Bridges Cemetery
The Colony, Denton County, Cemeteries of Texas
Article Submitted by Sandra Miller
Bridges Cemetery, Bridges Settlement, named
for the W. A. Bridges family and reportedly the oldest in Denton County. Began
in 1843 and was a center of activity of the Peters Colony. This cemetery, on
land granted to Bridges in 1850, dates to 1855, although illegible stones may be
slightly older. Site of the burials of the Bridges and other early immigrant
families. Stones here document graves of many children and Civil War soldiers,
deeded to the county by F. M. and Sallie Bridges in 1899, the cemetery contains
over one hundred sandstone and granite markers.
Boy Scouts restore historic cemetery
By B. Booklin
Special to The Leader
In a relatively young community like The Colony, historical landmark-s may be
considered a treasure. They link the city to a frontier history and are the
building blocks of a growing heritage.
One of the oldest landmarks in town is the Bridges Cemetery on Morningstar
Drive. This 1.57-acre cemetery was established in 1857 and contains the remains
of the earliest settlers of this area
Land for the cemetery was donated by the Bridges family, who settled at Office
Creek in 1841, just south of the present location of The Colony High School. The
cemetery contains the graves of Mildred Bridges and her sons as well as some
distant relatives of President Eisenhower, among others. The cemetery has been
closed since 1969, when a child was buried there by special permission. Many of
the graves are unmarked from people being buried during a smallpox epidemic in
the late 1800s.
The cemetery has been overgrown and in need of maintenance in recent years, but
was cleaned up by Boy Scout Troop 281 with the help of many other volunteers
including members of Boy Scout Troop 621 and The Colony High School JROTC.
Chaplain's aide Jacob Johnson of The Colony Boy Scout Troop 281 undertook this
cleanup for his Eagle Scout project, and volunteers have devoted nearly 300
hours cleaning up the weeds, dead trees, and hauling trash. In addition, Jacob
Johnson and Tim Tolleson, along with other Scouts, have been mapping the known
graves and documenting their location for genealogical reference.
Since the cleanup, wildflowers and daffodils have been popping up, beautifying
this historical landmark.
Bridges Cemetery
The Colony, Denton County, Cemeteries of Texas
Chesapeake and Morningstar
Gate is kept locked due to vandalism.
Contact The Colony Parks and Recreation Department for admittance (972-625-1106)
Survey: Bob Leahy, JUL 2006
|
Last Name |
First Name |
DOB -- DOD |
Inscription // notes |
|
---- |
???? |
// -- // |
// w/o A. B.; s/o W A and Mollie (as recorded by Ann Onstad |
|
---- |
Infant |
1969 -- 1969 |
// no other info available |
|
---- |
Unknown |
// -- 2/7/1910 |
// broken stone in NE corner of cemetery (off by itself); year may be incorrect |
|
---- |
Unknown |
// -- // |
sandstone marker // near G P Schultz |
|
---- |
Unknown |
// -- // |
brick covered crypt // near John Jennings |
|
Akers |
Abner |
10/26/1817 -- 1/4/1895 |
CSA // h/o Harriet Dunn |
|
Akers |
Ettie May |
5/1/1889 -- 8/11/1890 |
Sleep on sweet baby and take thy rest. God called thee home. He thought it best. // d/o J M Akers and Amanda Ellis |
|
Akers |
Harriet |
3/17/1825 -- 6/13/1898 |
In love she lived, in peace she died. Her life was craved but God denied. // w/o Abner Akers |
|
Akers |
Sallie C. |
3/30/1854 -- 1/18/1910 |
Age 55Y 9M 18D / Yet again we hope to meet thee when the day of life is fled. And in heaven with joy to greet thee where no farewell tears are shed // d/o Abner Akers and Harriett Dunn |
|
Ashlock |
