmer and a native of Trigg County and Lone was a native of Missouri.

Although Dale was a farmer like many of his relatives, he was also involved in numerous other endeavors.  He was a salesman selling organs, pianos and iron fences.  He sold tombstones for the Beasley Monument Company of Paducah and numerous other items.  He participated in several enterprises of the Bridges Brothers, including going on sales trips for their nursery business.  He made these sales trips sometimes on a bicycle, and at times being gone for more than a week. Because of his many sales representations, Dale was well known and liked throughout the county and other sections of western Kentucky.

Between 1902 and 1908, Dale built the family home in the Maple Grove community which was known as “Woodlawn.”  He was assisted in the building of the home by his cousin, Bluford Bridges who was paid ten cents a day for his help.  The framework for the home came from the woods near the house’s location.  The foundation was laid out at night by the stars so it would be exactly east and west.  A few years later after the house was completed during the period of the night riders, Mal was sitting on the front porch when a group of night riders came by looking for Dale.  She sat on the front porch with a shotgun holding the riders back while Dale slipped out the rear door and hid in the nearby woods until they were gone.

As his father had fought in the Civil War, Dale was a member of the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and he took pleasures in attending their many conventions of “the old Confederate Soldiers” including trips to New Orleans, Chattanooga, Galveston and Washington, D.C.  It was believed that he attended more Confederate Reunions than most of any person in Trigg County.

Dale and Mal were the parents of five children, Nellie Cleveland Bridges, born in1892 and married Mark McCarty; Flo Templeton Bridges, born in 1897 and married Ira Clifton Bridges; Preston Dale Bridges, born in 1899 and only lived for 18 months; Percy Dillard Bridges, born in 1902 and married Edna Pearl Thomas; and Douglas Eugene Bridges, born in 1909 and married Katherine Elizabeth Edwards and then married Dixie Louise Minton and later Letha Louise Plumlee.

Mark Dale Bridges died on July 27, 1927 at the age of 55 at his home in Maple Grove.  He was buried in the family cemetery, the Drury Bridges Cemetery, near his home.  Mal died eight months later of pneumonia on March 12, 1928 at the age of 55.  She was buried in the Drury Bridges Cemetery next to her husband.

Mallie Lancaster Bridges

 

Dale and Mallie with their children

 

Dale and Mallie

 

Dale and Mallie tombstone

LINEAGE: (Mark Dale Bridges was the son of Cullen Thomas and Martha 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.)

Mallie Louise Bridges Franks -- Cafeteria Cashier and Day Care Worker

 

Herman and Mallie Bridges Franks

Mallie Louise Bridges was born on July 13, 1922 on Beechy Fork Creek in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the only child of Percy Dillard Bridges and Edna Pearl Thomas Bridges.  Percy worked for the E. I. Dupont Company and both he and Edna were natives of Trigg County.  Mallie was a descendant of both Cullen Bridges and Starkie Thomas.

Mallie grew up in the Maple Grove community and attended the one-room Maple Grove School for several years.  Her family moved to Cadiz and she then attended the Cadiz Graded School.  She went to Trigg County High School where she graduated, with the class of 1942.

Mallie’s family moved from Trigg County to Louisville and on to Charlestown, Indiana and then to Childersburg, Alabama.  It was in in Childersburg where Mallie met her future husband.  Mallie married Herman Ray Franks on September 30, 1942 in Birmingham, Alabama.  Herman was born on April  27, 1922 in Dorsey, Mississippi.  He was the son of Elzie Maurice Franks and Armedia Greene Franks.  Elzie was a farmer and was a native of Itawamba County, Mississippi.  Armedia was also a native of Mississippi.

A few months after their marriage, Herman enlisted in the U.S Army on November 7, 1942 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi,  He was discharged the following year on April 6, 1943.  After leaving the military, Herman worked in construction work in several locations across the south for several years. Mallie and Herman settled in Memphis, Tennessee where they bought a home and Herman owned his own barber shop business.  Mallie worked as a cashier in a school cafeteria near their home for sixteen years.  She also worked several days each week in a church day care center.  In addition to their home in Memphis, Mallie and Herman had a home in Trigg County and enjoyed visiting their relatives back in her home county.

Mallie and Herman were the parents of two sons, Larry Keith Franks, born in 1944 and married Patricia Anne Taylor and later married Rebecca (last name unknown) and Danny Ray Franks, born in 1947 and married Sherry Anita Stwan.

Herman died on June 3, 1977 at the age of 55 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was buried in the Memphis Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. Mallie died on February 9, 2004 from a blood clot at the age of 81 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.  She was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.

Mallie tombstone

 

Herman tombstone

LINEAGE: (Mallie Louise Bridges was the daughter of Percy Dillard and Edna Pearl Thomas Bridges. Percy was the fourth child of Mark Dale and Mallie Mae Lancaster Bridges.  Mark Dale was the fifth child of Cullen Thomas and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of Willam and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges. Edna Pearl was the fifth child of Starkie William and Julia Louise Sumner Thomas.  Starkie William was the fifth child of James Jasper and Mary 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.)