Charles Henry Bridges
Paris Post, Friday, 17 January 1913, page 1
FUNERAL
Very impressive funeral services were held in the Montpelier
First ward last Friday afternoon over the remains of Charles H Bridges who
passed away Tuesday the 6th day of January. Too much cannot be said of these
faithful pioneers who came into this valley over fifty years ago when this
county was a wilderness, untouched by the hand of civilization. For years they
lived in log cabins with dirt roofs and a cook stove was an unusual thing. The
individual who could sport a pair of home spun trousers was envied by the entire
community.
Charles H Bridges came to America when he was 21 years of age, joined the handcart company in Iowa in June 1856 and arrived in Salt Lake City, the same year after pulling a hand cart 1300 miles and during this time lived on one pound of flour per day. He was selected one of the guards in Salt Lake against Johnson's army invading Utah in 1858. Later, the 21st day of May 1866, they arrived in this valley, located at Montpelier and lived on the same old homestead all these many years.
In 1868 he was called to act as the first Superintendent of the Sunday School in Montpelier and was faithful in the discharge of his duties. He was senior president of the Quorum of Seventy for several years and was an active patriarch in the church for a number of years previous to his death. He was always busy in the ward and in public affairs and he will receive his reward.