Bawden4 on Family Tree Circles
Journals and Posts
Category: ALLIED LINES IN APPENDIX
ALEXANDER SMART m. Lucy SANGER & Emily ELDRIDGE PARKER
Alexander SMART was born 4 December 1835 in Kinard Castle, Farnell Parish, Angus, Scotland to William and Jane Johnston(e)SMART. He was christened 27 December 1835 in Ireland. Living siblings listed in his father's obit (8 total) James Johnston, William, John Johnston and Alexander. William and Jane's 3 sons, Walter, Frances Kerr, and Charles, and dtr Agnes B. Donald not listed.
William was born 14 April 1800 in Brechin, Angus, Scotland. As a gardener/forester for the Carnegie estate, he thought there were better opportunities in the New World. In 1856 he sailed on the "Caroline", registered in Rockland, ME, from Liverpool to Boston and established a home in Andover, Essex, MA. He was a member of the Old Free Church of Scotland and was a man whose record for integrity and fidelity gained him uniform confidence and esteem. William died in Andover, 6 January 1878. No bio info for Jane, born 13 May 1798 in Scotland (no location) and died in Andover 1 September 1855. They are buried in Andover's South Church Cemetery.
Alexander was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and throughout his life has manifested many of the sterling traits of his race. He began learning the machinist trade while young and worked at this for 2 years. He worked for the North British Railroad for 2 years as engineer, in the same capacity between Edinburgh and Berwick.
In 1857, he came to the US at 21 years-of-age and settled in Boston as superintendent for Stone & Smart, where his brother (no name) was a junior partner. Alex managed their machine shop until 1859, when he made his way to Davenport, Scott, IA and engaged in farming in the vicinity of the city for about 2 years.
On 15 December 1859 in Chicago, Cook, IL, Alex married Miss Lucy A. Sanger, born in Danvers, Essex, MA, dtr of the late George W. SANGER of Watertown, Middlesex, MA (no mother listed). George was a native of MA and conducted an extensive and successful business as a contractor and builder. He died when Lucy was a child (no date) Lucy SANGER SMART died 26 August 1871 of typhoid and is buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery. Interment date was 15 June 1872 as the body was moved from Dallas County, IA.
Alexander moved to Whiteside County, IL, two years later and again engaged in farming for 5 years. In 1866, he went to Malcolm, Poweshiek, IA and was an agent for the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad which sold its line to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company. Mr. Smart built a grain elevator and engaged in business until 1868 in Malcolm when he moved to DeSoto, Dallas, IA, terminus for the CRI&P. The line was extended to Stuart, Adair, IA, and Alex took charge of the station and continued as agent until 1887. While in Stuart, Alexander served on the school board and was interested in progressive public measures tending to promote community welfare along business and intellectual lines.
Alexander married Emily H. ELDRIDGE PARKER 17 October 1872 in Davenport, Scott, IA. She was born (no date) in 1836 in Gloucester County, NJ, dtr of John M. (MULLEN?) and Mary Ann ADAMS ELDRIDGE. Emily had 2 dtrs in Davenport with husband Dr. Wallace William PARKER who died in a railroad accident on 8 August 1868 in Ames, Story, IA: Ida Helen born 1857 (no date), married Willard B. Conger, and Anna H. born 1860 who died of typhoid on 3 September 1869.
In 1887, Alexander was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
On 15 May 1888, he came to Perry, Dallas, IA and was the agent for the CRIP until 1891, living in Guthrie Center, Guthrie, IA. He then went to Des Moines, Polk, IA and bought out the Blue Line Transfer Co. He carried on business until 1894 when he sold out and organized the Bazalt (basalt?) Hardwall Plaster Co., until 1899 when he again sold out and went to Guthrie Center. Emily ELDRIDGE PARKER SMART died in Guthrie Center on 24 July 1899. He took charge of the CRIP station. The Minneapolis and St. Louis RR purchased this line and Alexander was the agent until his retirement.
He died in Zenith, King, WA on 9 January 1935 where he was living in the Masonic home. He celebrated his 99th birthday there, where he arose at 4:30 each day. His long white beard and cheery smile were familiar to everyone. He joined the Masons in 1869 and was a Shriner since 1906. He was honored as being the oldest Shriner in the world in 1935 at 99 years old. No burial info as of Oct 2014.
ASHER: Lewis Micajah deserted his family.
