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George Eldridge, Walnut, was born in Loraine County, Ohio, May 1, 1840. He is the son of Richard and Eizabeth (Sharon) Eldridge; the father was a native of New York and the mother of Pennsylvania, but her family was among the early settlers of Ohio. In 1850 Richard Eldridge removed to Lee County, Ill., with  his family , but returned to Ohio a few years later and died there. His wife survived him many years and died in Michigan. George Eldridge was reared in Ohio, and came to Illinois with his parents, afterward returning to Ohio. In 1854 he again came to Illinois, and settled in Bureau County, first in Oho Township and in 1868 in  Walnut Township, on his present farm. It was then raw prairie and all the lowland was covered with sloughs of water. His farm is now all in an excellent state of cultivation, with good imprvements; it contains 280 acres in Sections 23 and 24. He has accumulated all of his property in this county, as he came here with 50 cents, and for his first month and a half's work received $15. Mr. Eldridge was married in Ohio Townsip, Bureau Co., Ill., January 26, 1861, to Emily Hensel, who was born in Tuscarawas  County, Ohio, August 2,1839. Her parents, John and Rachel(Barton) Hensel, were both natives of Somerset county, Penn., and died in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Mrs. Eldridge came to Bureau county in 1857. She is the mother of five children: viz.: Edgar R., born June 6, 1863; Walter S. born January 12, 1865; Ernest A., born November 24, 1866; Albert R., born January 19, 1870; Ralph R., born September 23, 1876. In politics Mr. Eldridge is Republican.