Besie L. |
12/27/1898 -- 4/1/1899 |
Sleep on… / broken stone // d/o Thomas A and R J Ashlock |
|
Banks |
Basil |
8/12/1902 -- 12/10/1903 |
Our darling one hath gone before to greet us on the blissful shore // Marcus Banks and Cora Sherrod |
|
Boswell |
Infant |
1920 -- 1920 |
// probably child of John Andrew Boswell and Catherine Franklin |
|
Boswell |
Nora Lee (Ellis) |
12/13/1902 -- //1918 |
// w/o John Andrew Boswell |
|
Bradley |
Dr. E. G. |
5//1836 -- 7/16/1902 |
66 Y / Remember me as you pass by. As you are now so once was I. As I am now so you will be. Prepare for death and follow me. // h/o Mary MNU |
|
Brady |
Easter (Elizabeth) |
12/26/1871 -- 12/26/1933 |
Daughter / At rest // d/o D S and Catherine Brady |
|
Brady |
Susie Catherine |
4/26/1844 -- 6/20/1920 |
Mother / At rest // w/o D S Brady |
|
Branaman |
Easton Lee |
7/30/1908 -- 7/30/1908 |
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven // s/o James Aden Branaman and Anna Jennings |
|
Bratton |
Betty (Mary Elizabeth) (Ellis) |
1848 -- 7//1891 |
// w/o Robert L. Bratton |
|
Bratton |
Bob (Robert L.) |
1846 -- 7//1884 |
// h/o Mary E. Ellis |
|
Bratton |
Unknown |
// -- // |
brick marker // with BRATTON scratched unto it |
|
Bratton |
Unknown |
// -- // |
funeral home marker // name and dates missing |
|
Bridges |
D. C. (David) |
3/3/1830 -- 7/7/1862 |
// brother of William A Bridges |
|
Bridges |
Elizabeth |
5/20/1854 -- 10/27/1860 |
// d/o William Bridges and Rachel Cook |
|
Bridges |
Infant Daughter |
6/24/1884 -- 6/24/1884 |
// d/o Francis M Bridges and Sallie C Ashlock |
|
Bridges |
Louisa J. |
7/2/1859 -- 10/19/1860 |
In memory / Age 1Y 3M 17D (two markers) // d/o William Bridges and Rachel Cook |
|
Bridges |
Mildred |
9/5/1798 -- 7/8/1868 |
In memory (two markers--one broken) // m/o William A Bridges |
|
Bridges |
W. A. (William) |
2/2/1827 -- 6/10/1862 |
// h/o Rachel Cook |
|
Cole |
E. J. |
//1853 -- //1913 |
He shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day // |
|
Davis |
Joe Cecil |
10/15/1889 -- 7/28/1890 |
// d/o James W and Louisa Davis |
|
Debord |
Debra Sue |
3/8/1967 -- 3/26/1967 |
Our darling // d/o Emmett Terrell Debord and Frances Fay Gant |
|
Donnell |
Lizzie |
12/12/1864 -- 11/25/1890 |
// w/o M J Donnell |
|
Ellis |
Adeline (Emily Adeline) (Gamble) |
//1875 -- //1917 |
// w/o John T. Ellis |
|
Ellis |
Ann Rebecca (Akers) |
3/29/1842 -- 8/20/1935 |
// w/o W. J. Ellis; married: 2 DEC 1868 |
|
Ellis |
James |
6/14/1818 -- 6/28/1890 |
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for there's (sic) is the Kingdom of Heaven // h/o Mary Parker |
|
Ellis |
John R. |
1/29/1853 -- 7/15/1881 |
// s/o James Ellis and Mary Parker |
|
Ellis |
John Thomas |
12/6/1869 -- 2/6/1944 |
// h/o Emily Adeline Gamble |
|
Ellis |
Mag (Margaret) |
//1850 -- //1929 |
// d/o James Ellis and Mary Parker |
|
Ellis |
Maggie (Margaret Jane) |
8/3/1872 -- 10/30/1936 |
// d/o William Ellis and Rebecca Akers |
|
Ellis |
Mary (Parker) |
6/15/1819 -- 12/30/1902 |
Our darling one has gone before to greet us on the blissful shore // w/o James Ellis |
|
Ellis |
W. J. (William) |
12/9/1840 -- 12/29/1909 |
Age 69Y 20D / A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our home which never can be filled // h/o Ann R Akers; married: 2 DEC 1868 |
|
F |
W. F |
// -- // |
// near Lizzie Donnell; nothing else on marker |
|
Fortman |
Anna |
1809 -- 1887 |
// wife of C. Fortman |
|
Fouts |
Nora Lee |
5/22/1879 -- 9/3/1881 |
// d/o William Thomas Fouts and Patsy Vardaman |
|
Gamble |
Phoebe Ann (Felton |
12/20/1828 -- //1910 |
// w/o James Gamble |
|
Gamble |
Samuel Allen |
8/17/1847 -- 5/24/1897 |
// s/o James and Phoebe Gamble |
|