This name enters my tree through the marriage of my Sarah E. ELDRIDGE and Charles William ASHER.
Sarah was the first daughter of Duncan Campbell and Rebecca LIPPINCOTT ELDRIDGE (his 2nd, her 1st). She was born 2 May 1837 in Davenport, Scott, IA as the first white girl of that city.
Sarah and Charles married 25 December 1860 in the Davenport family home.
Charles was born (my reference) ca 1834 in Niagara County, New York. Grave marker says 1840 with no date. He served before he was married in the Civil War as a private in Co. D, 20th Reg., Iowa Infantry which mustered in Davenport.
Sarah and Charles were divorced - no date - in Davenport. They had only one child. Lewis/Louis Micajah ASHER was born ca 1861 in Davenport.
Sarah committed suicide in Delmar, Clinton, IA by an overdose of chloroform and laudanum on 1 Dec 1875. She went to a hotel to meet a man. Charles left the area, married Phebe GARDNER JONES, a widow with children: Myrtle S. child who died in 1884 - no birthdate; Gertrude M. ASHER GORHAM 1876-1963; Clarence Charles 1879-1945; Lester Ellis 1883-1976; Clarence M 1915-1956. Charles and Phebe and family lived on a farm in Silver Creek, Merrick, Nebraska.
Charles had health problems, possibly epilepsy or heart. He died in a field fire 21 May 1884 and it was thought his health may have contributed. His step-son Charles tried to put out the flames on his father's clothes but it was too late. He is buried with a military marker in Jackson Cemetery, Duncan, Platte, Nebraska. His family is buried in Woodlawn Abbey, Sumner, Pierce, Washington. (See Find-a-Grave).
Son Lewis Micajah ASHER married Agnes May NOBLE 10 June 1886 in Davenport. Agnes was born to Irad Day and Lydia Myer(s) NOBLE on 19 May 1864 in Jamestown, Scott, IA (no longer exists).
Lewis worked for the [Chicago], Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co. as a brakeman and was not a resident of Iowa, their divorce records state. Lewis deserted Aggie on 25 Aug 1893. The family, 2 boys and a girl, moved frequently and Agnes returned to Davenport. She sued for divorce in November 1895.
Children: Gertrude May b 26 Mar 1887 in Davenport; Charles W. b 18 Jun 1889 in Missouri (1900 census says Kansas); Irad Lewis b 28 Dec 1891 in Waukesha, WI.
Agnes married Fayette M. JONES on 15 Nov 1905 in Davenport. He was educated in Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa and moved to Davenport in 1904 where he worked as a fireman or stationery engineer for the International Milling Co. untill his retirement in 1945. Fayette JONES died 11 Oct 1951 in Davenport. Agnes ASHER JONES died 4 Jul 1957. Agnes was a member of St. John's Methodist Church and Eastern Star. They lived at 1225 Perry St in Davenport. (still exists) They're buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery. No children.
I have held the 117-year-old lawyer's notes and divorce papers archived in the Davenport Public Library Richardson-Sloane Records archives. Agnes asked for support for the children and Lewis denied her, then she asked for support for her, and Lewis again denied her. The judge mandated $20/mo to Aggie.
I started by writing to the regional railroad pension office in Decatur, Illinois, for personnel/payroll records to see if the CRIP railroad deducted the $20 (and to find out where he picked up his pay). They said they don't keep those personnel records; they referred me to William Gibbons - a Chicago trustee who took receivership and repaid debts over-and-above before he transferred the railroad to his law partner; Wm is deceased - somebody should have told the Retirement Board; the Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago, which was not established until the mid-1930s, and said railroads were only required to keep records through 1986 of the pre-1930s; the Newberry Library in Chicago - no records, Colorado Historical Society - closed until 2012, Iowa Interstate Railroad, Maytag Corporation, and my last - Union Pacific in Omaha. The archivist, also a gene hobbyist, said they had no records and sympathised with my dead end.
Nothing more is known about Lewis M. ASHER.
CLARK: Charles marries Anna YEOMAN - dtr Anna marries Nathaniel WILLIAMS (Mary HIGH WILLIAMS ELDRIDGE maternal g-father)
Charles was born 21 Sept 1753 in Westfield, Union, New Jersey, where he married Anna on 2 Oct 1774.
Anna was born 7 Apr 1756. No parentage or birth location, possibly Westfield.
Charles served as an Ensign in Captain Craig's Company of New Jersey troups during the American Revolution.
