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.