Eldredge, John C. (John Crosby), 1886-1976

Agronomy professor, popcorn researcher, and county extension agent. John Crosby Eldredge (April 21, 1886 - March 12, 1976) was born in Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa. He received his B.S. in Agronomy from Iowa State College in 1915, an M.S. in 1925, and a Ph. D. in 1933. Eldredge worked as a county extension agent in Emmet County, 1915-1920 and worked with the Emmetsburg Seed Company, 1920-1921. In 1921 Eldredge became an assistant professor of agronomy at Iowa State College. He became an associate professor in 1937 and was elected to the graduate faculty in 1939. Eldredge remained on the faculty until 1960, but continued to work for Iowa State University on the Committee on Agricultural Development into the 1970s.

Eldredge specialized in the research and development of popcorn hybrids. He produced many of the varieties with the identifier, Iopop, most notably, Iopop 6. He also operated Ames Seed Farm, a hybrid seed company south of Ames, Iowa in the Kelley, Iowa area in the 1940s. The firm primarily produced corn, popcorn, and oat seed.