Lonnie Murl Bridges -- Logger and County Magistrate

 

Lonnie Murl Bridges

Lonnie Murl Bridges was born on February 11, 1915 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of four children born to Mount Vernon Bridges  and Dannie Agnes Noel Bridges.  Vernon was employed in the lumber business and both he and Dannie were natives of Trigg County.  Lonnie was a descendant of Drewry Bridges.

Lonnie’s siblings were Myrtle Rhea Bridges, born in 1918 and married Elmo Ryner Hendricks; Bloomdale Bridges, died in infancy; Lacy Wade “Dink” Bridges, born in 1921 and married Martha Ann Bryant. In addition, his father, Vernon’s second marriage to Nora Ambie Bridges produced Lonnie’s three half-siblings. Cecil Vernon “Bill” Bridges, born in 1925 and married Dorothy Nell Guier; Sadie Mae Bridges, born in 1929 and married Howard Blane Wyatt; and Glenda Faye Bridges, born in 1941 and married Jerry Bernard Lawrence.

Lonnie grew up in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County and attended the one-room Maple Grove School.  As his father was in the timber business, Lonnie followed in his foot steps and also worked in the timber business as a logger.

On November 12, 1938, Lonnie married Dorothy Mae Curling.  Dorothy was born February 4, 1925 in Canton, Kentucky, the daughter of Robert Thomas and Virgie Ellen Holland Curling.  Robert was a commercial fisherman and both he and Virgie were natives of Trigg County.

Lonnie and Dorothy settled in Canton where they lived most of their lives. Lonnie was self-employed in the timber business for most of his life.  He also retired in December 1985, after serving 17 years as the county magistrate representing the Canton district. Dorothy was a homemaker for most of her life but in 1985 she began working part-time at the cafeteria for the Trigg County School System. In 1968 she became a full-time employee in the cafeteria where she worked until her retirement.

Lonnie and Dorothy were the parents of seven children, Billy Ray Bridges, born in 1941 and died at the age of 14 days; Wiliam Hay Bridges, born in 1941 and died at birth; Dorothy Nell Bridges, born in 1946 and married Wendell Lee Wallace; Wanda Sue Bridges, born in 1948 and married William Hayden Freeman and later married Josh Howard Thomas; Peggy Jean Bridges, born in 1950 and married Bobby Norman Gann; Betty Ann Bridges, born in 1953 and married Terry McCoy Braboy and later married Larry David Lawrence; and Judy Rhea Bridges, born in 1955 and married Kenneth Wayne Edmonson and later married Harold Wayne Knight.

Dorothy died on November 23, 2007 at the age of 82 at her home in Canton. She was buried in the Curling Cemetery in Trigg County. Lonnie died on September 18, 2009 at the age of 94 at his home in Canton.  He was buried in the Curling Cemetery next to his wife.

Lonnie and Dorothy

 

Lonnie and Dorothy tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Lonnie Murl Bridges was the son of Mount Vernon and Dannie Agnes Noel Bridges.  Vernon was the fourth child of William Henry and Saray Elizabeth Lancaster Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drewry and Peachie Ann Tart Bridges.  Drewry was the fourth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)