Bawden4 on Family Tree Circles

A Landmark Fallen
Death of Duncan C. ELDRIDGE
The Oldest Remaining Male Settler of the City of Davenport - The First Miller, One of the First Merchants and the Builder of the First Brick House, The Postmaster for Thirteen Years. An Industrious Life - The Patriarch's Career - The Funeral

A landmark has fallen! The venerable Duncan CAMPBELL ELDRIDGE, who was teh only man of the old settlers who became residents of Davenport in 1835 who was still remaining among us, is dead. He fell asleep at 11-1/2 o'clock this forenoon. The fatal ailment was paralysis. On Saturday September 23d, while in the Christian chapel attending to his duties as member of committee on repairs, the stroke came, and prostrated him - his whole right side being paralyzed while the left side seemed strong as ever. He lost his power of speech at the same time. He was borne to his home, 214 west Fifth street, and it was soon discovered that he must now journey rapidly toward the dark river. As old asthmatic trouble asserted itself, and aided in theweakening process. He could take little or no nourishment, and so he lay awaiting death with calm resignation. Old settlers would call upon him, and he would give them a warm clasp of the hand, the tears would well up into his eyes, he must part from his old friends - but he was ready. He isgone - one of the spirited citizen, teh philanthropic and charitable neighbor and friend, the kindly, tender-hearted old man, gone to his reward. His widow is the only remaining person of the group of people who settled here immediately after the town was laid out in 1835. There are those still living - may they abide with us many years - who settled some distance outside the limits of the town, but not another person beside Mr. ELDRIDGE who were the first settlers in the original village is living here.

MR. ELDRIDGE'S CAREER WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING
Duncan CAMPBELL ELDRIDGE was born, son of Josiah [and Sarah MIDDLETON] ELDRIDGE in Haddonfield, New Jersey, six miles from Philadelphia, on the 3d day of August, 1801. His parents were Quakers of the strictest sort. He received a good common school education and learned the trade of brick-layer and plasterer. He worked at his trade in his native town and in Philadelphia til the summer of 1824 when he went to Rocheswter, NY and stayed there, in that then growing place, til 1828, when losing his first wife [Rachel BROWN], he returned to Philadelphia - but moved that very year to Cincinnati. He worked at his trade there - and there he met Miss Rebecca LIPPINCOTT, whom he had known in his youth, back in Haddonfield - an own cousin of the great Philadelphia publishers - and the twain became one flesh in a few months after renewing their acquaintance. In Cincinnati Mr. Eldridge met Antoine LeCLAIRE and "Col." [honorary not military] George DAVENPORT, who described to him the beauty of the country opposite Fort Armstrong [on Rock Island Arsenal Island] and the village of Stephenson,[Rock Island] Illinois. [Davenport, Iowa was still part of the Michigan Territory]. LeCLAIRE and DAVENPORT met Duncan ELDRIDGE in Cincinnati on a supply trip and told him a town had been laid out there in the Spring to be called Davenport, and thought it would be a good thing for ELDRIDGE to move out there. He took their advice. He and Mrs. Eldridge [and 5 yo son Charles Henry b 26 Jul 1830 in Cincinnati] left Cincinnati early in September 1835. [see 'float boat' story in Micajah Lippincott ELDRIDGE blog].

The only dwelling house on this side of the river was one occupied by Antoine LECLAIRE, the ferryman, the site of which was near where the present freight depot of the C.R.I. & P. railroad stands. Mr. ELDRIDGE brought enough lumber from Cincinnati to erect a shanty as he called it, and in that shanty they passed the winter, their neighbors being the LECLAIRES and two or three families who landed soon after the ELDRIDGES did. In that shanty the first girl baby born in Davenport saw the light [Sarah Elizabeth ELDRIDGE b. 3 May 1837. First white male child - no name - was son of Levi S. COLTON, born Autumn of 1836, died in Indian village - mother was Native American]. Sarah is deceased six years since.

The next year Mr. E. went to Cincinnati andpurchased a stock of goods for a general store, which he opened in a frame building on the northeast corner of Ripley and Front [River Drive] Streets which that winter became known as "brimstone corner', because revival meetings were held in the second story of it, the Methodist preacher who officiated preaching the lake of fire all the time.

THE VILLAGE WAS INCORPORATED

In 1839 and Mr. ELDRIDGE was elected a member of the first board of trustees, with A. C. DONALDS
ON, John FORREST, Jonathan W. PARKER, John LETCH, and John OWENS. Rodolphus BENNETT was mayor, Frazer WILSON recorder, James M. BOWLING treasurer, George COLT marshal. In 1847 Mr. ELDRIDGE served as alderman of the Second Ward.

