1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

U. S. Judd, a retired farmer who is now spending the aftermath of many years, of successful industry in quiet retirement at McCune, is one of the earliest settlers of Osage township, where he took up his residence in the year 1868, a short time after he had returned from his military service in the south, where he was one of the valiant soldiers for the Union. He was living in Illinois when the war began, and he enlisted at Springfield in September, 1861, in Company G, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Bates and Colonel Wickersham. They were in camp at Camp Butler, Springfield, later went to Quincy, and then to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, and from there to Mt. Vernon, Missouri. They were a part of General Steele's command and took part in various operations in the Mississippi valley up to and including the siege and capture of Vicksburg; were then sent south, and took part in the Red River expedition; and toward the close of the war marched across the Texas plains to San Antonio, where they remained during the first months of the reconstruction period. They were then sent to Galveston and up north, and received honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. Judd is a native of Canada, having been born near Toronto, March 20, 1837, a son of Evi and Louise Judd, both natives of Canada. When he was a baby he was brought by his parents to the United States, their first location being in Ohio, and then in Sangamon county, Illinois, near Springfield, where they were quite early residents. The father was a farmer, and died in Sangamon county at the age of eighty. Politically he was a Jackson Democrat. There were five children in the family, and one other besides Mr. Judd is living, namely, Susan Ramsey, of St. Louis.

Mr. Judd was reared on the old Illinois farm, and that he grew up among pioneer conditions is shown by the fact that he attended one of the old-fashioned log-cabin schools, one that had slab seats, a fireplace, and a broad plank against the wall for a desk for the older pupils, with such other meager educational equipments as were then in vogue. After the war he returned to Illinois, and was married near Springfield to Miss Martha Tibbs, and they have spent a happy married life of nearly forty years. Her father, James Tibbs, was one of the early settlers of Sangamon county, which will be remembered as the home of Lincoln, and Mrs. Judd in her childhood often played with the children of the great emancipator. Her father and Lincoln were warm friends. Her mother was Durinda Short, who was born at Springfield, her parents being among the first settlers in that vicinity. James Tibbs and wife had the following children: Margaret, Mary, Mrs. Judd, Lazetta, and Janette, but Mrs. Judd and Mary are the only ones now living. Mrs. Judd's father died at the age of thirty-three, leaving his widow and five children, and his wife died at seventy-six. He was a Republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Christian church.

In 1868 Mr. Judd and wife took a journey to Kansas in a prairie schooner, camping out at night, and were twenty-one days on the road. They located in Osage township, four miles north of McCune, and for many years were successfully engaged in farming there. Mr. Judd developed two fine farms of eighty acres each, with two residences, two orchards, and all other accessories. After working out a prosperous career he finally retired from active affairs and gave the management of his farms into the hands of his sons, he and his wife moving to McCune, where they have a beautiful home in which to spend the remaining years of their lives in comfort and ease, as they have truly deserved from their endeavors in the past. Mr. and Mrs. Judd lost a child at the age of fourteen months, and a daughter died at the age of eighteen, she being just at the entrance to womanhood and a popular and charming young lady of many noble and endearing characteristics. They have five children living: Edwin is on one of the farms; Albert, of Carthage, Missouri; Maud Groff, of Carthage; Mary Scott, of Neosho county, Kansas; and Charley, on one of the farms. Mr. Judd, although formerly a Douglas Democrat, is now in the ranks of the Republican party. He is a member of Osage Post No. 156, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Christian church.