John was born on 12 Feb 1876 in Woodruff County, Arkansas, the son of unknown parents.
He died on 3 May 1953 in Woodruff County, Arkansas.
He had two marriages/partners. His first wife was Vertie Alexander Bell, who he married on 26 FEB 1896 in Woodruff County, Arkansas. Their two known children were John Rolfe (1896-1968) and Willie Bell (1899-1919).
His second wife was Kate Martin Nowlin, who he married on 16 SEP 1902 in Carroll County, Tennessee. Their three known children were Cora Virginia (1903-1995), John Dupree (1909-2002) and George Paul (1915-1969).
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||||||
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| Birth | 12 FEB 1876 |
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| Death | 3 MAY 1953 |
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| Census | 2 FEB 1920 |
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| Census | 23 APR 1940 |
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| Burial | MAY 1953 |
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Note 1
Rolfe Eldrigde (1 842-1891) Eldridge was born in Shelby County, Tennessee. His family moved to Woodruff County in 1850. In February 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, under CPT Hooker's Calvary and later the 32 nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Helena, and Pleasant Hill. After the war, he returned to his family farm to grow cotton and corn. In 1869, he married Ella Watson. She passed away in 1880. Eldridge then married Mollie Dawson in 1887. Eldridge was a successful farmer, with four cotton-gins. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masonic lodge of Knights of Honor. He was also the president of the Augusta and South Eastern Railway Company, with a company office at Lone Grove (later Gregory).
John Dupree Eldridge (1876-1953) In 1891, J. D. Eldridge inherited the land of his father, Rolfe Eldridge. Around 1923, J.D. Eldridge and family moved to Little Rock. Jn Little Rock, he served as secretary and manager of the Arkansas Cotton Growers Association. A few years later, they moved back to Gregory, Woodruff County. J.D. Eldridge practiced law and was a member of the state legislature. In 1937 he was named "Master Farmer" of Arkansas by the Commercial-Appeal. He was president of the Southern Cattlemen's Association and, at the time of his death, he was president of the Cache River Production Association. The farm lands in Gregory are still owned and operated by Eldridge family members.
National Register of Historic Places, Augusta Memorial Park Historic Section, application dated 4/4/2003, listed 6/6/2003
http://www.bookofbowie.net//Augusta/HistoricRegister-AugustaMemorial.pdf