Last Grand Army Of the Republic Man in East St. Louis Dies

 LAST G. A. R. MAN IN EAST ST LOUIS, DIES; DAUGHTER LIVES HERE

Edmonds Bridges, 86, the last member of Grand Army of Republic in East St Louis, died at his home, 710 North Eleventh street, East St Louis, at ten last night. Death was due to senility. A daughter Mrs. Iva Meyer lives in Belleville. Bridges was a cabinet maker for 42 years retiring 16 years ago.
Bridges was born at Pinckneyvllle, Feb. 25, 1850, a son of John and Lydia (Dry) Bridges. His father was born In Tennessee, his mother in Pennsylvania. [Error: Lydia Dry was born either in Cabarrus County, NC or Perry County, Illinois. Her age as reported in Census makes her born in NC.]
His wife, Mrs. Rebecca Bridges, preceded him in death. They were married In St Louis,  Sept. 2, 1872, and spent their honeymoon at the Belleville House.
In addition to his daughter, Mrs. Meyers, he is survived by three other daughters and three sons, Mrs. Lydia Taylor Chicago; Mrs. Edna Linder Granite City; Mrs. Ada Glass, Harry Bridges, Sr. and Pearl Bridges all of East St. Louis, and Oscar Bridges, St. Louis.
He is also survived by eight grandchildren nine great-grandchildren and two brothers and a sister, George and Dan Bridges, Iowa, and Mrs. Emma Brown, California. The body will lie in state at the family home until noon Wednesday when It will be taken to the Kurrua funeral home East St. Louis, where funeral services will be held at 1:30 that afternoon. Rev. SchlaretzkL of the Federated Churches East St. Louis, will officiate. Interment will be made in the Greenwood cemetery. Bridges was an honorary member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Edmond Bridges was a son of John and Lydia (Dry) Bridges. Lydia was a daughter of John F. Dry and Elizbeth Misenheimer. John and Elizabeth left Cabarrus County, NC between 1830 and 1840. By 1840 they were in Perry County, Illinois.

John F. Dry is a 1st Cousin 5X removed and Edmond Bridges is a 3rd Cousin 3X Removed. 

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1. "LAST G. A. R. MAN IN EAST ST LOUIS, DIES; DAUGHTER LIVES HERE," Death Notice, Obituary, Belleville Daily Advocate; Belleville, Illinois, 23 March 1936, Page 9, Column 6; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : viewed 10 June 2023).