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H. L. ALDRIDGE, a prominent farmer of Rockford Township, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, November 23, 1846, a son of John Sanford and America (Jones) Aldridge, also natives of Indiana and of English and Welsh ancestry. The first immigration to this country was in an early day, locating first in North Carolina and then in Indiana; were farmers. In the family of the father of John S. Aldridge were six children: Ruth, John, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Betty and Josiah. John S., the second child, was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1819, but when young his father died. In...
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H. L. ALDRIDGE, a prominent farmer of Rockford Township, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, November 23, 1846, a son of John Sanford and America (Jones) Aldridge, also natives of Indiana and of English and Welsh ancestry. The first immigration to this country was in an early day, locating first in North Carolina and then in Indiana; were farmers. In the family of the father of John S. Aldridge were six children: Ruth, John, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Betty and Josiah. John S., the second child, was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1819, but when young his father died. In the winter of 1846 he moved to Illinois, taking with him his mother, who afterward died, in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Her husband, John S. Aldridge, had died March 16, 1849, leaving two children: H. L., our subject, and Mary E., now the wife of George Frazier. Mrs. John S. Aldridge, in 1853, after her husband's death, married Josiah Skelton, a native of Tennessee. In 1854 they came to Pottawattamie County, located upon Honey Creek, where they lived until his death in 1885, and are the parents of eleven children: John, Lewis, Josiah, Jane, Albert, Alice, Allen, Margaret, Jonas and Eddie, the two last deceased.
Mr. Aldridge, our present subject, was brought up by his mother to farm life. A little after he was twenty years of age, April 14, 1867, he married Margaret E. Selvy, a daughter of William and Mary (Foster) Selvy, natives of Tennessee and of Irish and German extraction. Her parents came to Missouri, and after some years moved to this county (Pottawattamie), and finally to Harrison County, this State, where the father died, April 10, 1885, leaving eleven children: Frank M., George W., Martha, Margaret E., Eliza Ann, Susan, Mary, Amanda, William, James Edwin, and one who died in infancy. Margaret, the fourth child, was born in Missouri, July 6, 1850, brought up as a farmer's daughter, and was married at the age of seventeen years. After his marriage, Mr. Aldridge purchased forty acres of rough, wild land in the Missouri River bottom, in Harrison County, erected a log house 14xl6 feet in dimensions, and began to make the improvements essential to a complete home; but at the end of eight years, in 1875, he sold and came down to Pottawattamie County and bought 150 acres of wild land, excepting that there was a small farm house upon it; remained there eight years also, and then purchased forty-four acres of land on section 1, Rockford Township, where he now resides. At that time some improvements had been made here, but they had greatly deteriorated. He went to work and has made out of the place a fine home. He has now a good frame house, two stories high, 24 x 38 feet in ground area, including porches, verandas, etc., a good orchard containing both large and small fruits; indeed it is one of the finest orchards in the county. He has dealt also in livestock to a considerable extent, taking special interest in horses and in Poland-China hogs. He has added to his first purchase of land until he now has 290 acres, all but ten of which is in fine cultivation, 100 acres being in pasture. He has also a quantity of bees, doing well. He first started out in life here with almost nothing, but his ambition and energy has won for him success. Both his mother and his wife's mother are living with him, at an advanced age. Willis A. Selvy, a nephew of theirs, was born August 3, 1868, and left an orphan when young, was brought up by Mr. Aldridge and now resides upon an eighty-acre farm in Harrison County. Also a niece, Annie Jones, born August 26, 1872, was reared by him. Mr. Aldridge is a reliable gentleman, independent on local issues. He has been Township Trustee twelve years, and is now Road Supervisor. He is an honored member of Missouri Valley Lodge, No. 232, F. & A. M.; also a member of the Mutual Protective Association, of St. John, of which he has been treasurer ever since its organization.
source of biographical sketch: "Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa", 1891, pages 267 - 268
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H. L. ALDRIDGE.
