Biography - ADDISON H. ELDRED

Addison H. Eldred, who dates his residence in Macoupin county from the spring of 1856, was actively identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career but for the past two decades has lived retired at No. 405 Johnson street in Carlinville. His birth occurred in Greene county, Illinois, on the 1st of December, 1828, his parents being Moses S. and Clarissa (Brace) Eldred, both of whom were natives of Herkimer county, New York. The paternal grandfather, Moses Eldred, was a native of Massachusetts and a farmer by occupation. He manufactured nails in the winter and devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits during the summer months. Both he and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Alice Stuart, passed away in Herkimer county, New York. Their children were as follows: Rufus, Addison, Moses S., Myron, Augustus, Flora, Fidelia and Carsena. Moses Eldred belonged to the Home Guard State Militia. Jeduthan Brace, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. He came to Illinois in 1828, joined his daughter in Greene county and assisted in erecting the house in which they lived. His demise occurred in Greene county when he had attained the age of eighty-four years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Clarissa Bushnell, there passed away when about seventy years old. Their children were three in number: Leonard, who participated in the war of 1812 as a musician: Ruth; and Clarissa.

Moses S. Eldred, the father of Addison H. Eldred, was a farmer by occupation and came west to Illinois in June, 1828, settling in Greene county, where he purchased land and improved a farm. There he died when thirty-three years of age, passing away in the faith of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged. The latter was married a second time, becoming the wife of a Mr. Corbin, by whom she had one son, Lucius B. Corbin, who is now a resident of Polk township. Our subject was one of four sons who grew to maturity, the others being as follows: Moses S., who is a resident of Carlinville; Julius Augustus, living in Polk township; and James L., who passed away when twenty-two years of age.

Addison H. Eldred was reared on the farm which his father purchased in Greene county and obtained his education in one of the old-fashioned schools, sitting on a slab seat. This was at a time when the teacher “boarded round” among the pupils. He remained with his mother until after he had attained man’s estate, when he was married and started out as an agriculturist on his own account, his interest in the old home place being thirteen and a half acres of cleared land. Subsequently he purchased his mother’s dower and began farming in association with his brother Moses, with whom he has always lived. In the spring of 1856 they sold out and came to Macoupin county, here owning a farm of four eighty-acre tracts. For five years they occupied a double log cabin which stood on the place and then erected a commodious and substantial brick building, which is also still standing. Addison H. Eldred was the first man in Macoupin county to put in tile. On the 14th of February, 1891, he and his brother disposed of their farming interests and took up their abode in Carlinville, where they have resided continuously since in a beautiful home which they erected.

On the 3d of March, 1851, Mr. Eldred was united in marriage to Miss Laura Woolley, who was born in Greene county, Illinois, on the 27th of September, 1829, her parents being Deacon David and Laura (Hodge) Woolley, natives of Washington county, New York. Her paternal grandfather, Tilton Woolley, was a miller by trade. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Deborah Slocum, were born six children, namely: David, Fitzgerald, Peter, Katie, Abigail and Nancy. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Eldred, Asahel and Sallie (Bull) Hodge had the following children: John, Epiphras, Horatio and Laura. The parents of Mrs. Eldred took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Greene county, Illinois, removing there in 1822. Deacon David Woolley there passed away in i860, when seventy-four years of age, while the demise of his wife occurred in Polk township, Macoupin county, in 1877, when she had attained the age of eighty-one years. They had nine children who reached maturity and were married, namely: John, James, Norman, Edwin, Emeline, Maria, Laura, Julia, and Charles. Unto our subject and his wife were born two sons: Myron, who died when a youth of thirteen; and Milton, who passed away when but three months old. Mr. Eldred gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. He is now in the eighty-third year of his age and is well known throughout the community as one of its most respected and leading residents.

Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 73-75.