In 1793 he became Captain of the New Jersey State Militia.
The following account is found in the History of Scott County, Iowa by H. E. Downer 1910 p. 77.
That he must have held rank as an officer is indicated by the fact he wore a sword, the silver handle of which was afterward melted into 6 tablespoons, two of which were given to each of his 3 grandchildren: Samuel CLARK, Charles Clark WILLIAMS, and Betsy SMITH. This was about 80 years ago and the spoons are still high-prized by the present generation.
Anna CLARK died 23 Aug 1781; Charles died 8 Sept 1821 in Westfield.
This surname is somewhat removed from my tree. I'm posting it to help anyone.
Corporal William I. JOY
William Joy was the first husband of Jacob Mullen and Mary High Williams ELDRIDGE's first child, Elizabeth.
William and Elizabeth had 2 boys: Roy/Ray, born 1873 (no date)in Davenport, Scott, IA; died 17 February 1875 in Valley City, IA (now Pleasant Valley, Scott County). He is buried on his grandparent's lot in Oakdale.
The other son was Maynard born 5 Feb 1889 in Davenport. He died Mar 1968 in Bedford, Middlesex, MA. No burial info.
I do believe William is one of my lost and found.
The person who posted on Find-a-Grave only wrote what was on the marker.
He was born in 1820, no location or date, and died 24 Sept 1876.
He was from Company A, 9th Iowa Cavalry, and there is a rusted star which is unreadable in the picture.
The only thing I can think of now is to 'google' the 9th Iowa and see what I get.
Anyone know of such a Civil War database???
DUVALL: John Frederick "Tom" married Katherine Elizabeth "Katy" HANSMEYER and they have 3 dtrs in Beardstown, Cass, Illinois
John was born 3 Dec 1866, son of William and Mary MEYER / MEIER DUVAL (YES 1 L) on the family farm near Arenzville, Cass, Illinois. After graduation from Carthage College, John taught school for four years. He changed the spelling of his last name to DUVALL before he married.
On 28 Apr 1892 John and Katherine "Katy" were married in Beardstown, Illinois. She was the dtr of Henry and Catharina SCHMIDT HANSMEYER, born 4 Nov 1866 in Beardstown.
John worked at the First State Bank of Beardstown, moving in 1913 to Bennett, Cedar, Iowa where he was secretary-treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Co. Around WWI, John purchased the elevator company and renamed it the DUVALL Grain Company, building at the same time, a large stucco house on the corner of 5th and Willow in Bennett. In 1928 he sold his grain company and home to Mr. BUTTOLPH and took a 240-acre farm in Mitchell(ville?), Iowa as part of the transaction. They lived for a short time in Mitchell(ville) but returned to Bennett to operate a feed mill 6 weeks before his death.
John died 18 Jun 1936 at the farm of Julius BRUH near Bennett. He and Katherine are buried in Inland Cemetery near Bennett. Katherine died 16 Sept 1945 in her daughter Viola Katherine DUVALL BAWDEN's home at 161 Forest Road.
1. Viola "Vi" Katherine 7 Apr 1895. She married George Ray BAWDEN (this writer's paternal g-parents).
2. Pauline Marie "Bill" born 6 Jun 1899; married Wm Floyd BLAIR 2 Jun 1926 in Bennett, Iowa. William was the son of William Preston and Lena GRAFING / GRAFINE BLAIR born 1893 in Bennett, Iowa. They lived in Bennett whee they owned a hardware store and Wiliam was Mayor of Bennett for 18 years, served on City Council, and at the same time president of the school board for nine years. They moved to Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado in 1948 and purchased the Cadillac Motel. "Aunty Bill" also worked at and owned the gift shop at 7 Falls - a man-made tourist stop in Colorado Springs. William died 6 Sept 1954 and Pauline in 10 Dec 1968 in Colorado Springs. They are buried in Inland Cemetery in Bennett, Iowa. They had 3 children: Joan Duvall, William James, and Thomas Duvall.
3. Henrietta "Hank" born 16 Jan 1897 attended school in Bennett and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa (formerly Iowa State Teacher's College). She moved to Davenport where she worked as a sales person in the ladies ready-to-wear department of Abraham's Clothing Store. She did not marry. She died 6 Jul 1951 in Davenport and is buried with her parents in Inland Cemetery in Bennett, Iowa.
