Background
Shalor Winchell Eldridge was born at West Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Lyman Eldridge, a mechanic, and his wife, Phcebe Winchell.
(The Shelf2life History of the American West Collection is...)
The Shelf2life History of the American West Collection is a unique project that provides opportunities for researchers and new readers to easily access and explore works which have previously only been available on library shelves. The Collection brings to life pre-1923 titles focusing on a wide range of topics and experiences in US Western history. From the initial westward migration, to exploration and development of the American West to daily life in the West and intimate pictures of the people who inhabited it, this collection offers American West enthusiasts a new glimpse at some forgotten treasures of American culture. Encompassing genres such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, tourist guides, biographies and drama, this collection provides a new window to the legend and realities of the American West.
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About the Book Books dealing with State and local histories in the United States may examine a city, a suburb, a municipality, a region, a community, an association, a church group, or the entire State. In fact, local history, is the largest category of history publishing. Often being of the community that is the subject of the book, local or regional historians can provide a specific insight into their subject matter. About us Leopold Classic Library has the goal of making available to readers the classic books that have been out of print for decades. While these books may have occasional imperfections, we consider that only hand checking of every page ensures readable content without poor picture quality, blurred or missing text etc. That's why we: • republish only hand checked books; • that are high quality; • enabling readers to see classic books in original formats; that • are unlikely to have missing or blurred pages. You can search "Leopold Classic Library" in categories of your interest to find other books in our extensive collection. Happy reading!
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Shalor Winchell Eldridge was born at West Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Lyman Eldridge, a mechanic, and his wife, Phcebe Winchell.
In 1855 he undertook the management of the Gillis House in Kansas City, Missouri, which the New England Emigrant Aid Company had bought as headquarters for their emigrants to Kansas Territory. On account of violent opposition to the Aid Company, Eldridge bought the hotel, and for a time he was able to maintain friendly relations with the local public. While in Kansas City he aided the Free-State party in Lawrence in many ways. Early in 1856 he leased the Free State Hotel, built by the Emigrant Aid Company in Lawrence, and also established the first stage lines from Kansas City to Lawrence and Topeka and from Kansas City to Leavenworth and other points. Later in that year the pro-slavery interests secured an indictment under the federal judge against the hotel and two anti-slavery newspapers, recommending their abatement as nuisances, and on May 21 the hotel, the offices of the Kansas Free State and the Herald of Freedom, and the home of Governor Robinson were destroyed by a mob. Eldridge was sent to Washington by a committee of citizens to protest to President Pierce against these outrages and he rendered notable service in securing the appointment of John W. Geary as territorial governor of Kansas. Although heretofore a Democrat, he now joined the Kansas delegation at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. On July 9, 1856, he attended the National Convention of the Friends of Kansas in Buffalo, and was appointed the Kansas member of the National Committee, known as the Hyatt Committee. James H. Lane had been visiting Northern cities enlisting recruits for the Free- State party in Kansas. As Free-State men had been stopped in Missouri, these recruits were sent across Iowa. Starting without adequate equipment, they became disorganized and were stranded on the way. Eldridge was sent by the National Committee to take charge of them and succeeded in leading them to their destination in safety. Later, with Robert Morrow, he was sent to Chicago to bring back another party of 250 recruits. Upon their arrival in Kansas they were disarmed by Governor Geary, who by this time had established order in the territory. When the Free-State party captured the territorial legislature, Eldridge induced Governor Stanton to call a special session, which undoubtedly averted a renewal of hostilities. The legislature submitted the entire Lecompton constitution to popular vote, took control of the militia, gave the command to Lane, and made Eldridge quartermastergeneral. When the Emigrant Aid Company decided not to rebuild the Free State Hotel, Eldridge bought the site and built the Eldridge House. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 2nd Kansas, was made quartermaster, and served in the Missouri campaign until the regiment was mustered out five months later. In 1863 he was made an army paymaster and served until his resignation a year later. While he was absent in this service, his hotel was destroyed in the sack of Lawrence by Quantrill, August 21, 1863. After the Civil War he became a building contractor, rebuilt the Eldridge House in Lawrence, which he sold soon afterward, built hotels in other cities, and Fraser Hall at the State University. When the crisis of 1873 brought building to a halt, he engaged in mining in Colorado and Arkansas. In these operations he made a fortune which he later lost. His declining years were spent in retirement at his home in Lawrence. Toward their close, in collaboration with R. G. Elliott, former editor of the Kansas Free State, he wrote his “Recollections of Early Days in Kansas. ”
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( About the Book Books dealing with State and local histo...)
Kansas delegation at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. On July 9, 1856, he attended the National Convention of the Friends of Kansas in Buffalo, and was appointed the Kansas member of the National Committee, known as the Hyatt Committee.
He engaged in business, chiefly as a railroad contractor, at Southampton, Massachusetts, where in 1839 he married Mary Norton. His first wife died on March 5, 1869, and in 1871 he married Caroline Tobey of Dundee, New York, who survived him.
