Joseph Arthur Judge

JUDGE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/17/2010 at 13:11:36

Joseph Arthur Judge, proprietor of the farm known as Woodlawn, on section 11 and 14, Colfax township, is one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Boone county, owning and operating 319 acres of valuable and highly cultivated land. He as born in Green county, Wisconsin, September 24, 1867, a son of James and Bridget (Kelley) Judge, of whom extended mention is the sketch of Patrick H Judge, on another page of this work.
At the age of five years our subject was brought by his parents to Boone county, and here he attended the Jones school, just across the line in Story county, taught by Miss Helen Harlow. Later he continued his studies in Colfax township at the age of twenty years entered Highland Park College at Des Moines. The home school in Colfax township was taught by Richard F Jordan , who later became a lawyer. For some time Mr Judge taught school during the winter months in Garden township, first under Superintendent George Ashton. He continued to follow that occupation for five or six terms at different times. At intervals in meantime he attended Highland Park College and operated the home farm in partnership with his brother John.
On April 11, 1893, Mr Judge was united in marriage to Miss Susan Creed, who was born in Colfax township, this county, March 31, 1869, and was educated in the public schools here and at a convent in Carroll, Iowa. At the age of eighteen she, too, commenced teaching school in Harrison township, and taught until her marriage. Her father, Thomas Creed, was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and on his emigration to America settled in Boston, Massachusetts, were he married Miss Margaret Ryan, who was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and came to the United States when a young lady, landing in Boston. She was left fatherless at the early age of three years. From Boston Mr Creed removed to Chicago, Illinois and in 1864 settled near Dixon, that state, where he engaged in farming on rented land for a time. In1867 he took up his residence in Story county, Iowa, coming to this locality with the Jordan and Price families, the former locating in Colfax township, Boone county, and the latter in Story county. After residing in Story county for a time Mr Creed purchased 160 acres of land in Colfax township, Boone count, and made his home thereon until his death, which occurred in May 1911. He as a devout member of the Sacred Heart church and was buried in a Catholic cemetery. Politically he was a democrat. His wife has passed away January 5, 1901, at the age of eighty years. Their children were: John P deceased, who was an engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad, Thomas Francis, who is a yardmaster for the Northwestern Railroad at Valley Springs, Illinois, and who married Ella Conners, Margaret the wife of Emory Scott of Kansas City, Missouri, Mary Ellen and William J both at home, and Susan now Mrs Judge.
After his marriage our subject located on the old Judge farm but after living there for a short time removed to a farm on section 24, Colfax township, where he resided until 1901. Selling that place to a Mr Shedd, he settled on his present farm, which he has since greatly improved, erecting thereon a beautiful new residence in 1911, besides numerous outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and has a reputation as one of the successful stock raisers of the county. He is a representative farmer of today, enterprising , progressive and industrious, and the success which eh has achieved in life is due entirely to his own efforts.
Mr and Mrs Judge have nine children: John Raymond, born January 18, 1894, Walter Thomas, born March 1, 1896, Joseph J, August 27, 1898, Marie Margaret, November 10, 1900, Cecelia Agnes, December 7, 1902, Catherine Theresa, November 1, 1909, and Bernard Ambrose, November 28, 1912.
Mr Judge and his firmly are members of the St Cecelia Catholic church at Ames, and he has served on the advisory board. He never falters in his allegiance to the democratic party, and has been honored by local office, serving as treasurer of the school board. He is a member of the Leo Council, No 814, K C, at Boone and is one of the prominent citizens of his community.

1914 Boone County History Book