Fannie and James were married 25 Nov 1897 by Judge Ben Shields on
horseback near Niangua,
Missouri. The wedding party also sat on horse
back for the vows. Their best man was Fannie's cousin,
Albert Letterman and the bride's maid was Susie Mather.
Source: Naomi Eldridge Evans Davis and Jeannie Dates
"The year was 1876. The child's name was James
Daniel Eldridge. James' mother died possibly when he was born. His
father, James, left his boy in the care of a woman named Marge
Lavender in 1872. His actual birthday was March 24, 1872. The deal
was she would raise him until his father got on his feet being a
widower and all. Well the time came to return him, and she had grown
too attached and left town. She abducted him from Independence, Kansas.
She took him to Missouri near Niangua. He went by the surname of
Lavender until about sixteen years of age, then he returned to
Eldridge. James Eldridge, his father, was supposed to have been a
minister of the Camelite Ministry.There were supposedly seven to eight more
siblings."
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.eldridge/724/mb.ashx
Adoption: Actually kidnapped by Leve & Margaret Lavender and traveled
to Marshfield, Missouri along the railway tracks.