THE FIRST SERMON

Ever delivered in the town was preached in Mr. ELDRIDGE's house by the Rev. Mr. (nfn) GAVITT [also GAVET].

POSTMASTER

Antoine LeCLAIRE was the first postmaster but he turned over teh dities of theposition to Mr. E. who fulfilled them as deputy for a year and a half, when he was appointed postmaster, and thus his establishment was post office as well as general store. In a year he became postmaster, Mr. E sold his stock of goods and devoted his attention to post office business with matters of insurance and other doings he could attend to as well as not.

FIRST BRICK HOUSE

Mr. ELDRIDGE built it on the northeast corner of 3rd & Main [still existed at the obit date - not anymore]. Harvey LEONARD made teh brick and laid them for him. The quarters becoming too small as residence and post office. In fact since his residence, Mr. ELDRIDGE has built thirty-four houses [see Micajah Lippincott ELDRIDGE blog for partial list]. Thirty-five counting the spacious golden dining hall which was improvised for the celebradion of his golden wedding on the west side of the home. He remained Postmaster for thirteen years. He was a Whig - and after Franklin Pierce was inaugurated, Mr. A. F. MAST, Democrat, was appointed Duncan's successor.

DEALER IN DRUGS AND MEDICINE

In 1851, Mr. ELDRIDGE bought out the drug stores of Alfred SANDERS and John F. DILLON, andunited them in one store, next door west of what is now Wadsworth's block. He sold this store to Wm. WEBB who moved it to No. 105 W. Second Street - and is E. S. Ballard & Co's drug store now. Since his sale of drug stock Mr. E. has confined his business to insurance mostly, several years for himself and for the last twelve years with Mr. D. M. HARTWELL's now - HARTWELL and BEMIS Agency.

THE FIRST FLOURING MILL

Was introduced by Mr. Eldridge. IT was one of "GETTY's Patent Metallic mills". It was something of the style of the feedmills now ysed by farmers, and it's motive power was a strong horse.

OLDEST ODDFELLOW

Duncan was the oldest west of the Alleghanies. He was initiated a member of Kensington Lodge, in Philadelphia in May 1828, more than fifty-four years ago, and has been an affiliated member of the Order ever since, occupying the highest chairs in the subordinate lodges to which he has belonged. He belonged to Davenport Lodge, No. 7.

GOLDEN WEDDING

It was on the fourth day of November 1879 that Mr. and Mrs. ELDRIDGE celebrated their anniversary in their home on Fifth Street. The festivities were attended by a great number of people and the turnout of old settlers was so large as to be a compliment in itself.

THE PIONEER SETTLERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Eldridge was one of the most active and influential supporters. He called the meeting held in LECLAIRE Hall in January 1858, for the purpose of organizing the association. He was, with James McINTOSH, Willard BARROWS, John F. DILLON and Edw RICHSER on the committee on organization; he was one of its first vice presidents, he was elected president in January 1861. Messrs. Antoine LeCLAIRE and Evenezer COOK having been his only predecessors in the office. Always he has been at the front in furthering the interests of the organization. The ASsociation will sadly miss him.

HIS FAMILY SURVIVORS

John M. Eldridge [brother] who came to Davenport in 1839; Mrs. Anna RUMBOLD [d-i-l by marriage] who lives near Plankinton, Dakota; William ELDRIDGE the younger brother who lives near Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey. He was like a father and brother us us all - especially to me said Mr. John ELDRIDGE today as his voice choked with emotion.

THE CHILDREN

Mr. ELDRIDGE was the father of eleven children - four by his first wife [only Jacob survived]; and seven by her [Rebecca] who survives him, and has been for fifty-three eyars one of the most faithful of wives and best of mothers. Of these, Jacob M., Charles and Micajah are living, and are residents of Davenport, the number of grandchildren is nearly a score - while there are great grandchildren also. But within two days of the 47th anniversary of his landing in Davenport he passes away. Had he lived until Thursday next he would have seen that anniversary. But the patriarch has left us - passing away while his fellow townsmen cherished feelings of deepest respect for him.

THE FUNERAL takes place next Thursday afternoon, the 47th anniversary of the day of Mr. Eldridge's arrival in Davenport. Mr. Eldridge belong belonged to the Church of the Disciples (the Christian denomination) for more than fifty years, and in the Christian Chapel the services will be held at two o'clock.

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.