Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1033 - 1034

WILLIAM O. ELDRED. The handsome home of this gentleman is conspicuous among those of the better class of people of Waco Township for its elegant residence and tasteful surroundings. The sixty-two acres of land which lie around it have been brought to a high state of cultivation, and the barn and out-buildings, with the stock and farm machinery, are of first-class description, combining the ideas of the modern and progressive agriculturist.

            Our subject is the offspring of one of the best families of the Empire State, being the son of Erastus and Emeline (Wooley) Eldred, who were born and reared in Herkimer County, and thence removed to Greene County, Ill., where William O. was born Aug. 30, 1848. The paternal grandfather settled in Illinois with his family in 1820, and died at a ripe old age. Erastus Eldred was born in 1820, and is still carrying on farming and stock-raising in Illinois. The mother of our subject died when the latter was a lad eight years of age, or about 1856. The father was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Ritchie, who became the mother of six children, and died in 1869. His third wife was Miss Grace Tribble, a native of England. To the mother of our subject there were born seven children, namely: Emma, Flora, Daman, Martha, William O., George and Charles. By the second marriage of Erastus Eldred there were born four sons and two daughters, namely: Charles, Samuel, Horace, Maggie, John and Nellie. There are living of the two families seven children, mostly residents of Illinois.

            The childhood and youth of our subject were spent in his native county, where he became familiar with farming pursuits, and developed into manhood. He was married quite late in life, on the 1st of March, 1883, to Miss Eliza Robley, who became the mother of two children: Albert, born Dec. 3, 1883, and Edith, April 9, 1886, and died at the birth of the latter. The children are now at home.

            The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Feb. 3, 1887, was formerly Miss Jennie Bullard, daughter of William C. and Eliza A. (Snow) Bullard, who was born Aug. 10, 1860, in Macoupin, Ill. William C. Bullard is still a resident of that place. The mother of Mrs. Eldred died there in 1871. Their household included the following children: Paulina, who died at the age of sixteen years; Chester, who died at the age of eighteen; Lillian, Jennie, Edwin; Willie, deceased; Willie Floy; twin infants who died unnamed; and Stanley, who died when six years old.

            In 1883 Mr. Eldred crossed the Mississippi, and took up his residence in this county, where he has since transformed a tract of indifferently cultivated land into one of the most fertile farms of Waco Township. His aim has always been high, and nothing passes through his hands ill done. His industry and good judgment, as well as his fine tastes, are amply illustrated in his surroundings, his home being the object of admiration by all who have occasion to pass through this section of country, and a view of which will be recognized on another page.

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