Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

. 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 huband, 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 live stock 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 is 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.

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