John A. Bridgland: Difference between revisions
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Bridgland married June 14, 1849, at Richmond, Indiana to Caroline Elizabeth Gilbert (1826–1880) who was originally from Pennsylvania.<ref name="Richmond Item-1890">{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1890 |title=Col. John A. Bridgeland, a Thorough American and Master of An Honored Career in Business, Official Station, and Politics |work=[[Richmond Item]] |pages=1}}</ref> He never remarried after her death in 1880,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1880 |title=Obituary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anderson-democrat-obituary/161628060/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |work=[[The Anderson Democrat]] |pages=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> but in his retirement had a live-in companion named Mary Hannegan. |
Bridgland married June 14, 1849, at Richmond, Indiana to Caroline Elizabeth Gilbert (1826–1880) who was originally from Pennsylvania.<ref name="Richmond Item-1890">{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1890 |title=Col. John A. Bridgeland, a Thorough American and Master of An Honored Career in Business, Official Station, and Politics |work=[[Richmond Item]] |pages=1}}</ref> He never remarried after her death in 1880,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1880 |title=Obituary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anderson-democrat-obituary/161628060/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |work=[[The Anderson Democrat]] |pages=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> but in his retirement had a live-in companion named Mary Hannegan. |
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Bridgland had one child, Harriet Augusta Bridgland born in 1853.<ref name="Cist1891" /> Harriet Bridgland married |
Bridgland had one child, Harriet Augusta Bridgland born in 1853.<ref name="Cist1891" /> Harriet Bridgland married Carlos Rodríguez de Trujillo y Malibrán in [[Seville, Spain]] with whom she had two children, John Alexander Rodríguez de Trujillo and Caroline Rodríguez de Trujillo. She and her family resided in [[London, England]], and [[Seville, Spain]]. Bridgland's descendants are not known to have ever returned to the United States. |
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He died on July 23, 1890, in [[Fairland, Indiana|Fairland]], Indiana,<ref name="Robert Clarke & Company-18912" /> and is buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana. |
He died on July 23, 1890, in [[Fairland, Indiana|Fairland]], Indiana,<ref name="Robert Clarke & Company-18912" /> and is buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana. |
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Revision as of 09:27, 28 December 2024
Col. John Alexander Bridgland | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 3, 1826 Lynchburg, Virginia, United States |
| Died | July 23, 1890 Fairland, Indiana, United States |
| Buried | Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Indiana, United States |
| Service | Union Army |
| Years of service | August 1861–March 1862 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | 2nd Indiana Cavalry Regiment |
| Known for | Politician, businessman, civil servant, military personnel, diplomat |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Gilbert (m. 1849–1880; her death) |
| Children | 2 |
Colonel John Alexander Bridgland (December 3, 1826 − July 29, 1890) was an American diplomat, businessman and soldier. He was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and served as consul of the United States to the port city of Le Havre in France.[1] Bridgland also was in the wholesale tobacco business, was in the street railway business, and he was in the horse breeding and importing business in Indiana.
He also went by the names J.A. Bridgeland, and John Alexander Bridgeland.[1]
Beginnings
John Alexander Bridgland was born December 3, 1826, at Lynchburg, Virginia, to Alexander Bridgland, a wealthy landowner, planter and merchant, and Harriet Susannah Thornton. His grandfather was a prominent racehorse owner, Sterling C. Thornton, and his great-grandfather was William Thornton (Virginia burgess) himself a great-grandson of William Thornton (immigrant).
At the age of twelve his father died and like many planters had used his landholdings as collateral for future expectations, leaving the family was forced into bankruptcy.[2] As a result of his father's untimely death he was limited in the liberal education many of his relations was afforded.[1] The family moved to Richmond, Indiana when he was young.[1]
Mexico and Indiana
Bridgland began his military career through business when the Thornton family instructed him to deliver horses from the United States to relations serving under General Winfield Scott in Veracruz, Mexico during the Mexican–American War.[1][2] Bridgland was shipwrecked off the coast of Mexico but managed to meet up with the U.S. Army as Scott marched into Mexico City.[1][2] He remained in Mexico with the army until they reached New Orleans, where he contracted Yellow Fever.[1] Upon recovery he obtained passage by steamer to Cincinnati where he took employment in the wholesale of tobacco with the expectation of returning to Indiana.[2]
Finding great success in the mid-west he eventually set up a mercantile trade business in Richmond, Indiana. Bridgman had an interest in Indiana politics early in his life, he started as a Whig Party supporter, followed by membership in the American Party (or Know Nothing Party) and by 1860 becoming an active supporter of the Republican party and its Presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln.[1][2]
Civil War
