The life-record of him whose name heads this sketch affords an inspiring example of what may be accomplished by one who, endowed with determination and enterprise and actuated by a high and worthy purpose, seeks to make the most and best of himself and his opportunities.
A native of Plattsburgh, Clarke County, Ohio, he was born October 4, 1854, to Boliver and Rose Ann (Markley) Judy. His paternal grand parents were John Judy and Ann née Hull, the last named being a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Budd) Hull. The Hulls, who came originally from Scotland, removed to Clarke County, Ohio, from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, whither they probably went from New Jersey. The branch of the Judy family to which our subject belongs immigrated to America from Basle, Switzerland, and sprung from the Tschudi von Glarns. Martin Judy, his great-great-grandfather, landed at Philadel phia in 1769, at which time John Judy, Arthur's great-grandfather, was ten years old. The family first settled at a place known as York Grade, on the south branch of the Potomac river in Virginia, whence Martin Judy, probably accompanied by his family, went to Kentucky, and with others founded the town of Mount Sterling. Thence, in 1798, he moved into what became Greene County, Ohio (then in the Northwest Territory), where he owned farms and built a grist-mill. In 1810 he changed his place of residence to the eastern part of Clarke County, Ohio, where his son, also named John, was married and lived many years, and where Arthur's father was born. Boliver Judy was a store-keeper in the hamlet of Plattsburgh in early life. When the railroad came there he built a large store and warehouse and continued in business there until his removal to Illinois, where he settled on a farm near Sumner in 18%. In order to secure better school privileges for his children he removed with his family to Merom, Indiana, where he resided till the close of the War of the Rebellion and where his wife died.
Thence he went to Independence, Missouri, whence after a few months the family returned to Lawrence County, Illinois, and soon afterward went back to Ohio. Arthur's father and mother were members of the Christian Church, as were also his grandfathers' families on both sides. His great-grandfather, who was a Freewill Baptist, was a frequent speaker in church meetings and conspicuous for his influence as a peacemaker in the church. This trait was largely inherited by his son, our subject's grandfather, who was frequently summoned from his bed when the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad was building to act as arbitrator in the quarrels of the Irish workmen. Though devout Christians and faithful to their church obligations, these several generations of the Judys were characterized by catholicity of spirit and liberality of views, and were all persons of considerable local prominence. With the exception of one term, during which he learned his A, B, Cs, Arthur attended public school but two winters. While a lad he studied in private schools and also spent the greater part of a year in the preparatory school of Union Christian College at Merom , Indiana. He then went to Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and completed the full preparatory and college courses, occupying seven years, with the exception of a few months' absence on account of ill health from overwork. He was graduated with the degree of A. B. in June, 1877. As a boy he was studious and quick to learn and naturally took to books. He was fond of the woods and fields; loved out-of-door sports and was trained to climb and ride and shoot. Though in many respects diffident and timid he yet enjoyed venturesome sports. He was peaceably inclined, but was not cowardly when a youthful fight was the only alternative. At school he was largely dependent upon his own resources for money, his father not being in circumstances to greatly aid him , but this fact did not prove a social drawback, since many of the leading students were similarly situated and made their way largely by manual labor. On the contrary, he came to regard this as one of the most valuable features of his education, and could regret it only because it led to overexertion, causing the prostration which he suffered in his Sophomore year. While not partial to any class of studies he had a fondness for literature, and greatly enjoyed the Lake School of English poets, Shakespeare and Milton yielding him peculiar delight. His literature and philosophy teacher was Professor G. Stanley Hall, now president of Clarke University. In the sciences he was under the instruction of Professor Edward W. Claypole, now of Buchtel College, and a most skillful teacher. At Antioch College young Judy was brought under the personal influence of Horace Mann, its first president and the great reformer of our public school system, a circum stance which had much to do in shaping his subsequent course. ?? and the men and women who became his chief supporters, leaders among Unitarians, established in the college an esprit de corps, which was in the highest degree conducive to strong and elevated thought, to a progressive and catholic spirit and to manly and democratic tendencies. And Mr. Judy counts himself most happy that his moral, intellectual, social and religious traits were molded under the influence of these large-hearted and brave-minded leaders. His college vacations were