Jim Bridger's wife: A look at the American mountaineer's three marriages
Three women held the title of Jim Bridger's wife: A woman from the Flathead tribe and two daughters of Shoshone chiefs. A father of five, the Army scout had only one surviving child in his early sixties. Bridger spent his last years with his daughter, Virginia, his primary caregiver.
Source: Twitter
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Jim Bridger was reportedly 31 years old when he entered his first marriage.
- The mountain man and his first wife had been together for over a decade at the time of her passing.
- Jim Bridger's second wife died in childbirth.
- He raised two children with his third wife, Mary Washakie Bridger.
Jim Bridger's profile summary
Full name | James Felix Bridger |
Other names | Casapy, Gabe |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 17 March 1804 |
Date of death | 17 July 1881 |
Age at death | 77 years old |
Birthplace | Richmond, Virginia, USA |
Place of death | Kansas City, Missouri, USA |
Nationality | American |
Marital status | Married |
Spouses | 3 |
Children | 5 |
Parents | James and Chloe Bridger |
Profession | Hunter, explorer, trapper, frontiersman, scout |
Employer(s) | US Government, Rocky Mountain Fur |
Jim Bridger married three times: A look at his family
According to TheCollector, Jim married a woman from the Flathead tribe in 1835. Although various sources report her name as Cora Insala, she went by "Emma", a name Bridger gave her. Sadly, she succumbed to a fever in 1946, leaving behind their three children.
Jim married the daughter of a Shoshone Chief. Three years later, she passed away during childbirth. The mountain man married Shoshone Chief Washakie's daughter, Mary Washakie Bridger, in 1850.
Source: Original
What happened to Jim Bridger's children?
Jim's firstborn child, Mary Ann, was captured by a group of Cayuse during the Whitman Massacre. She passed away soon after her release. Bridger's son, Felix, fought with the Missouri Artillery.
He succumbed to a sickness while on his father's farm. Jim's daughter, Josephine, who married American hunter Jim Baker, also passed away. Her death left Virginia as Bridger's only surviving child.
Jim was orphaned at 13: Exploring his age and background
Bridger's dad, James, was an innkeeper, while his mum, Chloe, was a homemaker. The family moved from Richmond to near St. Louis around 1812.
Jim's parents passed away when he was a teenager, leaving him apprenticed to a blacksmith. Following a 1822 advertisement in the Missouri Republican newspaper, he left the apprenticeship and was employed by General William Henry Ashley the following year.
He was the first European to explore the Great Salt Lake region
In 1824, Jim became one of the first recorded non-indigenous people to explore the Yellowstone region.
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He was purportedly the only man who took a raft on the rapids at the Big Horn River and lived to tell the tale. Bridger was a guide during the Utah War for about a year. In 1859, he joined Captain William F. Raynolds' Yellowstone-bound Raynolds Expedition as a chief guide.
In 1861, Jim was a guide for military captain Edward L. Berthoud. He served as a scout under Colonel Henry B. Carrington until his discharge in 1968.
Bridger was blind by 1875
In 1867, Jim's eyesight started failing, and "he could not shoot well.". By 1870, he could only recognise people if they spoke.
At this time, the former wilderness guide was living under the care of his daughter, Virginia. He passed away on his farm near Kansas City, Missouri, in 1881. According to Find a Grave records, Bridger was buried at the Mount Washington Cemetery in Jackson County
FAQs
From October 1863 to April 1864, Jim was employed as a guide at Fort Laramie. Here are some frequently asked questions about him.
How many languages did Jim Bridger speak?
Jim never learned how to read or write. Nonetheless, he had conversational knowledge of Spanish, French, and several indigenous languages.
Source: UGC
Did Jim Bridger and Kit Carson know each other?
Jim reportedly met fellow wilderness guide Kit in 1838. They travelled together on several expeditions, with Bridger purportedly being instrumental in training Carson as a scout and guide.
Conclusion
Jim Bridger's wife, Mary Washakie, was his third one following the passing of his past spouses. From 1835 to 1846, he was married to "Emma", the mother of his three kids. Bridger's second wife passed away after being together for about three years.
READ MORE: Who were Michael Landon's spouses? A look into his 3 marriages
Briefly.co.za highlighted interesting facts about the late Michael Landon's love life. He was married three times and had nine children. From 1956 to 1962, Landon was married to actress Dodie Levy-Fraser.
Michael then married Marjorie Lynn Noe (the mother of his five kids) from 1963 to 1982. He was married to his third wife, Cindy Clerico, from 1983 until his passing in 1991.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
