Individual Details

Fraternal Order

Duncan Campbell ELDRIDGE was a member of the Odd Fellows for 54 years and was the oldest member west of the Alleghany Mountains at his death.

Biographical Sketch

After the Blackhawk War treaty of 1836, Duncan met with Antoine LeClaire and George Davenport in Cincinnati and heard them describe the town of East Davenport and its beautiful land. He was persuaded to move to what was then called the Michigan Territory.

Duncan built a substantial log raft with a shanty large enough to hold a 4-poster bed, dresser, chair, mirror, clothes, food and a stove. The Eldridges (wife, Rebecca, and her 5-year old son, Charles) packed their belongs and drifted down the Cincinnati River. Duncan thought that land travel would be too slow and dangerous. After negotiating the Ohio/Mississippi River route, Duncan encountered the captain of a steamship, possibly the Dubuque, and asked if he could tie the raft to the back of the boat. This arrangement worked for some distance until it started to get cold and the current slowed. The captain decided the Eldridge raft was slowing him down, so he cut the ropes between the two boats and left the Eldridges on their own.

Prior to today's lock system, the river was very shallow and rocky and had many rapids. As it was October, the river began to freeze over and the Eldridges became trapped in the ice. They tried calling for help. It was a day or so before anyone heard them. At this point, they were closer to the Rock Island side of the river. Rescue efforts were hampered because of the ice and the size of the raft. Eventually, several people were able to pull the raft to the Illinois side.

Duncan and Rebecca reached Davenport in early 1836. They erected a shanty from the raft logs at the foot of Brady Street near the house owned by LeClaire. The winds were strong and the snow came early. The log cabin was packed with mud between the logs and as added insulation, they glued or shellacked pages of Ohio newspaper on the walls to keep the wind out. When the locals found out, people came by to read the latest news; several people at a time could be found standing or sitting reading the walls.

Duncan and Rebecca's, Sarah, was the first non-native child born in Davenport on 3 May 1837. Sons, Lewis and Micajah, followed.