 
LEONARD H. ALDRIDGE
LEONARD H. ALDRIDGE, who carries on general farming and stock raising,
his home being near Saint Jo, was born in Grayson county, Texas, on
the 18th of November, 1872. His paternal grandfather, Edward
Aldridge, of Kentucky, went to North Carolina and afterward to
Georgia at an early day and taking up his abode in the latter state
there spent the remainder of his life. He became a leading and
influential agriculturist of his community, respected for his genuine
worth. His children were: James, Joseph A., William, John, Marion,
Thomas, Sarah and Mary J.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Aldridge they began their
domestic life in Georgia, where he followed the blacksmith's trade
that he had learned in early manhood. At the time of the Civil war he
joined the Confederate army and served faithfully for four years,
meeting the usual experiences, hardships and exposures incident to a
soldier's life. He continued to follow his trade until 1869, when he
removed to Texas and settled in Grayson county, where he purchased a
farm, on which he lived for two years. He then sold that property and
bought land at Red River station, after which he followed
blacksmithing and also improved his land, but on account of hostile
Indians he remained for but one year. he then sold out and tok up his
abode in Hopkins county, where he reaised one crop and worked at his
rade. In 1874 he removed to Saint Jo, where he purchased land and made
a permanent home. Abandoning backsmithing, he gave his entire
attention to farming and stock raising, purchasing at first a small
tract of land to which he afterward aded as his financial resources
increased until his holdings embraced thrirteen hundred and twenty
acres. He made a good selection and his is the finest farm in the
vicinity of Saint Jo. Excellent improvements were placed upon the
property, a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings were
erected and substantial barns and outbuildings were
Joseph A. Aldridge, the second son of Edward Aldridge, was born
in Georgia, March 7, 1840, and there spent the days of his boyhood and
youth. After arriving at years of maturity he was married to Miss
Texan Bryant, whose birth occurred in Georgia, February 8, 1845.
Her parents were Gains and Mary (Pertle) Bryant, the
former a native of Ireland and the latter of Georgia. They were
married in Georgia, where Mr. Bryant followed the carpenter's trade
and also had farming interests. He had a wide and favorable
acquaintance in the locality where he made his home and in later life
he removed to Tennessee, where he died. His wife was a daughter of
Jacob Pertle, a well known farmer and slave owner of Georgia, in which
state his death occurred. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pertle there
were nine children, as follows: Gains, Olmstead, Shade, Stephen,
James, William, Lucy A., Betsy A., and Lodusta. The
children of Gaines Bryant were: Elijah, a minister of the
Christian church; Jacob, Stephen, William, Alonzo, Elizabeth, Mary
A., Texan, who became Mrs. Aldridge, and Mrs. Lodusta
Kiker.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Aldridge they began their
domestic life in Georgia, where he followed the blacksmith trade that
he had learned in early manhood. At the time of the Civil war he
joined the Confederate army and served faithfully for four years,
meeting the usual experiences, hardships and exposures incident to a
soldier's life. He continued to follow his trade until 1869, when he
removed to Texas and settled in Montague county, at Red River station,
where he purchased a farm, but on account of hostile Indians he
remained but for one year. He then sold out and took up his abode in
Hopkins county, where he raised two crops and worked at his trade. In
1874 he removed to Saint Jo, where he purchased land and made a
permanent home. Abandoning blacksmithing, he gave his entire attention
to farming and stock raising, purchasing at first a small tract of
land to which he afterward added as his financial resources increased
until his holdings embraced eight hundred and twenty acres. He made a
good selection and his was the finest farm in the vicinity of Saint
Jo. Excellent improvements were placed upon the property, a good
residence and substantial barns and outbuildings were erected and the
latest improved machinery was added. There is an excellent water
supply upon the place and Mr. Aldridge engaged in raising, feeding,
handling and shipping cattle. He placed six hundred acres of his land
under a high state of cultivation and produced the various crops best
adapted to soil and climate. He established two tenant houses on his
place, also rented some land and became known as a most prosperous,
extensive and successful farmer and stockman, recognized by all as a
broad-minded, intelligent businessman and good financier. He owed his
success to his energy, determination and indefatigable diligence and
thus he created a large estate. The uprising and hostility of the
Indians delayed his permanent settlement for two or three years and
occasioned him much uneasiness in the early days, but he was in one of
the fights with the red men. He assisted materially, however, in the
reclamation of his portion of the state for the purposes of
civilization and as the years went by his labors proved a valued
factor in the development of the county. In politics he was a strong
Democrat but without aspiration for office, never desiring political
preferment as a reward for party fealty. He was a consistent and
worthy member of the Christian church, in which he served as deacon
for many years and in the work of which he took a helpful interest.
After many years devoted to business he determined to spend the
evening of his life in ease and comfort and removed to Saint Jo. Soon
afterward he became ill with smallpox, which occasioned his death
March 28, 1901. He is yet kindly remembered by his many friends, who
greatly miss him. His wife yet survives and resides upon the old
homestead farm. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children:
Jacob, who died in childhood; S. J. of this review;
John, who is living in the Indian Territory; Leonard H.,
who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Samuel, who died
in 1898; Mrs. Myrtle Hillman; Mrs. Alba Varney; Ernest, who
died in 1892; Mrs. Ord Davis; and Robert, who is living
upon the old homestead farm. The mother is also a worthy and faithful
member of the Christian church.
