So many stories exist about Duncan Campbell Eldridge: what's here is abbreviated for space and interest.
Duncan was the son of Josiah and Sarah Middleton Eldridge, devout Quakers. They saw that Duncan had the best education and learned a useful trade. He worked at this trade in Haddonfield and Philadelphia until 1824.
He married Rachel Brown 8 Jan 1823 in Haddonfield where they lived until the birth of Jacob Mullen in 1824. Then they moved to Rochester, NY where 2 more children were born, both dying in infancy.
Rachel died in 1827 (no date) and Duncan returned to Haddonfield he left Jacob with Josiah's widow, Sarah.
Jacob remained in NJ until he was a teenager and set out as an independent teamster with a pair of oxen and a wagon.
On 4 Nov 1829 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH, Duncan Campbell Eldridge married his childhood friend, Rebecca Lippincott, from Haddonfield, NJ. She was the dtr of Micajah and Sarah Roberts Lippincott born probably in Haddonfield.
Duncan left Rochester, NY for Cincinnati to work at his trade, plasterer and bricklayer. It is not known how the Lippincotts came to be in Cincinnati.
Duncan met Antoine LeClaire and George Davenport in Cincinnati, and after hearing them describe the beauty of the land and richness of the soil surrounding the newly-platted town of Davenport was persuaded tomove to what was then called the Michigan Territory. The Blackhawk War was concluded on 21 Sept 1832 giving title to 6M acres of Indian land west of the Mississippi to the US government. In 1835, Antoine LeClaire, George Davenport and 6 other men surveyed the land and laid out the town. The Eldridge family: Duncan, Rebecca and 5yo Charles Henry, packed their bags and loaded supplies on a raft with a shanty and floated down the Ohio River to the Mississippi. Duncan thought a river trip would be faster and safer from the Indians than going overland.
The raft was hung up on the rapids on the Rock Island (Stephenson - pop 500) side and for several days they yelled for help. They were pulled to share on the Illinois side and after some rest, crossed the Mississippi. They arrived 5 Oct 1835 and Duncan built a shanty out of the raft logs. The only other home in the area, a small wooden house was owned by Antoine LeClaire.
Duncan was a community leader - entrepreneural spirit and the wherewithall to begin a city. The Eldridges lived in the first brick house built in 1838 by Duncan on the ne corner of 3rd & Main.
He was elected one of the first township trustees, politically a Whig, was a candidate for sheriff, and fire marshall, officiating at the city's first fire - his dry goods store had burned to the ground.
Rebecca and Duncan became members of the Christian church (Christian Science) after baptism in the Ohio River in Cincinnati. There were no organized churches in Davenport when they arrived so they opened their home to all traveling Protestant preachers who would conduct services for the community. The Rev. James Rumbold came to Davenport in 1838, and from the Eldridge home, organized the Christian or Disciples Church. Duncan and Rebecca belonged to this church for the rest of their lives. Duncan helped to found the support group of the Scott County Pioneers who came to Davenport before 1840. This group still meets only annually and membership is limited to those who can prove relationship with ahnentafel to any of the original members.
Duncan and Rebecca died in their home at 214 W. 5th St. of a stroke. Rebecca, to whom he was married over 50 yrs, died there of "old age".
Rebecca was the last living settler who came to Davenport in 1835. They are both buried here.
They had 4 children: Charles Henry 1830 in Cincinnati, Sarah E 1837 first white girl born in Davenport but not the first child, Lewis H 1842, and Micajah Lippincott 1845.