Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Jannette Patten 4/21/1839 in Oakland Co., MI; children: Louisa A., Lewis, Daniel, Ella, George, John, B., David D. and Jesse
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
attended Fairfield Medical College;
Biographical Sketch:
His grandfather, Daniel Eldredge, commanded a company during the Revolutionary War. Son of Daniel E. and Mehitable (Bristol) Eldredge. Nathaniel spent his early life on his father's farm. At 16, family finances prevented his acceptance of an appointment to West Point. He preferred the profession of law, but, influenced by a brother who was a physician, he studied medicine under Dr. Briggs, of Auburn. He attended lectures at the medical college at Fairfield; and settled to his professional work in Commerce, Oakland County, MI. Dr. Eldredge practiced medicine 15 years. He afterwards studied law. In 1854 he was admitted to the bar. At the commencement of the civil war, he closed his law office, raised a company, and was appointed Major of the 7th Michigan Infantry. The regiment was ordered to Washington, and assigned to the corps of observation under General Stone. It was on the Potomac the day of the battle of Ball's Bluff. Mr. Eldredge censured General Stone for the slaughter at Ball's Bluff, in a letter which was published in the newspapers; for this he was unjustly put under arrest by General Stone. Not being able to obtain a trial, he resigned, went home, and was immediately placed, by Governor Blair, in the State Military Board. Shortly after Colonel Eldredge's resignation, Major-General Stone was arrested and detained at Fort Warren, 1 year, for the reasons made known in Colonel Eldredge's letter. In 1862 Mr. Eldredge served as Lieutenant-Colonel in the 11th Michigan Infantry. In Tennessee, at the battle of Stone River, his horse was shot under him. Soon after, his health failed, and he resigned. He was Justice of the Peace, Postmaster, Clerk of the Michigan Senate, Representative, Judge of Probate (1852-56), Mayor of Adrian, 1870-71, and Sheriff of Lenawee County, 1874. He assisted in establishing the Lenawee County Savings Bank and the First National Bank of Adrian. He was a Masons.
Notable Facts:
Elected to the 48th-49th Congresses, 1883-1887