James K. was the son of Joel and Mary Aldridge. He was born in Morristown, Granger County, Tennessee. He was one of twelve children.
In 1858, Jacob Routh received a letter from J.K., telling him of his plans to come to the Spring Creek neighborhood of Plano and that he had 9 children.
Fannie (Mary Francis) Aldridge married Claiborne Christopher Gregory. They had a baby to die in infancy.
Lizzie Aldridge married ? Groseclose.
James Shelton Aldridge married Annie Belle Haggard.
Joel Lively Aldridge married Elizabeth Dye.
William Penn Aldridge married Alice Chchran.
Dr. Welch Aldridge married Lizzie Armstrong.
Lillian Aldridge married Elijah Roller.

J.K. served as Captain in the Confederate Army. He and Jacob Routh and R.W. Campbell were main contributers to the building of the Mont Vale School on the Campbell farm. A devoted Presbyterian, he gave several lots in 1897 for the erection of a new sanctuary at the corner of East Mechanic and Residence Streets, which are now 15th St. and Ave. L.

Plano Star Courier, October 20, 1904James K. is a native of Ganger [sic] County, East Tennessee; was born in 1829, and when about 25 years of age came to Texas, seeking whatever there might be in store for him. Contrary to the common rule by which most young men coming west shape their lives, Mr. Aldridge played single life several years after reaching Texas, waiting, as he puts it, for his wife, nee Miss Mariah Lively to grow and get old enough to marry.

The children are Mary F., Lizzie L., J. Shelton, J. Lively, W. P., H. W., C. C. and Lilly. Mary F. (Mrs. Gregory) is deceased, the other two daughters are married and reside back in Mr. Aldridge's nativity, East Tennessee. The sons are all married and all farmers and live near Plano, except H. W., who is a physician and is located in Ellis county, Texas. Farming and stock raising have engaged all Mr. Aldridge's Texas life, both of which have made him most satisfactory returns. He is not getting a little old, but is hale and hearty for one of his years, and has a steady appetite for home products, such as corn dodger, humpback biscuit, beans, cabbage, potatoes, "country ham and red gravy."