Woman Turns 105 Leaving A Lasting Legacy

 

When one lives to be an astonishing 105 years of age, there’s certainly a lot of history and memories that go along with that accomplishment.

Such is the case with Alice Eldridge Flournoy a former resident of Holden, who turned past the century-plus mark for the fifth time November 24, 2024 while at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville.

Alice was born in 1919 in Holden, on the location that is currently the US Post Office and grew up across the street to the west. She had one brother, Lewis Childs (LC). Their grandfather, Lewis Merritt Cass, had the city’s funeral home/furniture store. Alice graduated from Holden High School in 1938.

Her father, Eli Eldredge, was a farmer who raised cattle west of town (where the curves start), married Myrtle Merritt, daughter of Lewis Cass Merritt, in 1912. Merritt owned the funeral home and furniture store. He later sold the business to Ray Sweeney who moved the business to Chilhowee. The business was later sold to John Murray who moved it to Warrensburg, where it’s now Sweeney Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home. The Merritts had come to Holden from Indiana in 1900.

Eli’s father was James Eldredge (b. 1837). He was originally from Rhode Island. He fought with General Price at the Battle of Lexington (September 18, 19, 20, 1861) and at some point he returned to Rhode Island but came back to Holden in 1880.

In March 1866 he (James) married Eliza Hawkins (b 8/25/1843).

Eli, traveled to Steamboat Springs CO every spring to buy cattle. He believed the best calves came from the west slope of the Rockies.
Alice had one brother, Lewis Childs (L.C.) who continued the family farming enterprise his entire life. Lewis inherited the family trait of longevity, being born in 1914…

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