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Eldred, Albert N.
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ALBERT
NAPOLEON
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C E L I NDA
E L DR E D
D E C K E R
ELDRED
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Albert Napoleon Eldred was born on a farm then
six miles from Saratoga Springs in Richmond, Ontario
county, New York, March 26, 1848, son of Amelia
Peabody and Robert Eldred of English descent.
When Albert was four years old the family came
to Michigan by way of the Erie Canal and covered
wagon and proved up on a farm in Calhoun County, and
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the farm has been owned by a descendant of the Eldred
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family up to this time in 1939.
Albert attended the rural school near the farm
home and later went to the Tekonsha high school and
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was graduated from Hillsdale College in 1876 and latet
received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from that
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institution.
Mr . Eldred's parents were members of the Presbyterian Church.
hen Mr. Eldred was about to join
the Michi gan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the fall of 1876, his six weeks old
daughter was taken ill suddenly and Mr. Eldred left
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1877.
He was ordained
Deacon in 1879 and admitted to full membership in the
conference.
He was ordained Elder in 1881.
pastoral appointments were as follows:
His
Williamsburg,
1877; Pipestone, 1878; Northport, 1880; Waukeshma,
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1881; Irvington, 1882; Douglas, 1884; Litchfield,
ll 1886;
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Leroy, 1888; Lawrence, 1890; Edwardsburg, 1892;1
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Berrien Springs, 1895; Decatur, 1898; Coloma and
Watervliet, 1900; Colon, 1901.
He retired in 1903
and resided in Benton Harbor until his death.
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Mr. Eldred was independent in politics, belonged~
to the Maccabees, was pledged to the Delta Tau Delta
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fraternity in college and was ready to join the
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Ma sons but was prevented because of being a minister. j
He wa s a ctive in banishing t h e liquor traffic and was ~
fired upon fro m ambus h while engaged in making VanBuren county dry.
He wa s fond of good horses and
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owned some fast ones.
He enjoyed base ball and was
a very good cabinet worker.
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After retirin g from the
active ministry he worked at car p entering and was
foreman of the Mandel Factory in Benton Harbor for
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some time.
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During his active mi nistry he promoted
missionary interest and raised c hurc h debts.
He
wa s a ctively interested in Crystal Springs camp
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I ground where he owned a cottage and
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many years.
His father and the father of the
Reverend A. J . Eldred were cousins.
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attended for
Deat h came to A. N. Eldred at his home Marc h 3,
I 1939.
His daughter Evangeline, had lived with him
for a number of years.
The funeral was conducted by
Dr . F. S. Goodrich and burial was in Crystal Springs
cemetery, Benton Harbor.
June 26, 1873, A. N. Eldred was united in marriage with Celinda Decker, daughter of J ane Hager and
La ~rence
Decker, charter members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Butler, Branch county, Michigan.
Celinda Decker was born October 31, 1852.
They were
parents of:
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Clement Otto, who was born on the campus at
Hillsdale College, December 16, 1874,
died when six weeks old;
Daisy Henrietta, born August 8, 1876, married
Ernest C. Knott, resides in Benton Harbor, has a daughter Helen, born March
11, 1899, married Roland Longacre and
is mother of Janet, born May 27, 1924,
and John Robert, born June 2, 1929;
Robert Orrington, born January 2 5 , 1880, died
in November, 1885;
Foss Oscar, born March 15, 1884, married
Ernanie Ol msted and is the father of
Albert Ney, born October 26, 1920,
a law student at u. of M. - the
fa mily resides in Ionia, Michigan;
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Leota Evangeline, born February 25, 1892,
resides at 883 Pavone street, Benton
Harbor, and is a teacher in the
public schools.
Early in life Mrs. Eldred had become a member of
the Methodis t church and as a minister's wife she
endeared herself to the congregations to which her
husband was appointed to serve.
Death came to Mrs. Eldred Ma rch 29, 1926, at
their home in Benton Harbor .
were conducted by the Reverend
The funeral services
. W. Slee assisted
by the Reverend George Critchett, then pastor at
St. Joseph and Dr. J.
intendant.
c.
Willitts, district super-
Burial was in Crystal Springs cemetery,
Benton Harbor.
Eldred, Albert N.