H. L. Aldridge, who follows farming on section 1, Rockford township, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, November 23, 1846, his parents being John Sanford and America (Jones) Aldridge, who were natives of the Hoosier state but were of English and Welsh ancestry. The founder of the Aldridge family in America came to the new world at an early period in its colonization and located in North Carolina, whence later generations of the family removed to Indiana. All were farming people. In the grandfather’s family there were six children, Ruth, John S., Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Betty and Josiah. The eldest son, John Sanford Aldridge, was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1819, and when quite young lost his father. In the winter of 1846 he removed westward to Illinois, bringing his mother with him. Her death occurred in 1880, when she had reached the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. The death of John S. Aldridge occurred March 16, 1849. He was survived by his widow and two children: H. L., of this review; and Mary E., now the wife of George Frazier. The mother in 1853 became the wife of Josiah Skelton, a native of Tennessee, and in 1854 they brought their family to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, settling on Honey Creek, where they resided until the death of Mr. Skelton in 1885. They became the parents of the following children: John, Lewis, Josiah, Jane, Albert, Alice, Allen, Margaret, Jonas and Eddie. The last two mentioned are deceased.
H. L. Aldridge through the days of his boyhood and youth remained with his mother and was reared to farm life, early gaining practical experience in the best methods of cultivating the soil and caring for the crops. On the 14th of April, 1867, soon after he had passed the twentieth anniversary of his birth, he wedded Margaret E. Selvy, a daughter of William and Mary (Foster) Selvy, who were natives of Tennessee and, were of Irish and German extraction. On leaving that state they removed to Missouri and after some years came to Pottawattamie county. Later they removed to Harrison county. Iowa, where the death of Mr. Selvy occurred on the 10th of April, 1885. His wife died November 22, 1903. In their family were eleven children, as follows: Frank M., George W., Martha J., Margaret E., Eliza Ann, Susan C., Mary E., Amanda B., William A., James Edwin and one who died in infancy. Of this number Mrs. Aldridge was born in Missouri, July 6, 1850, was reared under the parental roof, being carefully trained to the duties of the household, and at the age of seventeen years was married.
Following his marriage Mr. Aldridge purchased forty acres of wild land on the Missouri river bottom in Harrison county and erected thereon a log cabin fourteen by sixteen feet. With characteristic energy he began to improve and develop this farm, which he cultivated for eight years, when he sold out and bought one hundred and fifty acres of wild land in Pottawattamie county, totally unimproved save that there was a small house upon it. He also remained on that farm for eight years and then purchased forty-four acres on section 1, Rockford township, where he is now living. At that time some improvements had been made but the place was largely in a dilapidated condition. Mr. Aldridge at once set to work to repair the ravages and to bring his farm under a high state of cultivation and he now has a fine modern residence, substantial outbuildings, an excellent orchard of peach and apple trees and much small fruit. His fields, too, produce excellent crops and he has dealt in stock to a considerable extent, making a specialty of the raising of horses and Derek Jersey hogs. He has also kept bees for thirty years, having a fine apiary and in this work has been very successful. That he has prospered is indicated by the fact that he has extended the boundaries of his farm until if now comprises two hundred and forty-five acres, while the place is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences, indicating not only the careful supervision of the owner but also his close touch with ideas of progressive farming. He is a self-made man, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way.
Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge have no children of their own but his mother and wife’s mother both reside with them at an advanced age. A nephew, Willis A. Selvy. who was born August 3, 1868, and was left an orphan at a very early age, was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge and now resides upon an eighty-acre farm in Harrison county that our subject helped him to get. They also reared u niece, Annie Jones, who was born August 26, 1872, but is now deceased.
Mr. Aldridge belongs to the Mutual Protective Association and has been its treasurer since its organization. He is a member of the Missouri Valley lodge, No. 232. A. F. & A. M., and in his life has exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft, which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind and individual obligation. Politically he is independent in local matters. He has served as township trustee for twelve years and has also been road supervisor for a number of years. Those who know him, and his acquaintance is a wide one, hold him in high regard for what he has accomplished in a business way, for the methods which he has followed and for the kindly, generous spirit that he has ever manifested in his relations with his fellowmen.
source of biographical sketch: “History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa,” volume II, 1907, biographical sketch on pages 1167 - 1169
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H. L. ALDRIDGE
The community was shocked to learn of the sudden death of H. L. Aldridge Monday night.
Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge attended Eastern Star lodge, and were enjoying the social hour after the regular meeting, suddenly he reeled and fell. Physicians were immediately called, but they pronounced life extinct, due to apoplexy.