Bridgeman was friends with Oliver P. Morton when he served as governor of Indiana (1861 to 1867), and Bridgeman allied himself with Morton after the outbreak of the American Civil War.[1][3] He was referred to in the Richmond Dispatch newspaper as "One of Morton's Pets".[4] Bridgland worked to organized and outfitted Union Army troops prior to his military enlistment in the war.[3]
At the outbreak of the Civil War Bridgland received a commission of colonel of the 2nd Regiment Indiana Cavalry from Governor Morton.[2] He was assigned to Camp Wickliffe near Athertonville, Kentucky under the command of General William "Bull" Nelson.[1] His commission was in part for his experience during the Mexican-American War and as a preeminent breeder of fine horses. He fought for the Union in its western campaign at notable battles such as Shiloh and the occupation of Nashville.[5] By March 1862, health issues caused Bridgland to leave his regiment early, and he was succeeded by Edward Cook.[3]
Post-war life and diplomacy
Bridgland's business was heavily effected by post-war inflation and he worked actively to rebuild his wealth. He was able to do so and again took active interest in politics and veterans affairs. He regularly traveled to New York and Washington and became well acquainted with other politicians and military figures particularly with General William Tecumseh Sherman.[6]
Citizens' Company (or the Citizens' Street Railway Company), an Indianapolis street railway enterprise was incorporated in 1864 with Bridgland as president, and R. B. Catherwood as the organizer.[7][8]
In 1869, Bridgeman was appointed a supervisor at the Internal Revenue in Austin, Texas, serving under chief clerk William O. Avery.[9][10] He resigned from the role in March 1871, and was replaced by Kennett R. Cobb.[11] In 1876, Bridgland was investigated by the Committee on Expenditures in the United States State Department, with charges on his official conduct.[10]
In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him U.S. Consul at Le Havre in France. He served as Consul until 1882.
Horse breeding and training
Bridgland was an avid horseman his entire life, a passion adopted from his grandfather Sterling Thornton. During his period as consul he advocated for American horse industry to broker a deal to sell American horses to the French Army.[12] In addition to selling horses in Europe, Bridgland two stallions, three colts and two fillies from some of the best stables in England.[13]
In the 1880s, Bridgeman was president of Oakwood Stock Farm, a horse importing and breeding business in Indianapolis, and Thomas G. Barry was the secretary.[14]
Family
Bridgland married June 14, 1849, at Richmond, Indiana to Caroline Elizabeth Gilbert (1826–1880) who was originally from Pennsylvania.[15] He never remarried after her death in 1880,[16] but in his retirement had a live-in companion named Mary Hannegan.
Bridgland had one child, Harriet Augusta Bridgland born in 1853.[2] Harriet Bridgland married Carlos Rodríguez de Trujillo y Malibrán in Seville, Spain with whom she had two children, John Alexander Rodríguez de Trujillo and Caroline Rodríguez de Trujillo. She and her family resided in London, England, and Seville, Spain. Bridgland's descendants are not known to have ever returned to the United States.
He died on July 23, 1890, in Fairland, Indiana,[1] and is buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Colonel John A. Bridgeland". Society of the Army of the Cumberland, 21st Reunion, 1890 (PDF). Toledo, Ohio: Robert Clarke & Company. 1891. pp. 281–283 – via WikiCommons.
- ^ a b c d e f g Cist, Henry M., Henry Stone, R. H. Cochrane (1891). Society Army of the Cumberland. Toledo, OH: Robert Clarke Pub.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Belcher, Dennis W. (July 10, 2024). The Cavalry of the Army of the Ohio: A Civil War History. McFarland. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-4766-9232-6.
- ^ "One of Morton's Pets". Richmond Dispatch. May 18, 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-12-28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The War in Kentucky, Another Victory Other Rebel Stampedes in Prospect Military Items, Etc". New York Times. February 14, 1862.
- ^ Personal Intelligence: Gen.W.T. Sherman at Fifth Ave. Hotel, New York Herald-Tribune, O. M. Reid, September 9, 1886
- ^ Holloway, William Robeson (1870). Indianapolis: A Historical and Statistical Sketch of the Railroad City, a Chronicle of Its Social, Municipal, Commercial and Manufacturing Progress, with Full Statistical Tables. Indianapolis Journal Print. pp. 126–128.
- ^ "Now Comes The Jitney Bus To Make The Pioneer Become Reminiscent". The Indianapolis News. April 10, 1915. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
- ^ "From Washington". The Springfield Daily Republican. June 9, 1869. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-12-28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Official Papers Abstracted; The Case Of John A. Bridgeland-- How The Original Charges Against Him Game In Possession Of A Newspaper Correspondent". The New York Times. July 16, 1876 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Resignation". The Daily Patriot. March 4, 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-12-28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ U. S. Department of State (1878). Commercial relations of the United States with foreign countries. Washington D. C.: Government Printing Office. p. 219.
- ^ "Blooded Horses from England". New York Times. March 27, 1884.
- ^ National Stockman and Farmer. Vol. X. March 31, 1887 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Col. John A. Bridgeland, a Thorough American and Master of An Honored Career in Business, Official Station, and Politics". Richmond Item. July 31, 1890. p. 1.
- ^ "Obituary". The Anderson Democrat. November 19, 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-12-27 – via Newspapers.com.