General Notes

The History of Saline County, Missouri Historical Co, St. Louis, 1881:
"Frederick A. Brightwell, P.O. Cambridge. Mr. Brightwell was born inPrince Edward County, Virginia, on 11th of June, 1812, and came to thiscounty from Virginia, in an ox wagon, in 1837, and taught school forabout two years. In the spring of 1839, he moved to Howard County, andclercked in a store in Glasgow, and afterwards sold goods on his ownaccount until the year 1844. He then returned to Saline county, and wasthe first post-master in Cambridge, and had the honor of giving that townits name. He sold goods in Cambridge, for some years, and sufferedgreatly from the overflow of 1844, in his generous efforts to assistthose who lost their all in the waters. On the 13th of January, 1848, hemarried Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, and had four children, two boys and twogirls. After the death of his first wife he married a second time - thistime to Mrs. Mary J. Baker, of Hanover county, Virginia, and widow of aconfederate soldier, killed at the battle of Pea Ridge. By this marriagehe has two children, one boy and one girl. At present Mr. Brightwell isoccupied in farming, his farm lying between Cambridge and Gilliamstation."