This piece pertains mainly to the 1800's. --Leslie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 2, 1905 This article was published in 1905 in the "Old Settlers Column" in the weekly newspaper, "The Marshfield Mail", Marshfield, Missouri Webster County, Missouri Early Settlers The founder of the Aldridge Family of Webster County was RICHARD and LUCY (Pleasant) ALDRIDGE. Richard Aldridge was born in North Carolina. His father was a Revolutionary War soldier who at one time was captured by the British and held captive for some time. He made his escape by snatching a musket from a guard and fighting his way out. Lucy (Pleasant) Aldridge's father was also in the Revolutionary War. Both died in North Carolina. Richard Aldridge with his wife, Lucy, and five children, the oldest of whom was twelve years old, came to Missouri and settled in what is now Webster County in the year 1839. The Aldridges in North Carolina were farm owners and when they were ready to start west were better prepared for travel than many other early settlers. Instead of the ox-cart and heavy wagon, they traveled in carry-alls, a kind of carriage, but far different from the carriages of today. These carry-alls were three in number and were each drawn by a single horse. In this way the 800-mile journey was made by the family. Mr. Aldridge was accompanied to his new home by his brother-in-law, Samuel Grier, the founder of the Grier Family of the west part of the county. When the two families arrived, they purchased "claims" near the same point, Richard Aldridge buying a claim from John Goss and Samuel Grier a claim from Mrs. Hoover, a widow, the mother of George Hoover of Elkland. The claim purchased by Aldridge was what is now the Bedford Aldridge farm and was the first land entered at the Springfield Land Office. To Richard and Lucy Aldridge were born nine children: Bedford, Joseph, Malinda, Micajah, Francis, Catherine, Jane, Rufus, and Nathaniel. The father died in 1853 and the mother in 1867. BEDFORD ALDRIDGE was born in North Carolina in 1828 and came to Missouri with his parents. He married when grown, Miss Christine Grimes, who was also born in North Carolina. They settled on a claim given to the son by his father where Bedford is living at present, the good wife having died a few years ago. Bedford was the father of four boys and two girls. Two of the boys, Will and Joe, and one daughter, Tinie, are still at home. The other children live in Greene County. JOSEPH ALDRIDGE was born in 1829, and after staying with his father until 1849, he joined the gold hunters bound for California where he stayed two years. By this time he had amassed a quantity of gold and started for home by way of Cape Horn. On the voyage home he sickened and died and was buried at sea. His friends who were with him brought the gold back and delivered it to his father. MALINDA ALDRIDGE married William Henslee who was also a North Carolinian. There were six children born to this union. J. P. Zera Henslee of Hazelwood Twp. was the oldest child. Mrs. Zera Henslee was a Miss Mackey, a sister of Sheriff Mackey. MICAJAH ALDRIDGE was born in 1832 and is the best known member of the family in Webster County. He married Miss Elizabeth Moore in 1854 and settled on a farm near his father's homestead. A short time later he located on what is now the Cass farm, ten miles south of Marshfield and opened up one of the best farms of the county. He sold his farm in 1885 and came to Marshfield where he has been in business since. Mr. Aldridge was the father of four children: Mrs. Martha Brooks, wife of Judge Brooks; Mrs. Candice Florance, wife of Clay Florance, the miller; Mrs. Allie Taggard, wife of Frisco Agent Taggard of Seymour; and Roy Aldridge now in St. Louis. There are several grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two of these are children of Hassar (Brooks) Grier, and one child of Ella (Brooks) Sayers, all grandchildren of Judge Brooks and great-great-grandchildren of the founder of the Aldridge family. Elizabeth Aldridge died in the 90's and Mr. Aldridge again married, this time choosing Mrs. Dora O'Shea, a dressmaker who came here from St. Louis. Her former home was Tenn. CATHERINE (Aldridge) REED was born in 1837. She was the wife of John Reed, who now lives with his son south of Marshfield. Mrs. Reed died several years ago. JANE (Aldridge) FORD was born after the family arrived in Missouri. She married Rufus Ford, a brother of Leander Ford who now lives in Marshfield. Mrs. Ford died a few years ago. Her children live in Greene County. RUFUS ALDRIDGE married a Miss Chandler and lived in Springfield where he died several years ago. His wife and children now live in Springfield. NATHANIEL ALDRIDGE, the youngest child, was born in 1845. He married a Miss Sams and lived in this county until 1870, when he moved with his family to Ozark County. He was killed in a quarrel with a neighbor about ten years ago. Both parties to the quarrel shooting and killing each other at the same time. His descendants live there and in the west. The ALDRIDGE FAMILY came to Missouri twenty years after the first settlers arrived, but found the country only sparsely settled when they arrived. For many years they used a wooden moulboard plow and often found it necessary to pound their corn for meal in a mortar made by burning out a block of wood. A wooden maul was used for a pestle. Letters from old friends in North Carolina would come without envelopes and would be held by the postmaster until a postage fee of 25 cents was paid by the receiver. The Aldridge boys were generally too busy with their farm work to spend time hunting, but the oldest son, Bedford, spent some time at the sport and became one of the best rifle shots of the county. As stated above, Micajah Aldridge is the best known member of the family. He is now nearly 75 years old, but is strong and active yet. He is an energetic worker and will do more work in a day than most men of half his age.