Nathaniel B. Eldredge
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Buel Eldredge was a physician, infantry officer, lawyer, sheriff, and ultimately a two-term Democratic congressman from the State
of Michigan
.
and as he grew up attended the common schools. He attended Fairfield Medical College and engaged in the practice of medicine in Commerce, Michigan.
He served as clerk of the Michigan Senate
in 1845 and was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
from Lapeer County
in 1848. He served as probate judge from 1852 to 1856. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in 1854. Soon after the outbreak of the American Civil War, Eldredge enrolled on June 19, 1861 as captain of Company G of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He resigned his commission in December 1861, then re-entered the service with the 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. Commissioned as a lieutenant colonel
on April 1, 1862, he was honorably discharged on January 7, 1863. He was elected sheriff of Lenawee County
in 1874.
In 1882, Eldredge was elected as a Democrat
to represent Michigan's 2nd congressional district
in the 48th United States Congress
, defeating Republican Edward P. Allen
. Eldredge's victory was part of the first postwar Democratic landslide. Eldredge was reelected two years later, serving in the 49th United States Congress
, where he was chairman of the Committee on Pensions. In all, he served from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1887.
Eldredge died in Adrian, Michigan
and was interred there in Oakwood Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Eldredge was born in Auburn, New YorkAuburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
and as he grew up attended the common schools. He attended Fairfield Medical College and engaged in the practice of medicine in Commerce, Michigan.
He served as clerk of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
in 1845 and was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
from Lapeer County
Lapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
in 1848. He served as probate judge from 1852 to 1856. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and commenced practice in 1854. Soon after the outbreak of the American Civil War, Eldredge enrolled on June 19, 1861 as captain of Company G of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 7th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 7th Michigan Infantry was organized at Monroe, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on August 22, 1861...
. He resigned his commission in December 1861, then re-entered the service with the 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 11th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was assigned to front-line combat duty in the Army of the Cumberland in the Western Theater and participated in most of its leading battles and campaigns, including...
. Commissioned as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on April 1, 1862, he was honorably discharged on January 7, 1863. He was elected sheriff of Lenawee County
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
in 1874.
In 1882, Eldredge was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to represent Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
in the 48th United States Congress
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
, defeating Republican Edward P. Allen
Edward P. Allen
Edward Payson Allen was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Allen was born in Sharon Township, Michigan and attended the district and select schools. He graduated from the State normal school in 1864...
. Eldredge's victory was part of the first postwar Democratic landslide. Eldredge was reelected two years later, serving in the 49th United States Congress
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
, where he was chairman of the Committee on Pensions. In all, he served from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1887.
Eldredge died in Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
and was interred there in Oakwood Cemetery.