Date Original
1848-1849
Description
This collection contains correspondence between David Bridenthal and his wife-to-be Catherine Lucella Ashford.
Biographical/Historical Note
David Bridenthal was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1823, to John and Elizabeth Hoevel Bridenthal. David and his family moved to Ohio, where he attended what is now Denison University in Granville. He also graduated with honors from Harvard University. In 1847, he helped to found Union University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was later moved to Jackson, Tennessee, in 1873. He met and married Catherine Lucella Ashford, the younger sister of two of his pupils at Union University, on August 3, 1849. They moved to North Alabama, where he established the Mountain Home Female Academy. They moved to Texas, where he was admitted to the bar in 1856. During the Civil War, he served as a corporal in Cook's Regiment, Heavy Artillery for the Confederate Army. In 1866, he and his family moved to Washington County, Arkansas. He established the Clear Creek Academy, but it was disbanded in the 1870s. He represented Washington County in the Arkansas Legislature in 1873-1874. He and Lucella raised five children: Ada, Thomas J., Elizabeth H., David A., and Maud. He died March 14, 1903.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; Tennessee
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.002.010
Resource Type
Text
Collection
David Bridenthal letters, SMC.002.010
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
David Bridenthal letters, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
