Biography - LEWIS JUDD

One of the pioneer settlers of Carlinville, who was a prominent factor in the commercial and industrial development of the town, was the late Lewis Judd. He was born in Fulton, New York, on the 3d of March, 1825, and was a son of Merritt R. and Sallie (Rush) Judd, the father being a native of Connecticut and the mother of the state of New York. They were the parents of four sons: Lewis, George, James and Theodore. The latter, now the only surviving member of the family, is a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Merritt R. Judd was a local Methodist preacher. He came to Macoupin county about 1850 and for many years thereafter conducted services in the old Methodist church here as well as in the surrounding country. While preaching in Brighton, he acquired a farm near by in the cultivation of which he engaged for many years. He finally removed to Carlinville, engaging in the lumber business with his son Lewis, and there he was residing at the time of his demise in 1886, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife passed away in 1863, when she was sixty-five years old. Mr. Judd always took an active interest in all political affairs, giving his support to the democratic party. The family is of English extraction and dates back to Colonial days, its various members always having been loyal, patriotic citizens.

Lewis Judd was reared in Fulton county, New York, obtaining his education in the seminary at Cazenovia, that state. After his marriage he came to Illinois, locating in Edwardsville, where he studied medicine under Dr. Edward Weer, who at that time was a well known and prominent physician in that section. Later he practiced with Dr. Weer for a time, meeting with very good success, his professional future appearing to be quite promising, when at the earnest solicitation of his brother George he gave up his career as a physician to engage in business. Mr. George Judd, formerly superintendent of construction of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, by which company Lewis Judd had also at one time been employed, was then freight and ticket agent at- Carlinville, being the first person to fill that position here. Recognizing the commercial possibilities the town afforded, he was most anxious to avail himself of them and was desirous to have his brother join him. They started the first lumber yard in Carlinville in 1855, but after operating it for a time George Judd disposed of his interest to his father, the business being continued under the firm name of Lewis & M. R. Judd. In 1873 the father retired, selling his holdings to his son Lewis, who was identified with the business for twenty years thereafter. Owing to the state of his health in 1893 Mr. Judd was forced to withdraw from commercial activities and sold his lumber yard to Daniel MacNett. In less than a year thereafter he passed away on the 3d of February, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine years.

Mr. Judd was married in Cleveland, Oswego county, New York, in July, 1852, to Miss Sarahette Elizabeth Martin, a daughter of Christopher and Martha (Johnson) Martin. The father, a veteran of the war of 1812, was a native of Vermont whence he came by private conveyance to the state of New York in the early part of the century. He was a local Methodist preacher and built the first church of that denomination in Cleveland, New York, where he resided for many years. He passed away at the age of eighty-four years, while the mother reached an age of eighty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born five children, one son and four daughters. The former, Otis Martin, was unmarried when he died in his early manhood. The daughters of the family were: Martha, Sarahette Elizabeth, Mary Elvira and Sophia. The second in order of birth, who later became Mrs. Lewis Judd, was born and reared in Cleveland, New York, where, after the completion of her education, she very successfully engaged in the millinery business until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Judd came west on their wedding tour; taking the boat at Buffalo they came to Chicago by way of the lakes, thence by stage to Brighton, where they visited his parents. They subsequently went to Alton and later to Edwardsville, where they continued to reside until they came to Carlinville. Mr. and Mrs. Judd were the parents of two daughters, Martha Elvira and Elizabeth M., both of whom grew up at Carlinville. After the completion of the public school course they attended Blackburn University.

Miss Martha, later going to the Wesleyan Female College at Cincinnati, and Miss Elizabeth to the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. They had the misfortune to lose their mother while yet in their early womanhood, her demise occurring in 1872, at the age of forty-six.

Miss Martha Judd is an active member of the American Women’s League, having been one of the organizers of the Carlinville chapter, of which she is a charter member. When they were ready to erect their building, she donated the land for the purpose, it being a portion of the old family homestead. She is also an earnest and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the work of which organization she always assists in forwarding.

In matters religious both Mr. and Mrs. Judd affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which denomination they had been raised. The Carlinville of today bears little resemblance to the village they located in during the ’50s. When Mr. Judd built his family residence on East Main street, it was in a section from which the timber had been cleared but two or three years previously, and he built the first sidewalk from there down to the courthouse square. Mr. Judd lived to witness many of the changes that he had helped to bring about, seeing the old frame business buildings give way to substantial, modern structures, beautiful churches erected and attractive residences built. Probably his greatest delight was in witnessing the inauguration of an excellent public school system. He had always been a great student and took an active interest in educational matters, having served for some years during the pioneer days as school commissioner, in which capacity he handled large sums of money. He was a man of modest manner, quiet and unobtrusive; yet in his unassuming way he did much for the public welfare; his high ideals, business standards and incorruptible integrity assured him to be held in high esteem and he is mourned sincerely.

Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 481-483.