T.C. Bridwell
Submitted by Robert Kingrey
Source:
Unknown
T.C. Bridwell, ex-mayor,
and a prominent citizen of Evansville, is a native of Lawrence
County, Ohio, Where he was born February 18, 1841, and is the
son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Combs) Bridwell. The father
was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Pennsylvania. From
Virginia the father removed to Ohio, where he lived until his
death occurred. The mother now resides in Ironton, Ohio. Mr.
Bridwell was reared in Lawrence County, Ohio, and attended
public schools, graduating from the Ironton High School. In
1859, he located to Cincinnati, where he remained for about one
year, and then removed to Owensboro, Ky., where he remained for
six years, the first two of which he spent in the drug business.
In 1863 he entered the United States Revenue service, as chief
clerk, under Col. Todd, assessor of internal revenue for the
Owensboro district. Four years were spent in the service, and in
1866 he located to Evansville, and re-entered the drug business on
the corner of Third and Main streets. He continued so engaged
until 1882, when he retired from active business.
In 1875 he was elected trustee
of Pigeon Township, and was re-elected in 1878, holding the office
altogether for five years, when he resigned. In 1880, while
serving in the capacity of trustee, the Democrats elected him as
Mayor of Evansville, at a time when the city politics were
decidedly republican. He was re-elected in 1883, and held the
office for a term of six years, giving universal satisfaction and
doing much to advance the general welfare.
Since leaving the mayor’s
office he has been engaged in street gravel contracting in
Evansville and other cities, and now has a large contract on hand
at Decatur, Ala. He is a charted member of Orion Lodge, No. 35,
Knights of Pythias, in which he has held all the chairs, and was
elected representative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of
La Valette Commandery, No. 15, K.T., and of the A.O.U.W. Lodge,
No. 43.
Mr. Bridwell was married
September 22, 1864, to Bettie McFarland, daughter of Hon.
John S. McFarland, a prominent citizen of Daviess County,
KY. To this union three children were born.
