Tulare County Biographies

GEORGE BRIDGES

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


California is a field peculiarly alluring to young men of states further east, 
who, having good health and good character, are determined to prosper by their 
own efforts. This is proven by a glance at the facts in the life thus far of 
George Bridges, a prosperous farmer and dairyman near Visalia, Tulare county. 
Mr. Bridges was born in Morton county, Ind., March 3, 1867, and there he 
attended the public schools and gained a practical knowledge of farming as it 
was then carried on in his vicinity. In 1884, when he was seventeen years old, 
he came to California. His original settlement here was at a point west of 
Visalia, and eventually he bought ten acres of land near the Shirk ranch, which 
he still owns, and where for nine years he grew alfalfa. Then he rented a part 
of the Frans ranch, forty acres, east of Visalia. There he cultivated alfalfa 
and installed a dairy of thirteen cows, besides raising some vegetables. The 
following year he rented the Smith ranch of three hundred and twenty acres and 
increased his dairy to one of twenty-five cows, giving attention to alfalfa and 
devoting an adequate portion of his land to pasturage. After living there a year 
he moved to his present residence, two hundred and twenty-six acres of the old 
Patterson ranch, northeast of Visalia, which tract he has since operated under 
lease. At this time he has ninety-eight acres in alfalfa, owns one hundred head 
of hogs and beef cattle and has a dairy of fifty cows. Thus, from a small 
beginning and not under the most favorable circumstances, he has developed a 
fine, growing business which stamps him as a man of ability and enterprise and 
holds much promise for his future.
In 1890 Mr. Bridges married Miss Mary F. Stokes, a native of Tulare county, 
where her father, Yancy Stokes, was an early settler, and they have four 
children: Flora May, Stella I., wife of Roy Switzer, George M., and Zelda E. Mr. 
Bridges is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, devoted to all its 
interests. He is a man of considerable public spirit, always ready to do his 
part for the advancement of any measure for the general good of his community.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, Pp 785-786