ELDRIDGE - BAWDEN: Jennie, dtr of Jacob M. and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, writes about father; Harry BAWDEN writes about Agnes SMITH - Jacob's 3rd wife
Jacob ELDRIDGE married a third time after the children were all married and in homes of their own. Agnes SMITH, an elderly matron and delightful companion for his old age - she remained in the old home until father's death seventeen years after marriage. Very Happy - then Agnes (Grandma E) lived a number of years next to the BAWDEN home on Kirkwood [16th St.] having built a small home for herself. A delightful woman, loved by all who knew her especially her family.
Harry BAWDEN Family History - youngest son of Jennie and George BAWDEN
Jacob Eldridge's third wife Agnes Smith. Known as "Kitty Oma' one of the sweetest women we ever knew. They had no children. Once in a while he and Agnes would have the SCHLEGEL and BAWDEN family ofer to dinner and there would be so many of us they would have a second table. The younger children would have to sit on the family bibles [sic] - Paula and Harry.
Agnes -when quite old- gave a dinner party for the SCHLEGELS and BAWDENS and presented each of us grandchildren - Claire, Lura, Paula, Albert, Ray and Harry with a $100. That was something in our lives.
When Jacob died, Agnes had a beautiful painting made of Jacob. When Agnes died, she left the picture to Minnie ELDRIDGE SCHLEGEL (Jacob's dtr) who gave it to the Bawden boys [Albert Ralph, George Ray and Harry ELDRIDGE]. They hung it in their office until March 1963 when it was given to the city of Eldridge, Scott, Iowa to hang in their new Scott County Library. Granddaughter Claire SCHLEGEL ROSS. Harry E. BAWDEN and Nan BAWDEN HARTVIGSEN presented it to the city. This pastel on canvas by F. J. MORRIS for many years was owned by Agnes who upon her death, bequeathed it to Carl E. SCHLEGEL. In 1946, Mrs. Carl E. SCHLEGEL died and bequeathed it to BAWDEN Bros. Inc. and it hung in the office of the president, much to the admiration of the doting grandchildren - Albert, Ray and Harry.
ELDRIDGE: Duncan CAMPBELL's Last Will and Testament, Scott County, Iowa - 11 Feb 1881
Scott County, Iowa Circuit Court #2030 - Probate
Now all men by these presents [presence?]: That I Duncan C. ELDRIDGE of the City of Davenport in the County of Scott and State of Iowa, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs while I have strength and capacity so to do, have made published and declared. And now here do make publish and declare as and for my last Will and TEstament (hereby revoking all former wills by me made) in manner and form following that is to say -
I. It is my will that as soon as practicable after my death all my just debts if any there should be shall be paid in the manner provided by law.
II. All my property real personal or mixed, and of whatwoever kind or nature which I shall own and be in possession of as entitled to at teh time of my death, and which shall not be needed for the payment of my debts as aforesaid. I give and bequeath and devise onto my beloved wife Rebecca E. [Elizabeth LIPPINCOTT] ELDRIDGE, to have and to hold the same absolutely and forever, and free from any restriction, except as to the remainder after teh death of my said wife Rebecca E. ELDRIDGE, should there be any of my said property or the proceeds thereof left that any and all such remainder and remainders I give and bequeath as follows: The undivided one-half thereof. I give and bequeath and devise to my son Micajah LIPPINCOTT ELDRIDGE to have and to hold the same forever. The other undivided one-half thereof I give and bequeath and devise to my four grand children to wit: Mary Rebecca (sometimes called Birdie) ELDRIDGE, Anna ELDRIDGE and Rea ELDRIDGE, children of my son Charles Henry ELDRIDGE, and Lewis M. ASHER [son of dtr Sarah], my said grand children to share and share alike of the undivided one-half bequeathed to them to have and to hold the same forever.
III And I hereby appoint my said wife sole Executrix of this my last will and testament and I direct that she shall not be requried to give bonds for the faithful performance of her duties as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and have published and declared these presents as and for my last will and testament in presence of the witnesses whose names are subscribed hereto attesting such my acts and deeds, so done in the City of Davenport, Scott County, Iowa this eleventh day of February A.D. 1881. Signed - D. C. ELDRIDGE.
...in witness thereof we have at the request of said testator and in his presence or names as witnesses of such his acts and deeds. Signed C.H. KENT, Davenport, Iowa; M. D. SNYDER, Davenport, Iowa.
