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From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 647-648
DUDLEY C. BRIDGES, a venerable farmer of Platteville, Grant county, has led a long and useful life, influenced by noble motives, and is now passing his last years surrounded by a circle of kind and sympathetic friends.
Mr. BRIDGES was born in Vermont in September, 1816, a son of Chase and Cornelia BRIDGES, both of whom were born and reared in that State. When Dudley C. was a child his father moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in farming some twelve or thirteen years, and then moved to Clinton county, Ill. While living in Ohio Mrs. BRIDGES died. Of the children who survived her (1) Densey married Lorenzo DOW, and settled in Bond county, Ill., where she died, leaving three children, Mary, James and Milan; the sons reside in Kansas, and Mary, the wife of William ALEXANDER, lives in Illinois. (2) Edward married and settled in Clinton county, Ill., where he died. (3) Omeerie died, a bachelor, in Clinton. (4) Mary, born in Ohio, married Henry MARMON, who died, leaving one daughter, now also deceased. Mrs. HARMON later married John HULL, and settled on a farm in Clinton county, Ill., where they both died, leaving one daughter, who did not long survive her parents. Chase BRIDGES later in life married Miss Nancy HULL, and to this union were born four children, all of whom are deceased but Lucretia, the wife of William A. ABBOTT, of California.
Dudley C. BRIDGES received the major part of his education in Ohio, at the winter sessions of the district school. In 1844 he married Miss Martha CRUCEY, of South Carolina, and settled in Bond county, Ill., where his wife died four years afterward, leaving no children. In 1848 he married his present wife, Miss Nancy CASEY, of Georgia, a daughter of William and Angeline CASEY, who were born in the South, though of old Puritan stock. When she was a child her father was killed by the Indians, and her mother taken a captive into Arkansas. The young orphan was received as a member of the family of Dr. WOOD, who moved into Illinois. When she was sixteen she took upon herself the burden of her own support. After marriage she and Mr. BRIDGES came by wagon to Grant county, Wis., where they rented what is now known as the LONG farm, making their home there for three years, and then Mr. BRIDGES purchased eighty acres from Mr. SNOWDON. There they made their home, and here they still reside. They began housekeeping in a small log house, and soon erected their present dwelling, where they reared a large and prosperous family, and have lived to see their children grow up and take honorable places in life. In 1898 they celebrated their Golden Wedding. Mrs. BRIDGES united with the Presbyterian Church when a young woman and has led a consistent Christian life.
Mr. and Mrs. BRIDGES have had twelve children, all of whom were born in Grant county. (1) Flora, born in 1850, married Thomas NIXON, resides in Iowa on a farm, and is the mother of nine children, John, Flora, Irene, George, William, Joseph, Thomas, Theodore and Martha. (2) Alice, born in 1852, married Joseph NIXON, resides on his farm near Rockville, and is the mother of six children, Edwin, Nellie, Mamie, Kippie, Ernest, and Delbert H. (3) Filena, born in 1854, married William LONG, who resided in Platteville, both are now deceased; they left two children, James and Elvina. (4) Nora, born in 1856, is Mrs. George WOMACK, of the town of Platteville, and is the mother of five children, George, Thomas, Dora, Adolph and Dudley. (5) William Judd married Miss Lou McKINNEY, and resides in Mineral Point. He is the father of four children, Thomas, Walter, Daniel and Chase. (6) Alvin, born in 1862, married Miss Laura STANOVER, and is a farmer in the town of Platteville; they have three daughters, Mamie, Jemima, and Sylvia. (7) Thomas, born in 1861, was killed while engaged in seeding grain, by a run-away team, when a boy of seventeen years; he was a bright young man and the pride of his parents. (8) Irena, born in 1863, was educated in the public schools, and in 1880 married Samuel CLIFTON, who was born and reared in England; they are living on a farm in the town of Platteville, and are the parents of six children - Nancy E., born in 1880; Gertrude, June 24, 1885; Charles C., in 1889; Alice and Ada A. (twins), in 1894; and John Dewey Clinton, in 1898. (9) Harry M., born in 1866, married Miss Emma QUARLES, and settled on a farm in the town of Lima. He has two daughters, Ella and Ruby QUARLES. (10) Mary Esther married James APPLEBY, resides in Minneapolis, and has one son, Willis. (11) Dudley C. is married, and when last heard from was in Iowa, he has no children. (12) John is mentioned below. There are thirty-eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
John BRIDGES, born in June 1872, is now manager of the old home farm. He received a fair education in the home schools, and was well prepared for the duties of an active life. In October, 1896, he married Miss Emma DOELZ, a daughter of G. C. and Philopenie DOELZ, an old and prominent family in Dubuque, Iowa, and they live on the farm, caring for his parents in their old age. They have two daughters, Freda, Viola and Irene May. John BRIDGES has been long identified with the Republican party, following in his father's footsteps in this respect, and is a leading man of the community. Fraternally he is a member of the United Workman.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck