John A. Bridgland

He was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and served as consul of the United States to the port city of Le Havre in France.

At the age of twelve his father died and like many planters had used his landholdings as collateral for future expectations, leaving the family bankrupt.

[1] Bridgland began his military career through business when the Thornton family instructed him to deliver horses from the United States to relations serving under General Winfield Scott in Veracruz, Mexico during the Mexican–American War.

[1] Upon recovery he obtained passage by steamer to Cincinnati where he took employment in the wholesale of tobacco with the expectation of returning to Indiana.

[4] Bridgland worked to organized and outfitted Union Army troops prior to his military enlistment in the war.

[3] At the outbreak of the Civil War Bridgland received a commission of colonel of the 2nd Regiment Indiana Cavalry from Governor Morton.

[5] By March 1862, health issues caused Bridgland to leave his regiment early, and he was succeeded by Edward Cook.

He regularly traveled to New York and Washington and became well acquainted with other politicians and military figures particularly with General William Tecumseh Sherman.

[13] In the 1880s, Bridgeman was president of Oakwood Stock Farm, a horse importing and breeding business in Indianapolis, and Thomas G. Barry was the secretary.