Francis M. Bridges (July 27, 1834 – March 20, 1885) was an American politician from

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. Born to one of the early families of

Greene County, Illinois Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it has a population of 11,843. Its county seat is Carrollton. A notable archaeological area, the Koster Site, has produced evidence of ...

, Bridges was raised there and studied at

Shurtleff College Shurtleff College was a Baptist liberal arts school in Alton, Illinois until 1957. History Founded in 1827 by Reverend John Mason Peck (a Baptist missionary) as Rock Spring Seminary in St. Clair County, Illinois, and relocated to Alton, Illino ...

. He then worked at a store in

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, rising to its partnership. After a brief foray out west, Bridges returned to Greene County to farm. He was elected to the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

in 1878, then to the

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...

in 1882.

Biography

Francis "Frank" M. Bridges was born in

, on July 27, 1834. His parents, Archibald and Dorleska (Eldred), were among the first settlers of the county, owning a large tract of land. Bridges was raised there and helped manage the farm until he was twenty-two. He also attended public schools in

Carrollton, Illinois Carrollton is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Illinois, Greene County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,484 as of the 2010 census. Geography Carrollton is located in south-central Greene County at (39.296662, -90.40 ...

, until that age. He then matriculated at

Alton, Illinois Alton ( ) is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 25,676 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the River Bend area in the Metro-East region of the ...

. Upon graduation, Bridges left for

Memphis, Missouri Memphis is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, Missouri, Scotland County, on the northern border of Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, its population was 1,731. U.S. Route 136, U.S. Highway 13 ...

, where he worked as a clerk in a dry goods store. He became a partner two or three years later and the firm became known as Bridges & Billups. In 1862, the partnership dissolved and Bridges sold the remaining goods. He then invested this money in horses and re-sold them in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. He remained in the state for a year, managing a hotel. Bridges moved to

Virginia City, Nevada Virginia City is a census-designated place (CDP) that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada, and the largest community in the county. The city is a part of the Reno– Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Virginia City developed as a boom ...

, to run a quartz mill. Two years later, in September 1864, Bridges returned to Memphis, then returned to Greene County to support his mother. After helping her for two years, Bridges purchased an tract of land nearby and built his own house. He stayed there for five years, until his mother died. Bridges purchased the estate of his siblings and moved onto the large family farm, where he stayed for the rest of his life. Bridges became involved in local politics and was elected Green County sheriff on November 21, 1874. After a four-year term, he was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the

, where he served a two-year term. Bridges was elected to the

in 1882, but died before his four-year term was complete. Bridges married Lena Hudnall on October 11, 1860. They had six children, three surviving to adulthood: Helen, Archibald, and Jessie. Bridges died on March 20, 1885, after a bout of paralysis. At the time of his death, he owned in Greene County. He was buried in Carrollton City Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, Frank M. 1834 births 1885 deaths Democratic Party Illinois state senators Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives People from Greene County, Illinois People from Memphis, Missouri People from Virginia City, Nevada Shurtleff College alumni Farmers from Illinois 19th-century American legislators 19th-century Illinois politicians