JUDD, Newton

JUDD, PETTIS, GUERNSEY, HANSON, WALKER, COWEN, BRIARFFS, KELLEY, ARNOLD, BOYD, WARRINGTON, STEARNS, CARMEAU

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 13:44:47

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 316-18. Chicago. 1915.

NEWTON JUDD

Newton Judd, a successful farmer of Garden Grove township, was widely known in Decatur county, where he had resided for fifty-eight years at the time of his demise on the 5th of February, 1912. He was born in Pike county, Illinois, November 16, 1843, a son of Hawkins and Almira (Pettis) Judd. The father was born in Windsor county, Vermont, October 25, 1802, of English stock, and became an early settler of Illinois, whence he removed with his family to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1854. He was a man of means and bought a large amount of land in Decatur, Taylor and other counties in Iowa which he cultivated and improved. He developed and sold a number of farms at a good profit and was also successful as a general farmer and stock-raiser. He was married in Illinois, December 29, 1842, to Almira Pettis, who was born in Kingston, Canada, February 9, 1825. She passed away in Decatur county, Iowa, on the 29th of November, 1903, in the faith of the Episcopal church, having survived her husband since February 18, 1871. To their union were born six children: Newton, of this review; Oscar, a resident of Davis City, Iowa; Stephen; William; Mary; and Allen, who is living in Des Moines.

Newton Judd was reared and educated in Decatur county and gave much of his time to assisting with the work of the homestead. He devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and became the owner of an excellent farm in Garden Grove township. He grew the usual crops and also raised considerable stock, finding both branches of his business profitable. Mr. Judd was married on the 22d of October, 1873, to Miss Alida Guernsey, who was born in Cass county, Michigan, April 17, 18.52, of the marriage of James and Deborah (Hanson) Guernsey, natives respectively of Ohio and New Jersey. In 1864 her parents located in the northeastern part of Garden Grove township, Decatur county, Iowa, and the father purchased a farm there which he operated until 1879. In that year he removed to Rush county, Kansas, and subsequently went to Oklahoma, where he passed away at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died in Rush county, Kansas, when seventy-three years old. In early life they were members of the Presbyterian church but later transferred their membership to the Christian church. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Charles, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Judd; Clara, who gave her hand in marriage to William Walker; Mrs. May Cowen, deceased; and Homer and Elmer, residing at Pond Creek, Oklahoma. Mrs. Judd was twelve years of age when she accompanied her parents to Decatur county and continued her education in the schools of Garden Grove. Subsequently she studied for two years in Chicago and for four years followed the profession of teaching in Decatur, Wayne and Clarke counties.

To Mr. and Mrs. Judd were born seven children, as follows: Carrie, who taught successfully for some time, became the wife of George Briarffs. He was for several years connected with educational work in the Philippine Islands and is now in the educational department of the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco. She died in the Philippines in January, 1909, leaving three children: Dorothy, aged eleven; and Ruth and Elizabeth, twins. Mr. Briggs subsequently married Miss Grace Kelley, of Independence, Missouri. Isabel is the wife of Harry Arnold, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and they have four children, Judd, Elsie, Harriet and Edgar. Fred is operating the home farm for his mother. Mary gave her hand in marriage to Frank Boyd, of Grand River, and they have a daughter, Louise, ten years of age. Ralph, who is farming near Pleasanton, married Laura Warrington and they have a son, Joseph. Bessie is the wife of William J. Stearns, of Salesville, Montana, by whom she has two children, Robert and Elizabeth. Thomas, who is living in Billings, Montana, married Miss Hattie Carmeau.

Mr. Judd was a democrat in his political belief and stanchly supported the policies and candidates of that party at the polls. He thoroughly identified his interests with those of Decatur county and during the fifty-eight years that he lived here not only witnessed a remarkable growth in prosperity and advance in civilization but also did his part toward bringing about the material and moral development of his community. His widow owns an excellently improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres and in 1914 built a fine residence. She is well known and all who have been brought in contact with her esteem her for her many admirable qualities of character.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014