BRIDGES, James W. - Putnam

BRIDGES, JAMES W., P.O. Fillmore, Merchant; the son of Moses T., born in Fleming County, Ky., August 13, 1800, and Mary VANSANT-BRIDGES, born April 13, 1806, in the same county; was born in this township November 14, 1841; he is now Township Trustee, having the confidence and respect of his fellow-townsmen. September 5, 1865, in Douglas County, Ill., he was united by marriage to Mary A. LEACHMAN, born in this county April 12, 1848, daughter of W.G. and Emma LEACHMAN, natives of Indiana; children were born as follows: Otho, August 31, 1866; Conrad, August 6, 1868, and Raymond W., August 29, 1878. His parents were married in Fleming County, Ky., by Elder BIRCH; they had a family of eleven children, five were born in Kentucky -Margaret, Catherine, Thomas J., Elizabeth (deceased) and John L.; the rest -George W. (deceased), Mary J., Moses D., James W., Charles W., and Annie E. (deceased), in this county, where they settled about 1832. After a number of years spent at Greencastle, they moved to Marion Township, living there until 1872, when they returned to Greencastle and resided there until death, his occurring May 17, 1873; his wife survived him but two years, dying June 4, 1875. The father was energetic and progressive, and by his death the county lost one of its most valued men. Moses D. BRIDGES, the brother of the subject of this sketch, was elected County Clerk in 1874, and re-elected in 1878; a position he has filled creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the people. In the fall of 1842, he was elected Associate Judge of Putnam County, and held the office till the fall of 1849. The family holds a prominent position in this county.