Surnames: Bridgman, Fawcett, Irwin, Williams

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 10/28/1943

Bridgman, Wilbur H. (27 NOV 1866 - 21 OCT 1943)

W.H. Bridgman of Stanley, pioneer resident and editor of the Stanley Republican for almost 50 years, passed away at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Thursday, Oct. 21, 1943, at one o’clock in the morning, after having been in failing health for several years. He was taken to the hospital three weeks ago, for treatment of a throat ailment. His passing came as a shock to the residents of the city where he had made his home during his long career.

Wilbur H. Bridgman was born on a farm in LaFayette Co., Wis., on Nov. 27, 1866. He spent his boyhood on the farm, attended the rural schools and was graduated from the Darlington High School. He was the eldest of six children of Charles and Ellen Williams Bridgman.

He was married to Miss Carolyn Fawcett of Minneapolis on Feb. 1, 1899. Three children were born of this union, Mary (Mrs. James Irwin) of St. Louis, Mo., John, a captain in the United States Army, who at present is stationed at Camp Wheeler, Ga., and Richard of New York City.

Mr. Bridgman will be sadly missed throughout this community where he was an outstanding citizen, having started the Stanley Republican in 1893, being one of the organizers of the Citizen’s State Bank and Public Library, as well as serving in various official capacities in these and on the Board of Education and Park Commission. He was a past president of the Wis. Press Association, which organization once awarded his paper a silver trophy for publishing the best weekly rural newspaper. He was postmaster of Stanley for a number of years.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years and was a 32nd degree Mason.