General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> Evie's middle name is  a four generation middle name, which derives from his Grandmother's maiden name Davis:  Martha R. Davis Wilson. His is the first.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> 18 Nov 1962Died on his farm of heart attack and found in the barn by his wife Vera.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> He lived to be 72 years and 9.5 months old.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
[coosa1.ged]
Evie Davis Bridges, Sr. was born 31 Jan 1890 in Coosa County, Alabama
near Hatchett Creek, northwest of Rockford on his father’s farm.  His
parents, Mary Virginia Wilson and Alvin Lafayette Bridges, gave him the
nickname Buck.  He learned about farming from his father, who was
considered an excellent, progressive farmer in Coosa County.  This
agriculture skill provided him with a living at different intervals of
his life.  In his youth he gained a reputation in Coosa County as the
most productive cotton picker to hire in Coosa as well as the surrounding
counties. Reverend Marlin White of Coosa County stated, "I remember that
your Grandfather, Buck, could pick more cotton quicker than anyone in the
county or anyone I can remember."  I had heard this previously from Tera
McEwen during a McEwen’s family reunion at Sears’ Chapel.  In his youth
Buck attended the Liberty Hill Primitive Baptist Church, located about 2
miles west of Rockford.  Buck courted Emma Catherine Miller.  She was
born 3 Jan 1896 near Sears Chapel, located about 2 miles north of
Rockford, to James Alexander Miller and Emma Jane McEwen.  Kate became
Emma’s nickname. As a spry young lady she played in pace with any boy of
the community.  She was well educated by her father, who taught in the
county and was called "Professor".  Kate was active in her Methodist
faith at Sears Chapel as well as other community services. Her talents in
sewing and cooking were well known.
On 17 Dec 1913, they were married at the home of Kate’s parents by J.
A. Crawford, Minister of the Gospel.   The reception was given at Buck’s
father’s home.  Buck’s mother died before the wedding in 24 Jun 1906.
Buck and Emma lived in Coosa County for a couple of years. He worked
for wages for different farmers.  He brought back from Florida produce,
which he sold to the community to earn extra money. Then they moved near
Downsville, Union Parish, Louisiana, where Buck’s uncle, John William
Bridges, and Aunt, Martha Ada Wilson, owned a large farm.  Buck’s
brother, James Eppes Bridges, lived there also with his wife, Lovda L.
Thomas.  Buck farmed there.  He also made a living by trapping wild boars
that lived in the swamp area of Bayou D’Arbonne and selling the meat to
the community. These wild boars are now refered as feral hogs. The meat
of feral hogs is lean and delicious. While there Buck and Kate’s first
child, Mary Ruth, was born on 9 Jul 1916.  Mary Ruth was a twin, but her
twin died during birth.  Later, they returned to Coosa County and Martha
Mabel was born on 23 Aug 1918.  A few of years later they moved to Grady
County, Georgia.  Kate’s brother, Andrew Jackson Miller and his wife,
Linnie Pearl Newberry, owned a farm there. They tried to make a living in
Grady County.  A few years later they moved to Montgomery, Alabama.  In
Montgomery Buck earned a living as a prison guard for the State of
Alabama at Kilby Prison.  Buck rode a horse with shotgun in hand, while
watching the prisoners as they worked fields and took care of the
animals.  The shotgun once belonged to his father and later sold to his
brother, Thomas Lafayette Bridges.  In Montgomery, Buck and Kate’s only
son, Evie Davis Bridges, Jr., was born 28 Jan 1926.  Since Buck’s prison
guard job depended upon political patronage in those days, he was out of
a job at different intervals. Kate developed asthma, and because her
health was deteriorating, the family moved back to Coosa Co