Hopkins Co. Tx -El Hargrave Gives Brief Sketch of Life and Family of Uncle Tom Eldridge From: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. (Undated) (Edited) BRIEF SKETCH OF LIFE AND FAMILY OF UNCLE TOM ELDRIDGE By Eli Hargrave Thomas M. Eldridge was born in home of his father, William Bowling Eldridge, in Alabama, Sept. 18, 1831. When he had grown to manhood he came to Jefferson, Texas, where he resided for a number of years and acting as clerk in a general merchandise store. Later he came farther west to Delta County, where he met Miss Chelnissa M. Compton, a young school miss of that county, born in Tennessee Nov. 26, 1833. On Feb. 26, 1857, they were married, soon afterward coming to Hopkins County where they located on a 900 acre tract of land two miles west from Dike, Texas. Here they built them a log house for their residence, in which they remained for a long time, when they erected a good plank structure that made them a home for many years. He was a farmer and stock raiser and was said that he produced 49 agricultural crops on this same farm. Eight children were born to their union, five daughters and three sons. A little unusual experience occurs in the lives of the parents and children of this family, as the parents each obtained a ripe age, he being near his 85th birthday at the time of his death, while she, the mother, was almost 87. Their children were well-born, hearty and hale, yet but one of them reached 60, while two others passed at less than 45, and four died in young manhood and young womanhood. Their first born, Margaret E. (Maggie) was born Sept. 20, 1859. She died at 15, May 14, 1875. Corinna C., born Mar. 15, 1861. On April 2, 1884, she was married to Jules R. Bernd, a gentleman of noble birth and splendid character. He was a first class electrical mechanic of Dallas, Texas, where they resided until her death, Feb. 27, 1902. They had three sons, Walter, born Aug. 13, 1887; Royal F., born April 7, 1890, Jules R., Jr., born June 19, 1892. They and their father are all living. William Bowling (Bud) was born Feb. 21, 1863. He was a splendid fellow and a favorite among his friends. He was married to Miss Addie (paper torn) he spent two crop years in the Eldridge home; helping perhaps to make two of these forty-nine crops and then assisting in gathering them. Mr. Eldridge was brother to Mr. Edd Hatchett^Òs mother, making him closely related as uncle and great uncle to the Hatchett family. Mr. Eldridge died at Dike, Texas, Sept. 2, 1916, nearly 85 years old. Mrs. Eldridge, the mother, died in Sulphur Springs at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Babe Hatchett, Oct. 19, 1920, being nearly 87. William B. Eldridge was born Feb. 21, 1863, and was married to Miss Addie Young, a noble young lady, Nov. 24, 1892. They had one child, Corninna. She married Murrie E. Sherwood, deceased. She was born Oct. 15, 1893. Bud^Òs wife, Miss Addie, was a daughter of Uncle Dick Young and was born Nov. 16, 1874. She died June 22, 1906. Bud died April 27, 1907. John Thomas Eldridge was born April 6, 1865. He grew to manhood in fine health and a fine looking fellow, just in the bloom of youth. He sickened and died Feb. 10, 1884, before he was 19 years old. Ralph Smith Eldridge was born Jan. 10, 1867. He grew to manhood, a handsome young man, well liked by everybody. We always called him (Bim.) He died Dec. 27, 1887, just before he was 21. Lucy Mabel was born Jan. 7, 1869. She died Sept. 25, 1875. Jessie May Eldridge was born on Sept. 22, 1870. On Jan. 1, 1900, she was married to William Edgar McLaughlin, a man of splendid business ability and extremely good and kind to everybody. They were both of a jovial and kind disposition and well liked by their neighbors and friends. He died Ap. 14, 1917. She died suddenly in Paris, Texas, Dec. 13, 1918. May Pokahontas (Babe) was born July 2, 1872. On July 11, 1894, she was married to John O. Hatchett of Alabama, a splendid good fellow, well liked by everybody. They had three children, Zelma M., born May 6, 1895; Oscar, born March 5, 1898 (he died in infancy;) Maurine E., born January 2, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Hatchett spent the first fifteen years of their married life at their farm home near Dike, Texas. The last 25 years has been spent in Sulphur Springs on Church street where they have a nice home and are comfortably situated. She died April 19, 1935. He still resides at his home where he has his daughter, Mrs. Brogoitti, and her children with him. Mr. Eldridge, Uncle Tommie, as we called him, was a farmer and stock raiser, yet he was inclined to the gin business and enjoyed gin work and followed, much of his time, the sharping of gin saws at the proper season. He would mount his ___ pony, Old Fox, and with his tools in his saddle pockets would go away from home and be gone for a week filing and sharpening gin saws for the various gin men in his vicinity. He kept plenty of stock about his place, horses, mules, cattle and nice flock of sheep. (Rest missing