Elizabeth ELDRIDGE was born 3 Apr 1852 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa, called "Lizzie" by family.

She graduated from Davenport High School (7th & Iowa - not current campus at 10th and Main)and attended 4 years of college (no name), after which she was known as Dr. ELDRIDGE, a medical doctor. She worked for her father, Jacob, in his real estate office for 2 years. On 4 December 1871, Lizzie married William I. JOY (no BMD) in her family home on Farnam. The 1880 Iowa Federal Census shows Elizabeth JOY as divorced living with her parents.

About 1882 (no date), she married Dr. Reuben F. ELDRIDGE...no relation. He was born March 1858 (no date) in Pennsylvania (no city), son of Joseph G. and Lucinda ARNOLD ELDRIDGE. Reuben graduated from (my source says) State University Medical College in 1881. (prevaling location University of Iowa, Iowa City).

The family moved to Dawson, Dallas, Iowa, a small railroad town west of Des Moines. Reuben practiced medicine, successfully operated a brick manufacturing company and was the leader of the Dawson Cornet Band. He would not allow his wife to practice as a doctor because, according to family tradition, her training did not agree with his medical philosophy.She was a "pill doctor".

Reuben and Elizabeth ELDRIDGE were divorced before 1910 (no date). By 1917, Reuben married Sarah Alma CUMMNGS, a registered nurse. Sarah CUMMINGS was born 18 Aug 1877 and died 15 May 1964 at Britt, Iowa. She and Reuben are buried in Perry, Iowa's Violet Hill Cemetery. Reuben died in an automobile accident north of Adel, Iowa on 3 Jan 1926.

Elizabeth moved with their children, Madge, Joseph M., Waldo E. and Minnie to Ames, Iowa where she lived for 20 years before her death from diabetes on 2 Sept 1923. She was a member of the Christian Science Church.

Lizzie and Wm JOY's children:
Roy/Ray JOY born 1873 (no date in Davenport, d 17 Feb 1875 in Valley City, (no Pleasant Valley), Iowa

Maynard JOY b (my source) July 1874, SSDI says 5 Feb 1880 in Davenport. Maynard was living in New York City at his mother's death. He died Mar 1968 (no date, SSDI) in Bedford, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Buried Shawsheen Cemetery, Bedford.

Lizzie and Dr. Reuben ELDRIDGE's children:
Madge (nickname - not found in SSDI) born 2 July 1887 in Iowa (Davenport or Dawson?), married Leroy "Roy"
Wesley BROADIE who was born (my source) 28 Oct 1882 (SSDI says 8 Apr 1891) No BMD. They lived in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa where he worked as warehouseman for the Northern Sugar Company until 1931.

Joseph M. born 9 Oct 1889 in Iowa (Davenport or Dawson?). He graduated from Ames High School and from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa with a degree in Chemistry. During WWI, he worked in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin for the Department of War in the Chemical Warfare Service. He died of pneumonia on 4 Dec 1918 in Madison several weeks before he was to marry Miss Laura JONES, an instructor at the university. Joseph was a member of the Christian ?Science Church and is buried in the Ames Municipal Cemetery with his mother and niece, 3-year-old Betty Jean Thomas.

Waldo E. born 21 Aug 1891 in Iowa (Davenport or Dawson). He graduated from college and gave his occupation to the census taker in 1915 as an unemployed button maker (sense of humor?? or true?). At his father's death in 1926, he as living in Amarillo, Randall, Texas. He died 18 Mar 1965. (no burial info). He was a cook in the Army during WWI.

Minnie born Oct 1894 (no date) in Iowa (Davenport or Dawson). She and husband Dr. Elbert B. THOMAS, a veterinarian, lived in Ames, Iowa in 1921, and in Marengo, Iowa, Iowa at her father's death. Elbert was possibly born 14 Mar 1886 (no place) and died in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa Nov 1974 (SSDI). (no date). They had only a daughter, Elizabeth "Betty" - marker says - Jean THOMAS, born 1921 (no date), died 18 Dec 1924 and is buried in the Ames Iowa Municipal Cemetery next to her grandmother, Dr. Elizabeth ELDRIDGE.