Granduncle Mark's Genealogy Parlor
In memory of
Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman
1910 - 1999
(Born 26 August 1910)
(Photo from the early 1970's)
Submitted by her grandson
Mark Ellsworth Hickman, PhD
My grandmother, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, had less gray hair in her 80's than I did
at the same time.
She had a quick mind that exceeded the capacity of her physical body when she
was elderly.
A colorful woman, Elda sang our lullabys in French when we
(her 10 grandchildren) were young. We also remember her lively renditions
of Little Orphant Annie, The Raggedy Man, and other poems by Hoosier Poet,
James Whitcomb Riley.
During most of her life, Elda was a caretaker. She cooked enough for
neighbors during the Great Depression, finding ways to stretch her family's
meager supplies. Living in Elda and Clarence's home for periods of years
were Elda's parents, Elda's disabled brother and Clarence's Grandfather.
This was, of course, in addition to their own children.
Elda was born a writer. Many people keep her letters because of her talent in
using words so expressively. She has also written poetry, short stories
and inspirational pieces.
A self-described 'tomboy' in her youth, Elda always enjoyed a challenge.
I remember her playing basketball in her 50's, taking her first
motorcycle ride in her 60's, and accepting a modeling job in her 70's.
Though born in Danville, Illinois, Elda became a Hoosier early in life as
her family moved to Frankfort, Indiana when she was 'but a small tot.'
After some years in Frankfort, her father decided to buy a small farm near
Stanford in Monroe County, Indiana. Here, Elda spent the remainder of
her youth in the rolling hills of southern Indiana.
Elda's style of writing and cooking were, of course, reflective of her
insights into Hoosier culture. Also influential were the colorful
Pennsylvania Dutch traditions that her own mother brought to the family.
Three generations of descendants make up Elda's 'Forty-Leven.' Visits to
grandmother's house almost always included cooking aromas that led the children
to slip into the kitchen for samples from the kettles.
Elda loved animals -- and had "a way" with them. The wild birds in her
valley were trained to fly to her when she called, knowing they were about
to receive bread crumbs and leftovers from Elda's kitchen. I remember as
an adolescent looking out a front window of Elda's house, hearing Elda
calling the birds at the back door, and seeing the birds in the front of
the house respond by suddenly flying up and over the house to respond to
my grandmother's calls.
Grandmother was creative in her story-telling. I remember Christmas
seasons in my youth when the wind would blow snow from the roof of her
home and my sisters and I would see it falling in front of the living
room picture window. Grandmother told us, in the most serious of tones,
that this falling snow was caused by Santa and his reindeer making
practice runs on her roof.
Elda was known as a fine cook, using the butter-rich Pensylvania Dutch
recipes that she learned from her own mother. Elda's recipes are now
on the Internet! Check it out at
http://grand_uncle_mark.home.insightbb.com/eldacook.html.
Elda passed away shortly before her 89th birthday, at Bloomington Convalescent Center,
in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. She is buried at Greene County Chapel,
in Greene County, Indiana (near Stanford, Monroe County, Indiana), adjacent to her
husband's and to her parents' burial sites.
Elda's strong spirit remained until the very end of her life here. Some members of
Elda's family had taken a break to eat at a local restaurant during the final week of
Elda's life, while other family members remained behind and promised to contact the
diners via pager if anything happened. While preparing to eat, the diners were
interrupted by the sound of the pager. Everyone momentarily stared at the pager,
thinking that Elda had passed away. Using a cellular telephone, I called the
convalescent center and learned the truth from my niece, April ... "Grandmother
wants a cheeseburger."
A couple of Elda's poems are included below.
Read Elda's
Christmas with the Martin's in 1913 Pennsylvania.
Elda Elizabeth Routh (on left)
with her sister,
Velva Delilah 'Jean' Routh.
(Click on Photo to see larger version)
Elda Elizabeth Routh (on left)
as a beautiful young woman.
(Click on Photo to see larger version)
Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman
with her brother,
Lawrence 'Joe' Routh.
(Click on Photo to see larger version)
Elda Elizabeth Routh was born 26 August 1910 in Danville, Vermillion County, Indiana.
Elda was a daughter of Simon Elias ROUTH
and Nannie (MARTIN) ROUTH.
Elda's Grandparents were:
- Benjamin Hopkins ROUTH
and, Barbara Ann (SUMMERS) ROUTH.
- James Frederick MARTIN
and Eliza Jane (LOWMILLER, PLANK or FLANK) MARTIN
Elda was married on 11 July 1929 in Monroe County, Indiana
to
Clarence Noble EDDLEMAN.
Elda and Clarence's three children were:
-
Winifred
Jean
(EDDLEMAN)
HICKMAN
(Born 1930 in Indiana.
Married 1948 in Indiana to Harold Ellsworth Hickman.
Winifred died 24 August 1996 at her home in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana.)
-
Janice Sue
(EDDLEMAN)
WELLMAN
(Born 1932 in Indiana.
Married 1953 in Indiana to
Samuel Eugene Wellman.)
-
Elizabeth Ann
((EDDLEMAN)
HAZEL
(Born 1935 in Indiana.
Married 1954 in Indiana to
Carl Morris Hazel.)
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