Soon after marriage, Eldridge and Iva moved to Thorpe, Iowa, a small-incorporated village, which consisted of six or eight homes. Here he was working as a Section Foreman for the Chicago and Great Western Railroad, and this is the town in which their 1st 3 children were born. At that time he was probably 18 years old and she was 16, for they were married when they were very young.

In 1901 Eldridge was transferred to Dumont, Iowa where he was promoted to Foreman over a larger area of track.

When Gladys was born, Ivia had a case of scarlet fever and diphtheria, and those were trying days for all the family. She wasn't expected to live and she lost her vision for a few days. Her mother was her nurse, and her children weren't allowed to see her for weeks. As a disinfectant, she constantly burned tar on hot coals of fire, which were removed from a cook stove. The smoke permeated the whole house and I don't think a pesky germ could have survived in it.

The time arrived when Eldridge was promoted to Assistant Road Master on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, then was promoted to
Road Master with headquarters in Redfield, So. Dakota. After living in Redfield two years, they moved to Huron, So. Dakota as Eldridge was promoted to Road Master of the largest division in the state. This was a strenuous job for he had to ride trains all day long, standing on the platform of the last car and inspecting tracks. He supervised all foremen and helpers and was as strict with them as he was with his children, but everyone loved and respected him. The remaining 3 children were born in Huron.

When Eldridge and Ivia were living in Dumont, they were baptized in the West Fork River, and were also converted. What a beautiful thought, we will see both of them some day "On the other shore".

Eldridge was fatally wounded in an accident while inspecting track on the railroad. He lived for about a week after the accident.