Bridge, Mark 1857 – 1909

BRIDGE, MAHER, FREEMAN, DONAHUE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/14/2022 at 15:40:24

Source: Decorah Republican March 4, 1909, P3 C4

Passing of Old-Timer.
[Sioux Falls Daily Press, Mch. 2]
Mark Bridge, old time alderman and first fire chief of the Sioux Falls department, passed away Sunday evening at 10:30 o’clock, after suffering several hemorrhages of the stomach, at the bath parlors on North Main avenue, which the deceased has been conducting. Mr. Bridge has been in ill health for some time, and his condition was accentuated by a fall from an overturned sleigh two months ago, since which time he had been rapidly declining. He has been able to be about, however, until last Friday.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o’clock this afternoon, from the residence of Den Donahue, a brother-in-law, 409 Second avenue.
Mark Bridge was born in Berry, Lancashire county, England, Oct. 7, 1857, making him 51 years of age at the time of his death. With his parents he moved to Decorah, Iowa, when a small boy, and lived there until about 20 years ago, when he moved to Sioux Falls. With the exception of two years spent in Minneapolis he has lived here since.
The deceased was at one time one of the prosperous business men of the city, and has been recognized as such and as a political worker of no mean ability. For some years he was proprietor of the Commercial House, now the Dacotah hotel. For two terms he was an able member of the Sioux Falls city council.
Mark Bridge organized Company No. 1 of the Sioux Falls volunteer fire department, and was later chief of the department. He was made president of the State Firemen’s association in the early days of the existence of that organization.
Besides his wife, who lives with her father at Canistota, S. D., Mark Bridge leaves three sisters and two brothers—Mrs. Edward Maher, Herried, S. D., Mrs. Ward Freeman and Miss Priscilla Bridge, Decorah, Iowa, and Sam and Ben. Bridge, living near Des Moines.