Bridges, Charles H., 1865-1925

Charles Henry Bridges, Jr., (1865-1925) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked as a farmer in Dingle, Idaho. Bridges served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa from 1891 to 1894.

From the description of The Charles H. Bridges, Jr., missionary diaries and correspondence, 1891-1894. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 71850972

Bridges served as a missionary in Samoa from 1881-1884

From the guide to the MS 27360 Pacific Islands Missionary Reunion collection 1895-1925 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Charles Henry Bridges, Jr. was born February 25, 1865 in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory the son of Charles Henry and Frances Elizabeth Pearson Bridges. In 1866 the Bridges family was called by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to move north and settle the remote Bear Lake Valley. They settled in modern day Dingle, Idaho where Charles Sr. worked as a farmer and school teacher and Frances worked as a midwife.

Charles Bridges, Jr. received his basic education from his father and spent his youth working the family farm. In 1887 Bridges met Mary Ellen Nate from nearby Paris, Idaho. After a year-long courtship the couple was married in the Logan LDS Temple on October 4, 1888. They settled in Dingle to farm and later had eight children who lived to adulthood.

In 1891 Bridges was called by the LDS Church to serve as a missionary in the recently opened Samoa Islands Mission, Pacific Ocean. Bridges was one of the first missionaries to proselyte in the Samoa Mission after it was opened in 1888 and he labored there for three years.

The first LDS missionaries were sent to Samoa in 1862, but no other missionaries were sent to Samoa until 1888. After the mission was opened the church continued to send missionaries to Samoa during the 1890s even though in 1888 and 1892-1894 various political and tribal wars erupted on the islands as natives fought for independence from western powers such as Germany, France, and the United States. Also during this time a number of LDS missionaries in Samoa died of various diseases, such as typhoid, because of the tropical conditions and the lack of available medical facilities. Beginning in the 1890s the LDS Church opened schools and established various work projects in attempt to win public support for the church and to improve living conditions on the local islands.

During Bridges' time in Samoa he proselyted on the Savaii and Upolu Islands of Samoa. He made regular trips to remote areas to proselyte and baptized numerous people. He also taught English to the local natives and took part in various work projects designed by the LDS Church. In the summer of 1893 Bridges' work slowed when he became ill, but he recovered within a month. Although Bridges recovered from his illness, he was left temporarily visually impaired. He struggled to see clearly and accomplish basic tasks for a period of two months before his eyesight was fully recovered.

In March 1894 Bridges was released from his missionary service and set sail for the United States. One month later he arrived home in Dingle and resumed farming. In 1894 Bridges was called to be Ward Historian for his LDS Ward. Bridges lived in Dingle until his death on February 8, 1925.

Sources:

Britsch, R. Lanier, Unto the Islands of the Sea, Deseret Book Salt Lake City, Utah, 1986, 349-430 (USU Special Collections call # 289.351 B777).

Daughters of Utah Pioneers, History of Bear Lake Pioneers, Utah Printing Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1968, 88-90 (USU Special Collections call # 979.2091 H117).

From the guide to the Charles H. Bridges, Jr., missionary diaries, 1892-1894, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)