Guilford Dudley.—Among the native sons of Topeka who are taking rank among the foremost business men of that city, is Mr. Dudley, owner and manager of the Dudley Lumber Company, the only exclusively wholesale lumber company in Topeka. He is a son of Guilford and Samantha V. (Otis) Dudley, to whom he was born Feb. 9, 1879. Guilford Dudley, the father, was one of the pioneer bankers of Topeka where he founded the Dudley Bank, and conducted the same for thirty-five years. He came to Kansas in 1855, and after a brief residence in Lawrence, he removed to Topeka, where he became one of that city's most prominent citizens and substantial business men. The father's death occurred in 1905, and that of the mother in December, 1908, her death due to having been accidentally struck by an automobile in New York City at that time. She was a native of Danby Four Corners, Vt.

Guilford Dudley was educated in a private school in Topeka up to the time he entered Washburn College, in which he graduated in the class of 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1902 he graduated in Yale College after having spent two years there. Returning to Topeka he became a salesman in the W. A. L. Thompson Hardware establishment where he remained one year; then for about two years and a half he was in the employ of a large Chicago wholesale hardware company, the latter part of which employment was as a traveling salesman. From 1905 to 1907 he was employed in the Capital National Bank of Topeka, then in 1907 he purchased an interest in the Remly Lumber Company of Topeka, of which he became vice-president and treasurer, acting as such until Jan. 1, 1910, when Mr. Dudley purchased the remaining interests in the Remly Lumber Company and became its sole owner. Prior to that time the business had been conducted as an incorporation but when Mr. Dudley became the individual owner of the business, the corporation necessarily ceased to exist and he then changed the name to the Dudley Lumber Company. It is one of the large lumber concerns of Topeka, and as Mr. Dudley is its sole owner, he now performs all the functions of its former full complement of officials. The business of the Dudley Lumber Company is entirely wholesale in character. Its general offices are located in the Columbian Building.

Mr. Dudley was married Feb. 12, 1908, to Miss Hazel Fassler, the only child of Armin Fassler, Esq., a prominent and well known citizen of Topeka. Mr. Dudley is a member of the Topeka Country and Commercial clubs, and fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is the owner of much valuable improved real estate in Topeka and its vicinity, among which may be mentioned a fine farm of 300 acres adjoining the city on the south side. It is a portion of this farm which forms the beautiful grounds of the Country Club and which is operated under a lease.