Shalor W. Eldridge was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Aug. 29, 1816. He had common school education. He came to Kansas City on Jan. 3, 1855 where he purchased the American house which Gen. Pomeroy had bought for the Emigrant Aid Society. This house was the headquarters of the Free-State men. In the early part of 1856, he leased the Free State Hotel at Lawrence and equipped it as a first-class hotel. On May 21, 1856, the same year, it was destroyed by Sheriff Jones and his posse. David R. Atchison aimed the first cannon and the house was destroyed with all the furniture.

In 1857, with his brothers Edwin, Thomas and James, Shalor Eldridge erected the Eldridge House in Lawrence at a cost of $80,000. It was destroyed by Quantrill on Aug. 21, 1863, then rebuilt in 1865. In 1867, Col. Eldridge built the Broadway House in Kansas City, now known as the Coates house. In 1877, he built the Eldridge house at Coffeyville and the next year the Otis House in Atchison.

Col. Eldridge married Miss Mary B. Norton of Southampton, Massachusetts, on May 23, 1839. They had seven children. Mrs. Eldridge died in Lawrence Mar. 5, 1869.

The second Mrs. Eldridge was Miss Caroline Tobey of Dundee, New York and the wedding took place Jan. 25, 1871. Col. Eldridge died Jan. 16, 1899 in Lawrence at the age of 82.

This picture was given to the library in 1903 by his daughter, Sophia Eldridge (Mrs. O. E. Learnard).