Mr. H. L. Aldridge was born in Putnam county, Indiana, November 23, 1846. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Sanford Aldridge, natives of the Hoosier State and of English and Welsh ancestry. At the age of two years he had the misfortune of losing his father. His widowed mother moved back to Indiana and there again, married in 1853, Mr. Josiah Skelton, a native of Tennessee. In 1854 they brought their family to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, settling on Honey Creek. Here Mr. Aldridge grew up to manhood and at the age of 20 married Margaret E. Selvy. He now bought a 40 acre farm on the Missouri river in Harrison county. He loved the farm, studied the most improved methods of cultivating the soil and soon he exchanged this 40 acres for 150 acres of wild land in Pottawattamie county. Here he proved himself a master in his work. Improvements were made, orchard planted and for a side line he gave himself to the study and keeping of bees, having a fine apiary and plenty of honey.
Though children were denied him, he raised more than one. His nephew, Willis A. Selvy, who was left an orphan at a very early age, was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge now resides upon an 80 acre farm in Harrison county. They also reared a niece, Annie Jones, who is now deceased, and Christy Stephens, now Mrs. Fitch of Oneida, S. D.
His home was also shared with both his and his wife’s mothers, who lived with them to ripe old age.
Mr. Aldridge was a member of the Mutual Protective Association, being its treasurer for a long time. He was a member of the Missouri Valley Lodge, No. 232, A. F. & A. M., and in his life has exemplified the beneficent spirit of the crafty which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind and individual obligation. Politically he was independent in local matters. He has served as township trustee for 12 years, and was road supervisor for several years. He attended, with his faithful wife, the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a man of faith and optimism. He loved the right, and hated wrong. He was exemplary in all his business transactions and those who knew him best regarded him most for his kind and generous spirit which he ever manifested to one and all.
He died from a stroke of apoplexy while attending a social hour at the Masonic hall on the 6th day of March, 1922. He had been feeling fine up to the very last moment, enjoying himself in his own usual happy way. With him, another of the pioneers of our community, one who helped to make it what it is, has gone to his reward. He had reached the good old age of 75 years, 3 months and 14 days.
He leaves a wife, stricken with grief. Besides, there are his own sister Mrs. Mary E. Frazier of this city, and the following half-brothers and sisters: J. L. Skelton of this city; Lewis S. Skelton of South Dakota; Josiah Skelton of Washington; Albert D. Skelton of Oklahoma; W. A. Skelton of Missouri Valley; Mrs. Jane Mace of Missouri Valley, and Mrs. Alice Reel of Loveland.
There are many other nephews and nieces of whom Willis A. Selvy, mentioned above, was beloved as a son.
The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon, March 9, at 2:00 o’clock, from the Methodist church, Rev. Van Dyke officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill cemetery.
source of obituary: Missouri Valley Times (Missouri Valley, Iowa), March 9, 1922, page 1, column 4
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H. L. ALDRIDGE DIES AT O. E. S. MEETING
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WELL KNOWN MISSOURI VALLEY MAN STRICKEN WHILE AT SOCIAL FUNCTION.
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MISSOURI VALLEY, la., March 8. -- H. L. Aldridge, prominent citizen here, collapsed and died while attending a meeting of the Eastern Star lodge Monday night, death resulting from a stroke of appolexy.
Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge attended Eastern Star lodge and were enjoying the social hour after the regular meeting, suddendly he reeled and fell. Physicians were immediately called, but they prounced life extinct.
He had been feeling fine up to the very lost moment, enjoying himself in his own usual happy way. With him, another of the pioneers of our community, one who helped to make it what it is, has gone to his reward. He had reached the good old age of 76 years, 3 months and 14 days.
He leaves a widow but no children. Besides there are his own sister, Mrs. Mary E. Frazier of this city, and the following half-brothers and sisters: J. L. Skelton of this city; Lewis S. Skelton of South Dakota; Josiah Skelton of Washington; Albert D. Skelton of Oklahoma; W. A. Skelton of Misouri Valley; Mrs. Jane Mace of Missouri Valley, and Mrs. Alice Reel of Loveland.
The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon, March 9, at 2:00 o’clock from the Methodist church, Rev. Van Dyke officiating. Burial wil be in Rose Hill cemetery.
source of obituary (article includes several misspelled words): Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), March 8, 1922, page 10, column 3 |
