Biography of Oliver Perry Eldridge, pages 986/987.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Oliver Perry Eldridge



	Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely 
necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the 
entertainment of such a belief.  The modest man very rarely gets what 
is due him.  The selfish, aggressive man elbows his way to the front 
takes all that is in sight and it sometimes seems that modesty is a 
sin, with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, exceptions to 
the conditions are not more numerous. One notable exception is the case 
of the honorable gentleman whose life history we here present, who 
possesses just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all 
times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and 
at the same time not appear over bold. As a result of these well and 
happily blended qualities Mr. Eldridge has won a host of friends in 
DeKalb county, where he is well known to all classes as a man of 
influence, integrity and business ability.  

	Oliver Perry Eldridge was born in Richland township, DeKalb 
county, December 18, 1869, the son of Thomas J. and Mahala Jane 
(Keenan) Eldridge, native of Ohio, their marriage having occurred at 
Fremont, that state. On coming to Indiana they first located 
temporarily in Noble county.  In 1864 they bought a farm in Richland 
township, DeKalb county, to which they moved in 1866.  The father 
followed agricultural pursuits during his lifetime. To them were born 
six children: Ida, Edward, Eva and Benjamin E., all deceased and Anna 
M. and Oliver P.  Prior to taking up farming, in which he is till 
actively engaged, Oliver P. Eldridge received a good education in the 
DeKalb county public schools.  He began operation on the home farm and 
is now the owner of one hundred and ninety-one acres of good farm land, 
eighty acres of which are in Richland township.

	Oliver P. Eldridge was, on September 22, 1898, united in marriage 
to Pauline Wiehmueller, daughter of John and Barbara (Beauchley) 
Wiehmueller. They are natives of Germany and came to this country when 
the subject’s wife was but five years old.   To Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge 
have been born four children, Dennis, Ralph C., Helen Juanita and 
Thomas.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com