JEDUTHUN BRACE ELDRED, for many years a most respected and worthy farmer of Greene county, was born in Herkimer county, New York, July 23, 1819. The founders of the family in America came from Wales, where at an early day a representative of the name had been knighted by the King of England in recognition of some valorous and meritorious deed and given a coat of arms, a copy of which is in possession of his descendants. William Eldred and Ruth Brace were married in Herkimer county, New York, in 1816, and on the 1st of March, 1820, emigrated from New York to Illinois, driving wagons to Olean Point, the head of the flatboat navigation on the Allegheny river in New York. Here they built flatboats, one for the family and one for the teams, and stared on their long journey down the rivers. Landing at Shawneetown then started across the country to Ridge Prairie, near Downing Station, in Madison county, reaching their destination on the 2d of May, 1820. They remained in Madison county for a year, raising a crop and waiting for the Greene county land to come into market. At the land sale held in January, 1821, William Eldred bought four hundred acres, which is still in possession of the family. He was a cooper by trade, but he turned his attention to the development and cultivation of his land, which was then all wild and unimproved, and as the years passed he transferred his property into a productive farm.

Jeduthun B. Eldred, less than two years of age when brought by his parents to Greene county, was here reared amid typical pioneer scenes. The little pioneer homes upon the broad prairies were widely scattered and one could ride for miles without coming to a fence or habitation to impede his progress. The seeds of civilization were just being planted in the west at that time and the Eldreds bore their full share in reclaiming this county for the uses of the white man. J. B. Eldred attended the public schools of the neighborhood and throughout his life was a constant reader and thus continually broadened his mind and added to his store of knowledge. School sessions only lasted through the winter months and in the remainder of the year he aided in the labors of the farm, using the crude machinery of the day, and performing by hand much of the labor that is now done with improved agricultural implements. He early formed habits of thrift and industry and developed a real liking for the work of the farm that made his labors a pleasure as well as a source of profit. Throughout his entire life he carried on agricultural pursuits, keeping in touch with modern progress along that line and quickly adopting any new methods which he believed would prove of practical value in the work of tilling the fields and caring for his crops. He also added good buildings to his farm and kept everything about his place in good repair. As the years passed he gained a very gratifying measure of prosperity and he became one of the original owners of the Carrollton Bank. His business integrity was above question and his life record proved that success and an honorable name may be gained simultaneously.

On the 2d of September, 1847, in Greene county, Mr. Eldred was married to Miss Eliza Jane Thomas, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Thomas, who were among the first settlers of the county and also aided in its pioneer development. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eldred were born three sons and a daughter, namely: Samuel W., who married Miss Mary Jane Robertson; Elizabeth R., the wife of S. A. Fairbank; John L., who married Fannie Jane Eldred; and Lewis J., who married Beatrice Andrews.

Mr. Eldred was always a stanch Republican, with firm belief in the principles of the party, but never sought or desired office. He became a Mason in 1856 and exemplified in his life the beneficent spirit upon which the craft rests. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and there were in his character qualities which commanded the respect and confidence of all, winning him warm and enduring friendships, and causing his death, which occurred on the 13th of April, 1888, to be deeply regretted by all who knew him. He had long been a resident of the county, had been a witness of almost its entire growth and his aid had been secured as a co-operant factor in many public improvements resulting in general progress and improvement. He will long be remembered as a devoted father, a faithful friend, a public spirited citizen and an honored pioneer.