Mattie Bell Bridges Pedigree Chart

This morning, I found some additions to a Bridges family tree made by Stacy White. We have been in contact before, and she is the one who sent me the picture of the complete family of William Lewis Bridges, Mattie Bell's father. I am still working to connect and research Jonathan Bridges, but it looks promising at this time. Stacy is a cousin from the double cousins in the Bridges/Jones line. Hugh Springfield Bridges was her great grandfather. Hugh was a brother to my grandfather, J.C. Jones, which make us connected as well through the Jones family. (see post about double cousins)

Martin Frank Jones's DNA has now connected me even more in line with Jonathan Bridges and ?Mary? Mariah? Sarah? McDonald. I'm not willing on this date to commit to anything further back. Find a Grave has the same information, and I don't feel that there is any substantial information on the burial of Jonathan. Stacy has some great new information that I will be investigating, along with new DNA connections.

It's interesting that in the last few days, I have found several members of the Bridges family who have been located in institutions for the insane. I surely hate to say this, but at times, as a child I felt that Mattie was a little off. I know that she was demanding of my grandmother, and she was certainly a hypochondriac. She was often thinking that she was going to die, and I remember having to line up and got in to see her to say goodbye. Of course, I just thought that I was saying goodbye for that particular visit to Crowell.  But somehow it just never felt right. hummm...

Pappy's Illness and Last Days

 My grandparents on my mother’s side were Joe Carroll Jones and Ava Ella McNair. They had 5 children, including my mother, Carolita Jones Quillin. Mother was most interested in helping me gather family information. Her brother, Martin Franklin Jones, was also interested in helping me throughout the years. There will be several Jones Family posts of the information gathered from them.

Recollections from Martin Frank Jones 2013

Most of Pappy’s life, he couldn’t bend over because of ear problems.  He had a severe infection as an infant and forever had problems with his ear.  Dr. Clark had told him that infection would get into his brain and spinal cord….and eventually that is exactly what happened.  He died of spiral meningitis.  

 When he was close to the end, Pap began to hallucinate and was violent at times.  Martin was called one day and told, “Come quickly.  Skinny is having a fit to see you.”  When Martin arrived, Pap told him, “I bought a great big machine today.”  Martin just encouraged him and told him that was really good.   In one of Pap’s lucid moments, he explained losing his mind.  He told Martin, “Son, it’s like being in a river and the water is rushing towards you.  It’s coming over you.  I know if it comes over me, I’m ruint.”