Creator

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

COinS