Having established himself in the grocery and meat business at Wakefield in his youth, Mr. Eldred has continued in this business ever since and today is one of the best known and most successful retail merchants of Wakefield. A man of pleasing personality, strict integrity and proven public spirit, he is very popular in the community and at different times has been honored by his fellow-citizens by election to important public offices. He is a member of several fraternal organizations, takes an active part in religious work and in every respect represents the best type of useful and upright citizen.
John B. Eldred was born at South Kingstown, February 27, 1868, a son of the late John B. and Dorcas P. (Whaley) Eldred. Both his parents, now deceased, were natives of South Kingstown, his father having been engaged in farming there until his death. Mr. Eldred was educated in the public grammar and high schools of his native town and after leaving school went to New Haven, where he worked for three years with the Adams Express Company. He then returned to Rhode Island and established himself in the grocery and meat business at Wakefield, a business which he has built up from comparatively small beginnings to its present prosperity and size by hard work, strict attention and fair dealing. He manufactures the “Kingston Sausage,” which is well known throughout Rhode Island and enjoys a large sale. Mr. Eldred is also vice-president of the Wakefield Branch Company and has represented his home community for two years in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. At another time he served for six years as tax assessor of South Kingstown. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist Church. He is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons; Unity Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Narragansett Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Order of United American Mechanics. He is fond of sports and outdoor life and is especially interested in baseball, horse racing and hunting.
Mr. Eldred married Bessie L. Rodman, a native of Narragansett, and by this marriage is the father of one son, James Rodman Eldred.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.