Leonard H. Aldridge was born in Grayson county and upon the old
homestead farm was reared. He yet remains here, carrying forward the
work inaugurated by his father. He has purchased the interests of some
of the other heirs in the property and is now caring for his mother
and is conducting his farm work on an extensive scale, giving
undivided attention to the production of wheat, corn and oats and to
the raising of stock. He is progressive in all that he does and he was
the first man in his county to do plowing with a traction engine and
gang plow. He seeds from three to five hundred acres of wheat and
annually harvest splendid crops. There are two tenant houses on the
farm and he rents land to the men who occupy these and who raise
cotton and other crops. Some years as high as one hundred acres have
been planted to cotton. Mr. Aldridge also operates a threshing machine
during the season. He is a most energetic man, brooking no obstacles
that can be overcome by strong determination and honorable purpose,
and as an agriculturalist he has been a leader in the onward movement.
He uses the best improved machinery to facilitate the work and he has
telephone connections with the business centers.
On the 18th of September, 1899, Mr. Aldridge was married to Miss
Polkey S. Howell, who was born in Texas, November 20, 1880, and is
a most estimable lady. Her parents were J. P. and Susan R.
(Lillard) Howell. Her mother was born in Tennessee, March 9, 1849,
and was a daughter of William and Lucretia (Blevins)
Lillard. Her father was a son of Jackson Lillard, of
Missouri, who went to Tennessee, where he was married and spent his
remaining days. He was a farmer by occupation, served as high sheriff
of his county and was a soldier of the War of 1812. In the community
where he lived he was regarded as a popular and influential citizen.
His children were: Monroe, a minister of the gospel; Morgan;
William; MacMinn, also a preacher; Asberry; Thomas K.; Francis;
Cynthia A. and Mary.
William Lillard was born and reared on a farm in Tennessee and in
early manhood joined the Methodist ministry, holding active relations
to the conference for a number of years. In later life he became a
local preacher. He owned a farm and was an extensive trader in negroes
and mules, which he sold on the public market. In connection with his
brother MacMinn, he owned copper mines in Virginia and spent much time
in that state. He was a practical business man as well as an able
preacher and was highly respected for his genuine worth and fidelity
to principle. He was also an exemplary member of the Masonic
fraternity, and his funeral services were conducted under the auspices
of that order. Both he and his wife died in Tennessee, Mrs. Lillard
preceding her husband to the home beyond. She, too, was a devoted
member of the Methodist church and she was a daughter of David
Blevins, a prominent farmer of Tennessee, in whose family were
eight children: James; John; Hugh; Susan; Mary; Sarah; Mahala;
Lucretia, who became the wife of H. Thomas, by whom she had
two children, Sarah and Hugh, and then after the death
of her first husband married William Lillard. To his marriage
there were born six children: Myra, the wife of W. A. Smith;
Amanda, the wife of B. K. Blevins; John, who entered the
Confederate army at the age of fifteen years, as a member of the
Tennessee Cavalry and was killed in a cotton gin in the Indian
Territory; Susan R., the mother of Mrs. Aldridge, who, since
the death of her first husband, married Stephen A. Bryant and
is the second time a widow; Emily, who died in childhood; and
Mrs. Mary Holman.
Susan R. Lillard was born and reared in Tennessee and was there
married to Jackson P. Howell, whose birth occurred in that
state, November 15, 1847. He was a son of John and Elizabeth
Howell, both natives of Tennessee, the former a prominent farmer
and slave owner who became successful in the management of his
business interests. He was too old for active service at the time of
the Civil war, but gave his influence to the Confederacy, and for this
reason he was shot down at his home by federal soldiers. He was
standing at his gate and ell into the arms of his daughter. Later his
family became scattered and his widow came to Texas with a daughter
and died in this state. Both parents were devoted members of the
Methodist church and were highly respected. The children were as
follows: William; Samuel H., who served in the Confederate
army; Joseph, who was one of the proprietors of Saint Jo in its
early days; Houston, who entered the army in Texas and served
throughout the period of hostilities; John, who was also a
soldier and died in this state; Jackson P., the father of Mrs.
Aldridge; Mary, the wife of Thomas Whaley; and
Rachel, who became Mrs. Whaley and after the death of
her first husband married a Mr. Tuttle.
Jackson P. Howell, having arrived at years of maturity in his native
state of Tennessee, was married there in 1871. Soon afterward he came
to Texas, settling in Cooke county, where he rented land and raised
two crops. In 1873 he came to Saint Jo and spent nearly three years in
the town. He then bought land five miles west of Saint Jo, taking up
his abode in a little cabin about twelve feet square in which he lived
until he could erect a better house. He added to his first purchase of
land and made a good farm, becoming a successful agriculturist. He
also raised stock. In politics he always voted with the Democracy and
in community affairs was interested in the welfare and progress that
works for civilization and the general good. His death occurred March
28, 1885. In his family were four children: Mason, a machinist
possessing much natural mechanical ingenuity; Polkey S., now
Mrs. Aldridge; Nellie and Jackson T., yet at home.
Following the death of Mr. Howell his wife remained upon the old
homestead farm which she yet owns and she supervised its improvement
for six years. In 1890 she
became the wife of Stephen A. Bryant and has since resided at
the Bryant homestead. Her second husband was an early settler of Saint
Jo and was a prominent and prosperous farmer and stock man. His death
occurred January 18, 1903, in the faith of the Missionary Baptist
church, in which he held membership. He was also a member of the
Masonic fraternity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge have been born two daughters: Thelma,
born April 1, 1902; and Marvel, born August 30, 1904. The
parents have many warm friends in Saint Jo and this section of the
state, and their own home is celebrated for its pleasing hospitality.
Mr. Aldridge is indeed one of the representative agriculturists of his
county with extensive interests which are capably conducted and result
in bringing to him a creditable and gratifying measure of prosperity.
B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago:
Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. I, pp. 478-480.
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