spent in and about Plattsburgh working in a store or on farms, and after his graduation he taught a country school for eight months at a salary of forty dollars per month. This was to him a most valuable experience; and he recalls with special delight his morning and evening walks of three miles through rich fields and noble forests, which intensi fied his love of nature and that fondness for out-of-door life which has always characterized him. In the fall of 1878 he entered Harvard Divinity School, where his earlier lines were still further strengthened and developed under the ripe scholarship and broad outlook of those masterful teachers, Drs. E. A. Abbott, C. C. Everett and C. H. Toy. He employed the latter part of his second year there as a preacher at Marshfield, Massachusetts. In recurring to this he recounts with a smile, that his liveliest recollection is that on one occasion, on a Monday morning, a good mother in Israel called him into her house and exclaimed, “ Oh, Mr. Judy, how I did like your text yesterday!" and there stopped. Before his graduation in 1881 he had been invited to preach before the First Unitarian Church of Davenport, Iowa, which he did, with the result that he was asked to become its pastor. He entered upon his duties in September of that year and has continued without interruption (except from February to September, 1890, when he was given leave of absence to recuperate his health shattered by la grippe) to the present time-1894. His pastorate has been highly successful, and under his leadership his church has greatly prospered. The parish now numbers some three hundred families. The membership of the Sunday-school has increased from less than fifty to two hundred and seventy-five; the congregation has more than doubled, as has also the revenue of the church. During 1885 he began to conduct Unitarian services in Moline, Illinois, preaching there on Sunday evening and attending to parochial duties one or two days in the week, and continued his labors there until July, 1887. During that time a church was organized and a lot on which to erect a house of worship was purchased. In December, 1891, he issued the first number of “Religion, Old and New," an eight-page parish monthly, which contains, besides a sermon and items of parish news, a department devoted to matters of general, local and denominational interest. In January, 1894, Rev. L. A. Harvey of Des Moines, Iowa, became joint editor and publisher of the paper, which is now issued in three editions one for Davenport, one for Des Moines and the third for the State at large and has a circulation of some thirteen hundred copies. Other of Mr. Judy's sermons have been published in “Unity," published in Chicago, and still others by the Unity Publishing Company in tract form, one of which, entitled "I Shall not Pass This Way Again,” has been widely circulated. He is prominent in the councils of western Unitarians, and in 1885 when a vigorous controversy arose over the test of admission to the Western Conference he took a decided stand with those who believed that the test should be purely ethical and in no wise theological, thus allowing every person who stood for. "truth, righteousness and love” to enroll himself in the fellowship if he desired. In 1892 he was tendered the secretaryship of the Western Unitarian Conference, with headquarters in Chicago. The same tender was made in the summer of 1893, but he did not see his way clear to accept it. In religious matters he takes the broadest and most progressive views; and his faith, which has been a matter of gradual growth, has been attained under no hampering restrictions of a creed, but from a free and fearless investigation of the utmost that has been disclosed by science and philosophy on both sides of religious questions.
In his political sentiments, as in religious opinions, he is thoroughly independent, shifting his allegiance to that party which in its men and measures promises to be most serviceable to the State, and always casting his ballot for the candidate best qualified for office regardless of his party badge. Believing that one of a minister's first duties is to be a faithful citizen he has always been active in public enterprises. Soon after settling in Davenport he was made a member of the Daven port Boat Club, and served as its president three years. During that time, at his suggestion, a river carnival was held under the direction of the Boat Club and Canoe Club; and when a year later the Davenport River Carnival Association was formed, he became one of its most active members. He was one of the promoters of the Davenport Asso ciated Charities and has been a member of its council since its formation. Acting with other public-spirited persons he organized the Davenport Outing Club and has been president of its board of trustees since its organization. He is a member of the Academy of Sciences and has served it as a trustee. He has also been chosen a trustee of the Library Association and an honorary member of the Business Men's Association.
Mr. Judy has traveled extensively throughout his own and foreign countries and has a far-reaching knowledge of men and affairs. He is a close student, a clear-headed, logical thinker and an earnest and impressive speaker and writer. In all his varied relations his demeanor is that of a courteous, affable, dignified and high-minded gentleman; and wherever known, he is universally esteemed.
BIOGRAPHIES