ELDRIDGE: Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, 2nd wife of Jacob Mullen, she bore 9 children, author posts 10 June 1885 obituary
Davenport Democrat newspaper Wednesday, 10 June 1885
Death of Mrs. J. M. ELDRIDGE
Mrs. Mary H wife of Jacob M. ELDRIDGE was called home this morning at eleven o'clock. This most excellent wife and mother was born in Newark, New Jersey on the 27th day of September 1828, and came to Davenport with her father in 1843, and was married to her now bereaved husband July 25, 1851. Her father [Charles CLARK WILLIAMS] died of cholera in this town in 1851, her mother died in Nebraska in 1876.
Mrs. ELDRIDGE had been in poor health for about five years - suffering from nervous prostration, and much confined to her room, though riding out now and then, and even as recently as on Monday of this week. Her husband took her to their daughter in Dakota a few years since, hoping for a change for the better in that climate, but to no purpose. The immediate cause of her death was paralysis, which came upon her a few days since.
She leaves a family of six children - Miss Dr. R. T. ELDRIDGE (divorced then) of Boone, Iowa; Mrs. S. L. GLASPELL, Jamestown, Dakota [North Dakota was still a territory], Mrs. George BAWDEN, Muscatine, Frank and Minnie and George who live here. Of her near relatives thee are several living - Mr. A. F. WILLIAMS, and Mrs. N. W. McCANDISH of this city, Mrs. Ezra MILLARD of Omaha, and Mrs. Gen. Wm. E. VANDEVEER [sic?] of California.
This devoted wife and mother was a member of the Presbyterian church - was known for her many charities, her long and patient suffering, and was beloved by all who knew her and were about her. Though for some days deprived of the power of speech, her going to the better land was in perfect peace, surrounded by husband and four of her younger children. It was the first breaking of a large and happy family circle.
The funeral takes place on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family residence, 16th and Farnam - interment at Oakdale.
ELDRIDGE: Micajah LIPPINCOTT gives a story in 1920 to the Davenport Democrat and Leader newspaper about his father, Duncan CAMPBELL ELDRIDGE
This was an article dated 22 Aug 1920, quoting the youngest child of Duncan CAMPBELL and Rebecca LIPPINCOTT ELDRIDGE: It appears in the appendix of The ELDRIDGE-BAWDEN Families noted in comments.
AN OLD SETTLER OF SCOTT COUNTY BECOMES REMINISCENT
M. L. ELDRIDGE is 75 years old today. He tells of some of the first beginnings in Davenport [Scott County, Iowa]: "I have heard my father tell of living in Cincinati [Ohio], and that in 1835 he built a floatboat with a house cabin on it; he put in a stock of groceries and provisions [along with enough wood to build a shanty] and together with his wife and baby [Charles Henry b 26 Jul 1830 in Cincinnati] journeyed down the Ohio River to the Mississippi thence was towed up the river to Galena, Illinois - not liking it there, he bargained with the steam boat captain to tow him back to St. Louis. The winter was setting in early and very cold, the ice formed so fast that a little later the captain in order to save his boat cut loose from the flat boat in order to fun faster, leaving the ELDRIDGE outfit to its fate, the flat boat floated along with the ice during that day and night. Toward morning the cold was intense. When daylight came the ice had stopped moving and the flat boat and cargo was frozen in the middle of the river opposite the site of Davenport [town of Stephenson, Illinois, now Rock Island].
A little later several settlers came to the river bank and called saying to have ptience and when it was safe they would come out and help to get them ashore. The boat was torn to pieces, the lumber was used toward building a cabin.
When the lumber dried out, large cracks appeard. Mother made paste with flour and pasted old newspapers 9mostly illustrated) over the cracks, the settlers would come in and stand or sit on a box and enjoy the pictures and reading matter--a Bible and a few books that mother had brought along constituted the first library and reading room. Mother baked bread and made dried apple pies for the settlers (no Federal Bakery here then) and father sold groceries and provisions, the first grocery and bakery; it was located on the corner of Front [River Drive now] and Ripley Streets.
Antoine LeCLAIRE was the first postmaster and carried the mail in his pocket. He tired of the job and put father in charge of the mail, so that the cabin became the first post office. In the same cabin was preached the first sermon by E. M. GAVET, a Methodist minister.
In 1837 father put up a small mill to crack corn, a horse was the motive power. "Old Joe" TOPIN, an old discharged soldier was the miller and he rolled out the bread stuff by the quart. This was the first grist mill.
