me afterwards he
was licensed and ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.

In 1896, when the Presbytery of Kiamichi was organized, he was enrolled
as one of its charter members. He was then living at Atoka. During the
next year he served New Hope and Sandy Branch churches, but continued
to reside in Atoka until 1900, when he located at Lukfata. Three years
later he took charge of Bethany, near Wheelock, and in 1905, effected
the organization of the church in the new town of Garvin. In 1910, he
voluntarily resigned the work at Bethany and the office of stated clerk
of the Presbytery, and located at Eufaula.

As a minister and life-long teacher, he rendered a very helpful service
to the various communities, in which he lived and labored.

REV. THOMPSON K. BRIDGES

Rev. Thompson K. Bridges, (B. Dec. 6, 1856), Lukfata, is a native of
Ellisville, Jones county, Miss. He grew to manhood and received his
early education at Claiborne, Jasper county. Later he attended the city
school at Meridian, and then took a course in theology at Biddle
university. He began to teach public school at the age of 21 in 1877,
and taught fourteen years in Mississippi. In 1891, he located in Indian
Territory, and has now taught sixteen years in Oklahoma. In 1899 he was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Catawba and in April 1902 was
ordained by the same Presbytery. His first ministerial labors were at
Griffin, Indian Territory, where in 1903 he effected the organization of
the Ebenezer church. The next year he continued to serve Ebenezer, but
located at Lukfata, where he has since continued to serve as the stated
supply of the Mount Gilead church, and teacher of the local school. He
served two years, 1904 and 1905, as stated clerk of the Presbytery of
Kiamichi.

Mr. Bridges has been a progressive teacher and minister. In his youth,
he formed the habit of having a good book or paper always at hand to
occupy his attention profitably, whenever he had a spare moment. That
habit of private study in spare moments has enabled him to keep abreast
of the times, and the changes that have taken place in recent years, by
the addition of new branches of study to the public school course. Ever
since he began to render service to his people as a teacher, he has made
a highly creditable record for efficiency and faithfulness. As he looks
forward to the future it is full of hope and bright prospects.

He has never ceased to be grateful, for the be