Hays |
Lillie L. |
1/30/1896 -- 10/5/1898 |
Sacred to the memory of / long inscription at base of marker // |
|
Hays |
Lucy K. 'Kitty' |
5/29/1866 -- 11/18/1950 |
// w/o Thomas S. Hays |
|
Hays |
Maryetta |
1/31/1885 -- 2/14/1885 |
Budded on earth to bloom in Heaven // d/o James M Hays and M J 'Janie' Vardeman |
|
Hays |
Thomas S. |
2/20/1854 -- 2/25/1917 |
// h/o Lucy K. 'Kitty' MNU |
|
Herd |
W. M. 'Will' |
1839 -- 1915 |
// listed as widower in 1910 Census; born TN |
|
Howard |
Robert W. |
11/25/1888 -- 8/14/1915 |
Our darling one has gone before to greet us on that blissful shore // perhaps h/o Bessie Song |
|
Hughes |
Hallie E. |
9/25/1892 -- 12/31/1896 |
// |
|
Hughes |
Reese P. |
1/11/1890 -- 5/10/1897 |
// s/o F J and B L Hughes |
|
J. |
L. L. (or I.) |
// -- // |
// DOD may be 3/18/1914 |
|
Jennings |
John Pleasant |
4/30/1839 -- 2/3/1924 |
CSA // h/o Nancy E. Nix |
|
Jennings |
Nancy Ellen (Nix) |
3/29/1843 -- 3/18/1914 |
long inscription // w/o John P. Jennings |
|
Jones |
Infant Son |
1/28/1904 -- 1/28/1904 |
Weep not he is at rest // child of Henry G and M C Jones |
|
Jones |
Infant Son |
11/14/1904 -- 11/14/1904 |
Weep not he is at rest // child of Henry G and M C Jones |
|
Justiss |
Della Fae |
10/4/1918 -- 12/30/1918 |
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven // d/o Rufus M. Justiss and Susie L. Joplin |
|
Kemp |
T. A. |
8/6/1822 -- 8/21/1891 |
In memory of our dear father // h/o N E MNU |
|
King |
Martin R. |
12/7/1888 -- 11/29/1891 |
2Y 11M 22D / Dear Martin gone but not forgotten // s/o H F and E King |
|
Mayes |
George P. |
5/3/1855 -- 11/1/1884 |
// w/o Mary MNU |
|
Mayes |
Johnnie |
11/19/1882 -- 8/26/1892 |
// s/o W C and W Mayes |
|
Mayes |
Maud |
9/10/1878 -- 1/10/1890 |
God in His wisdom has recalled the boon His love had given… // d/o George P and Mary Mayes |
|
Mayes |
Myrtle |
6/1/1880 -- 11/1/1881 |
// d/o George P. and Mary Mayes |
|
McDaniel |
J. A. |
1/18/1842 -- 9/13/1922 |
Father // h/o Mary L. A. MNU |
|
McDaniel |
Mary L. A. |
2/13/1838 -- 3/5/1927 |
Mother // w/o J. A. McDaniel |
|
McDaniel |
Phoebe Ann (Gamble) |
8/17/1881 -- 8/24/1904 |
Prepare to meet me in Heaven // w/o Arthur L. McDaniel |
|
McWhorter |
Polly (Mary) (Moore) |
9/4/1797 -- 1/16/1887 |
// w/o William P McWhorter |
|
McWhorter |
W. P. (William) |
7/8/1799 -- 7/23/1874 |
// h/o Mary 'Polly' Moore |
|
Miles |
Effie |
4/6/1892 -- 9/22/1894 |
broken stone // d/o Robert P Miles and Florence L Stover |
|
Miles |
Fred |
1896 -- 1900 |
// d/o Robert P Miles and Florence L Stover |
|
Morton |
George A. |
3/21/1841 -- 11/12/1910 |
His toils are past, his work is done, he fought the fight the victory won // h/o Nora or Dora MNU |
|
Nelson |
Arthur G. |
9/15/1885 -- 10/16/1886 |
Remember me as you pass by. As you are now so once was I. As I am now so you will be. Prepare for death and follow me. // s/o Thomas Nelson and Cordelia Episbell |
|
Nelson |
Greene Berry |
3/2/1820 -- 8/29/1903 |
// h/o Missouri Ann Forester |
|
Nelson |
Missouri Ann (Forester) |
12/22/1828 -- 10/28/1912 |
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit // w/o Greene Berry Nelson |
|
Nelson |
Thomas Decatur |
12/7/1862 -- 12/23/1888 |
// h/o Cordelia Episbell |
|
Newman |
William Oliver |
4/25/1880 -- //1936 |
Father / Weep not he is at rest // h/o Alice MNU |
|
Ogles |
Jim |
10/20/1866 -- 3/28/1935 |
We will meet again // h/o Mary MNU |
|
Ogles |
Mary |
8/3/1863 -- 6/6/1932 |
We will meet again // w/o Jim Ogles |
|
Portman |
Leannah (Riffe) |
1804 -- 6/27/1887 |
Farewell / broken stone // w/o Jesse Coffey Portman |
|
Schultz |
G. B. (Burton) |
11/25/1841 -- 7/5/1883 |
Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto His people // h/o Mary MNU |
|
Schultz |
Kate M. |
1/28/1878 -- 4/13/1879 |
1Y 2 M 13D / A little flower of love that blossomed but to die. Transplanted now above to bloom with God on high. // d/o G. B. 'Burton' and Mary Schultz |
|
Schultz |
Mary J. |
7/23/1842 -- 7/6/1890 |
I was glad when they said unto me, let us go unto the house of the Lord.--Psalms 122:1 // w/o G. B. 'Burton' Schultz |
|
Sevedge |
Elizabeth A. |
6/9/1810 -- 12/13/1898 |
// w/o William S. Sevedge |
|
Sherrod |
Joel E. |
12/22/1886 -- 1/15/1892 |
Gone but not forgotten // s/o Joel Thomas Sherrod and Frances Wolfe Stover |
|
Sherrod |
Walter F. |
1/1/1882 -- 2/14/1899 |
Another [??] I s broken in our [??] hand, but [??] better kind. // s/o Joel Thomas Sherrod and Frances Wolfe Stover |
|
Slater |
Infant Daughter |
4/5/1881 -- 4/5/1881 |
// d/o Milo Slater and Susan Laird |
|
Slater |
Laura V. (Grant) |
3/1/1861 -- 10/5/1883 |
He saw not the angels who met her there, the gates of the city we could not see, Over the river [??] my darling stands, watching and waiting for me // w/o John Wesley Slater |
|
Slater |
Milo (Joseph Milo) |
8/21/1829 -- 10/28/1885 |
56Y // h/o 1) Nancy Free 2) Susan Laird |
|
Slater |
Nellie H. |
2/20/1869 -- 5/26/1881 |
Gone but not forgotten // d/o Milo Slater and Susan Laird |
|
Slater |
Susan |
11/20/1839 -- 9/24/1913 |
She hath done what she could // w/o Joseph Slater |
|
Stover |
'D' |
// -- // |
// next to Christopher Stover |
|
Stover |
Abraham B. |
3/19/1829 -- 9/3/1877 |
48Y 5M 17D // h/o 1) Mary Ann Bradley 2) Margaret L. Bradley |
|
Stover |
Arthur |
8/29/1894 -- 4/19/1895 |
// s/o John N. Stover and Margaret J. Adams |
|
Stover |
Christopher |
10/6/1870 -- 10/20/1891 |
// s/o Isaac and S A Stover |
|
Stover |
Elisha (Charles Elisha) |
1838 -- 10/18/1872 |
[??] but a path that must be trod if man would ever pass to God // h/o Nancy MNU |
|
Stover |
Infant Son |
// -- 11/30/1900 |
// s/o M C and I B Stover |
|
Stover |
Isaac N.. |
4/9/1865 -- 2/13/1874 |
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal // s/o Isaac and S A Stover |
|
Stover |
Joseph A. |
12/20/1856 -- 2/29/1904 |
beloved one farewell // s/o Isaac Stover and Lucretia Campbell |
|
Stover |
Joseph Alley |
11/19/1826 -- 2/6/1894 |
Aged 68Y 2M 18D // h/o 1) Emily Ann Cross 2) Elthea Jane Johnson |
|
Stover |
Letha Jane (Elethea Jane) (Johnson) |
6/23/1823 -- 10/20/1896 |
Her happy soul has winged its way to one pure, bright eternal day // w/o Joseph Alley Stover |
|
Stover |
Margaret L. (Bradley) |
8/3/1837 -- 6/26/1919 |
Her happy soul has winged its way to one pure, bright eternal day // 2nd w/o Abraham B. Stover |
|
Stover |
Nichlos V. |
2/7/1897 -- 2/22/1897 |
// s/o William A. Stover and Mary Joe Kelsey |
|
Stover |
Nicholas E. |
12/20/1871 -- 2/3/1873 |
// s/o Abraham B. Stover and Margaret L. Bradley |
|
Stover |
Sarah A. (Newton) |
11/28/1833 -- 3/12/1868 |
Her happy soul has winged its way to one pure, bright eternal day // 1st w/o Isaac Stover |
|
Stover |
Silas |
// -- 7/1/1876 |
broken stone // no other info available |
|
Trout |
Elizabeth |
4/1/1830 -- 10/12/1898 |
In memory of / Gone but not forgotten // w/o John Henry Trout |
|
Turner |
Eliza (Wallis) |
10/8/1843 -- 6/22/1915 |
At rest / Her memory is blessed. She was the sunshine of our home // w/o Francis Marion Turner |
|
Vardeman |
Hannah (Mary Hannah) (Portman) |
1/7/1834 -- 10/21/1906 |
Born Cassey Cty, KY / 72Y 9M 14D / We miss the dear mother in our home // w/o Jesse Morgan Vardeman |
|
Vardeman |
Jesse Morgan |
2/3/1830 -- 5/17/1903 |
Born Lincoln Cty, KY / 73Y 8M 14D / We miss thee dear father in our home // h/o Mary H. 'Hannah' Portman |