David Eldridge (died 3 June 1797) is the earliest known person of European descent to die in the Western Reserve, and the first person to be buried in the newly created city of Cleveland.
One of the employees of the Connecticut Land Company, he drowned at about 11:00am on June 3, 1797, while attempting to swim his horse across the Grand River, despite being strongly advised to the contrary.
Seth Hart, superintendent of the surveying party, used every precaution to save him, without effect.
Members of the party used wooden boards to build a strong box for a coffin.
[3] In the early 2000s, while improvements were being made to buildings currently on the original location of his burial, human bones were discovered.