Bridges-Vass Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS-1132

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Bridges-Vass Family Collection consists of mostly printed materials. These range from trading cards to church brochures providing an interesting look into the collections and lives of people during the late 1800s.

Dates

Creation: 1834-1930s, n.d.

Extent

.5 Cubic Feet (1 legal manuscript box)

Creator

Bridges Family (Family)
Vass Family (Family)
Bridges, Samuel F. (Person)

Scope and Contents

The Bridges-Vass Family Collection consists mainly of printed materials and financial documents. The financial documents consist of Samuel F. Bridges’ cash books which recorded his various. The Printed Materials from the collection are of a wide variety, including trading cards, certificates, a directory, church brochures, calendars and much more.

There is a little bit of correspondence, mostly contained on postcards, but one letter, dated 1844, is from Scotland to Alexander and Isabel Vass giving an update of their various friends and family members they left behind. The letter also tells about Scotland’s churches and their development at the time.

There is also a diary from1871 within the Literary Productions. This diary belonged to Samuel F. Bridges and within it he talked a lot about the weather and his work, with a few references to his family and the neighbors. The back of the diary also provides financial details and records. There are a few photographs without any names of the people within them in the collection.

Biographical Sketch

Alexander Vass was born in 1809 in county of Elgin, parish of Edinkille, Scotland. On December 23, 1830 he married Isabel Duncan. Isabel Duncan Vass was born in1807 in Scotland. In 1834 the couple moved to the United States and settled in Perrysburg, Ohio. Alexander was a carpenter who started his career working on a Methodist church. In 1843 the couple joined the United Presbyterian church and Vass was elected Elder of the church soon after. The couple had ten children, one of who was named Ann Vass. Ann Vass married Samuel Francillo Bridges on March 28, 1861. Samuel F. Bridges was born in Remsen, Oneida Co., New York on May 2, 1827 and moved with his family to Perrysburg in August 1838. Samuel F. Bridges is recorded in the Census as being a farmer. Samuel and Ann settled in Haskins, Ohio and when a Presbyterian church was organized at Samuel’s home on July 25, 1869 he became a charter member by letter from the Hull Prairie church. He was also elected an elder at this time; he held this position until his death on May 20, 1901, at 74 years old. On October 3, 1894 Ann died of a vitamin B deficiency, also known pernicious anemia.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.