Ernest Lee Eldred; Allen Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Ernest Lee Eldred mayor and merchant at Oakdale, is the splendid type 
of the younger generation of Louisiana citizens, earnest, public 
spirited, hard working and generous of his time and helpfulness in all 
causes that reflect the spirit of growth and progress.

Mr. Eldred was born in Rapides Parish on a farm, May 22, 1894.  His 
father is Leroy James Eldred, long a conspicuous citizen and business 
man of Allen Parish.  He too was born in Rapides Parish, where he 
operates a farm.  He is also a merchant at Oakdale.  In 1920 he became
president of the Eldred Company, inc., is a director and was one of the 
organizers of the Allen Bank and Trust Company, is interested in the Allen 
Parish Truck Growers Association, and is a faithful and Consistent member 
of the Baptist Church.  Leroy James Eldred married Elizabeth Jane Penny, 
a native of Calcasieu Parish.

Ernest Lee Eldred attended common schools, the high school and business 
college at Alexandria, and had the opportunities of a broad business 
training while employed as a bookkeeper with one of the automobile 
companies at Detroit, and later as bookkeeper in the Hotel Ansley, 
Atlanta, Georgia.

Returning to Oakdale in 1915, he became actively associated with his 
father's business, and since 1920 has been secretary, treasurer and 
general manager of the large general store of L. J. Eldred Company, Inc.  
He is secretary of the Allen Parish Truck Growers Association, is a
director of the Rotary Club and the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, is deacon 
in the Presbyterian Church and treasurer of the Sunday school, and is 
affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter and Council degrees in Masonry.  
Mr. Eldred accepted the post and responsibilities of mayor of Oakdale 
in 1923.

He married in November, 1918, at Oakdale, Miss Alpha Ray Wise, daughter of 
Henry Wise.  Her father is chief engineer for the Forest Lumber Company at 
Oakdale.  Mr. and Mrs. Eldred have two children, a daughter, Ernestine Gloria, 
born November 28, 1920, and Clarence Lee, born August 17, 1924.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 278, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.