Mary Ellen Bridges1

b. 16 June 1849, d. 17 January 1929
FatherJerome Bridges1,2 b. 18 Oct 1818, d. 31 Jan 1901
MotherSarah Margaret Isabella Buchanan1,3,2 b. 10 Dec 1830, d. 11 Aug 1865
Birth16 Jun 1849 Mary Ellen Bridges was born on 16 Jun 1849 in Missouri.2 
Marriage17 Nov 1870 She married William Gray Reed on 17 Nov 1870 in Schuyler County, Missouri.4 
Cens-Sum  Mary and William spent the first 30 years of their marriage farming in Miller township, Scotland County, Missouri. Mary Ellen gave birth to 7 children during this time, but by 1900 only 4 were living. Thomas, James and Katie were enumerated at home in 1900. Jesse married abt 1895 but also lived in Miller township with his wife and 2 children.5,6 
Migration  Sometime around 1906 Mary and William, with their children (and their families) moved to the hot, fertile farmlands of California's great San Joaquin Valley, settling in Tulare County.7 
Cens-191024 May 1910  Here they were enumerated in the spring of 1910. William listed his occupation as farmer; Mary again stated she was the mother of 7 children, 4 of whom were living. None of the children remained at home, but all 4 are known to have made the move to California.8 
  Mary's brother William (and his family) also made the move to California, where William died in 1907. 
Cens-192020 Feb 1920  Mary herself was widowed prior to 1920. She then made her home with her daughter Katie and Katie's husband Oliver. They lived and farmed just outside the community of Danuba in Tulare County.9 
Death17 Jan 1929 Mary died of chronic nephritis on 17 Jan 1929 in Dinuba, Tulare County, California, at age 79.2 
Burial19 Jan 1929 She was buried on 19 Jan 1929 at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba, Tulare County, California.2,10 

Family

William Gray Reed b. 17 May 1845, d. 6 Feb 1919
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited30 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 211-214. Trimble cites records belonging to Mrs. Betty Bridges Bower as his source for information on the family of Sarah Margaret Isabella Buchanan and Jerome Bridges.
  2. [S126] Mary Ellen Reed, California state death certificate no. 29-006539 (1929); information provided by Katie O'Neel of Pittsburg, California.
  3. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  4. [S1074] Schuyler Co., Missouri Marriage Record 2A: 129. Wm Reed and Mary E. Bridges were married 17 Nov. 1870 by B. Anderson, Minister; recd 30 Jan. 1871.
  5. [S1057] William G. Reed household, 1880 U.S. cens., Scotland Co., Missouri, pop sched., Miller twp, ED 89, page 20 (script); 237 (D) stamped, dwelling 184, family 185, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2006, image 20 of 25. Enumeration includes: William G. Reed, 35, b. KY, farmer; Mary E., 33, wife, b. MO; Jesse S. 7, son, b. MO; Thomas I., 1, son, b. MO.
  6. [S1058] William Reed household, 1900 U.S. cens., Scotland Co., Missouri, pop. sched., Miller township, ED 145, sheet 10B, dwelling 213, family 218, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2006, image 20 of 21. Enumeration includes: William Reed, age: __, b. May 184__ KY, marr 30 yrs, parents b. KY, farmer; Ellen M., wife, age: __, b. April 1847[?] Missouri, marr 30 yrs, mother 7 children, 4 living, parents b. VA; Thomas, son, 21, b. Jan. 1879, farm laborer; James, son, age: __[poss 19], b. June 188_ [poss 1880], farm laborer; Kattie, dau, 8, b. Aug. 1891; all children b. MO, their father b. KY and mother b. MO.
  7. [S16] Assuming the entire family moved about the same time, it appears, based on the place of birth of Mary and William's grandchildren, that the move west took place around 1906-1907. Also, Mary (Bridges) Reed's California death certificate (1929) states that she had been in California 23 years.
  8. [S1507] William G. Reed household, 1910 U.S. cens., Tulare Co., California, pop. sched., Kaweah township, ED 241, sheet 1A (p. 68 stamped), dwelling 4, family 7, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2006, image 1 of 8. Enumeration includes: William G. Reed, 65, marr #1, marr 39 yrs, b. KY, parents b. KY, farmer; Mary E., wife, 60, marr #1, marr 39 yrs, mother 7 children, 4 living, b. MO, parents b. VA.
  9. [S1508] Oliver O. Oneal household, 1920 U.S. cens., Tulare Co., California, pop. sched., Dinuba, ED 242, sheet 5A (p. 86 stamped), dwelling 3, family 3, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2006, image 9 of 14. Enumeration includes: Oliver O. Oneal, 31, marr, b. MO, farmer; Katie, wife, 28, marr, b. MO, father b. KY, mother b. MO; Alfred R., son, 9; Lola M., dau, 6; Wilfred, son, 3; all children b. CA; Marry E. Reed, mother-in-law, 70, wd, b. MO, father b. VA, mother b. MO.
  10. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Nov. 2013). Mary Ellen (Bridges) Reed memorial #74237457, Smith Mountain Cemetery, Dinuba, Tulare Co., California (entry includes photo of monument for W.G. Reed and Mary Ellen Reed).