During the summer of 1838 the first brick house was erected by father, who was a practical brick mason. It was located on the northeast corner of Main and Third Streets, now the Masonic temple. [no longer exists] on a lot bought of Antoine LeCLAIRE. It was in his corn field and a row of corn was purchased and cut out to form a road to haul the brick. A few years later, in 1845, I was born in that first brick house. My recollection of the event is somewhat clouded but I know I was there just the same.
The same year that he [father] built the brick dwelling he was appointed postmaster. Mr. LeCLAIRE having resigned. Then he [father] built a small brick building on the same lot for a post office. This was the first postoffice building in Iowa. Postage was twenty-vife cents, paid by the recipient. No stamps yet. In 1839 the LeCLAIRE house, built of brick, a grand hotel in those days, was erected by Antoine LECLAIRE at a cost of $35,000. It was located on the northeast corner of Main and Second, now teh PUTNAM block. Father did the brickwork. July 4, 1845, "Colonel" Davenport was murdered and robbed in his residence on the island [Rock Island Arsenal on the Mississippi River - still exists]. The same year, 1845, Iowa became a state [Dec 28, 1846]. I was born that same year [22 Aug 1845], just like we were twins but Iowa has outgrown me.
I remember the horse ferry boat, before the steam ferry appeared. It was a flat boat with side paddle wheels; a horse on each side of the boat working on an inclined tread mill to make the 'wheels go round'. The steam ferry commenced 5 May 1852.
September 21, 1854, I saw the first stone -- the corner stone -- laid for the first bridge across the Mississippi. The bridge was about 1600 ft. long from the Iowa shore to the Island [Rock Island Arsenal]. The abutment is still standing on both sides.
INFO from author-compiler Alice Richardson Sloane, C.G.
2. According to several accounts, D. C. ELDRIDGE built or helped to build 34 houses in the town of Davenport. He is supposed to have lived in each of the 34 houses. This may be true but difficult to prove since city directories for the period are oncomplete and house numbers and street names were changed periodically. Listed are excerpts from existing (years listed)Davenport City Directories which list the residences of D. C. ELDRIDGE:
1856 - 4th & Rock Island Street (now Pershing Ave)
1861 - 14 E. 14th St.
1862 - 22 E. 3rd St.
1863 - NW Corner 9th and Farnam Street
1866 - 3rd btw Harrison and Main
1867 - 3 ss 1e College Ave (possibly built by A. C. FULTON, 1863, NE c Front [River Drive] and College Ave. E.D. [was B&B but is now for sale 2012]
1868 - 13th NW corner Perry Street
1873 - 13th NW corner Perry Street
1874 - 304 Rock Island Street (Pershing Avenue)
1876-89 - 214 W. 5th St.
ELDRIDGE: Mrs. D. C. [Rebecca LIPPINCOTT] Obituary 6 Oct 1889 Davenport Iowa Democrat newspaper
MRS. D.C. ELDRIDGE DEAD
One of the Oldest Pioneers of Scott County Passes Away
Another name has been added to the death roll of Scott County pioneers yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock, after an illness of two months, occurred the death of Mrs. Rebecca Elizabeth ELDRIDGE at the ripe old age of 82 years. It was just 45 years ago yesterday since she arrived in Davenport with her husband for permanent abode. Rebecca E. ELDRIDGE formerly LIPPINCOTT, was born January 23, 1807 in Burlington County, New Jersey. She was married November 4, 1829 to Duncan C. ELDRIDGE in Cincinnati [Ohio]. With her husband she first landed where the city of Davenport now is Oct 5, 1835. They passed on up the river but finding no prettier spot to settle on returned here November 24, 1836, Iowa then being a territory. Her pioneer life was a continuous effort to make those around her comfortable and happy and to the afflicted, the sick, the dying, she was every ready with her sympathy and ministering care. Her house was always open freely to the new comers and strangers. The hospitality of herself and husband was remarked by all. It was at their house that the Christian church of this city was first organized July 28, 1839, they having both been immersed by the lamented James CHALLEN in the Ohio River in Cincinnati. May 29, 1831, and continued steadfastly in the faith to the end. November 4, 1879, the venerable couple, both hale and hearty, celebrated their golden wedding. Her husband died October 3, 1882. She has had in all eight children; two only are living, the eldest Charles H. in Kansas City, Missouri, and the youngest, Micajah L. in Davenport. The funeral will be private.
