Martin Mason Bridges

Martin Mason Bridges, a dealer in wood, coal, coke and charcoal, at northeast corner of Sixth and Washington streets, Oakland, was born in New York city, November 6, 1851, a son of Jonathan Fletcher and Sophia (Mason) Bridges, both natives of Massachusetts, of New England descent for several generations. J. F. Bridges, born in 1802, received a good education, and in young manhood moved into Essex county, New York,, locating at Moriah.  For several years he was identified with the commercial, religious and educational interests of that town, being one of its prominent and influential citizens.  He carried a general store, saw-mill and lumber-yard; with his father-in-law, Hezekiah Mason, was a chief burden-bearer in the erection and support of the Baptist church of Moriah, and with him also a chief promoter of the Moriah Academy.

     The name of Deacon Bridges was a household word for many years in that section.  About 1838 he moved to New York city, where he continued the lumber business and was for some thirteen years clerk of one of the Baptist churches.  The family returned to Moriah in May, 1852, where the mother died in 1879, aged seventy-four; the father surviving to 1889, died in Wisconsin at the age of eighty-seven.  Grandfather J. F. Bridges, Sr., engaged during the active period of life chiefly in the shoe and leather business, died in Moriah, aged over eighty years, and his wife, by birth E. Cobb, was nearly eighty.  One of their sons, Benjamin Franklin Bridges, born in 1796, is living in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1891.  Grandfather Hezekiah Mason, born in Massachusetts about 1783, by occupation a farmer and miller, became owner of a large tract of land in Moriah township, Essex county, New York, where he resided from about 1810 to 1847 or 1848, when he moved to Iowa, settling near Davenport, where he died a year or two later.  His wife, by birth Sybil Eddy, also a native of Massachusetts, survived him about five years, dying at an advanced age at Moriah, whither she returned after his death.  Of their children three lived to be over sixty; Sophia, by marriage Mrs. J. F. Bridges, of Moriah, the mother of the subject of this sketch; Hezekiah Mason, Jr., who some time after arriving at man's estate moved to Iowa and became owner of a considerable tract of land near Davenport, whence he moved, before 1860, to Missouri, near Grand City, where he died in 1883, aged about seventy-five; Horatio G., born in 1820, came to California in 1849, and after thirty-four years' residence in this State went to visit his brother at Grand City, Missouri.  Arriving there some little time before the brother's death, he also died there in March, 1884.

     M. M. Bridges, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest and only surviving child of his parents, one dying in its fourth year, and ten others dying still younger.  Brought up with great care at Moriah from the age of six months, he has never had a serious illness, notwithstanding the remarkable fatality among the other children of his parents.  In due time he went through the regular course of instruction in the public school and academy of Moriah, and then read law for a year.  He then took charge of the home farm of 100 acres adjoining the village, preferring that career to a professional.  He embraced the vocation of farming with much zest and interest, and attended closely to the cultivation and improvement of the place as superintendent and manager until 1879, and owner from 1879 to 1883.  In 1883 he traveled through the West from May to November, and on his return to Moriah sold his farm and set out for California, arriving in Oakland in January,  1884.  On March 27, 1884, he bought his present business which had been established some years before in a small way.  He has since built it up to its present standing, which is that of the largest retail yard under individual ownership in Oakland.  He is also owner of considerable real estate adjoining his home at 952 Thirty-fifth street, part of which he is now improving for sale or rent.  His only interests at present are his business, his realty and his family, which keep him too busy to leave much time for other associations, social or political.  At his home in the East he was often encouraged to aspire to official position, but he has always declined, as that line of life has no charm for him.  He at one time took an active interest in temperance work, and was a member of the I.O.G.T. for some years, but even that labor of love has had to give way to the pressure of business and the care of his young family.

     Mr. M. M. Bridges was married in Moriah, New York, September 8, 1874, to Miss Jennie L. Bristol, born in Ticonderoga, New York, February 20, 1857, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Walker) Bristol, both natives of that section of New York.  The father enlisted in the Union army in the civil war, and after serving about three years was discharged for disability, having contracted chronic dysentery, of which he died soon afterwards.  The mother is still living in 1891, aged about fifty-five.

     Mr. and Mrs. Bridges have had five children:  Daisy, born April 10, 1877; Harry, October 10, 1879; Arthur, February 19, 1883 - all at Moriah; Franklin Kinsley, born in Oakland, March 27, 1884, deceased in 1885; Roy Bristol, April 27, 1887.

 

Transcribed 10-25-04   Marilyn R. Pankey