FUDGE, James W.

FUDGE, SEAY, STINSON, MARKEY, HIGHLANDS, SLANE, MORTIMORE, ROUSH, BAKER, ROBERTSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 1/23/2014 at 10:15:31

History of Poweshiek County (1911)
By Leonard Fletcher Parker
Page 476

JAMES W. FUDGE

The cultivation of a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres engages the time and attention of James W. Fudge, who was born in Washington county, Virginia, on the 26th of April, 1839.

His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Seay) Fudge, also natives of Virginia. The father, who was a farmer, migrated to Iowa with this family in 1846, locating in the vicinity of Monroe, Jasper county, where he acquired a farm which he cultivated for some years. Here the mother passed away, but the father was living retired in Brownsville, Nebraska, when his demise occurred in 1893. Mr. Fudge was a democrat and both he and his wife were affiliated with the Christian church, in the faith off which denomination they reared their family. Five children were born unto them in the following order: John T., who is a resident of Arkansas; James W., our subject; Mary Elizabeth, who is deceased; Ann Eliza, the widow of a Mr. Stinson of Fort Custer, Montana; and Elvira Jane, the wife of Michael Markey, of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa.

It was in the common schools of his native state that James W. Fudge received his introduction to the rudiments of the common branches, his education being continued in the district schools of Jasper county. When he had acquired such knowledge of the fundamental branches, as was deemed essential to enable him to pursue his vocation, which he had elected should be that of agriculture, he laid aside his text-books and devoted his time and attention to the work of the homestead. From that period until he had attained his majority he worked on the farm under the direction and supervision of his father. In 1862 he responded to his country's call and enlisted as a private in Company E, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he served for three years. He saw much active service and participated in many notable battles, among the latter being the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge and Fort Gibson.

When he received his discharge he returned to Monroe, where he worked for a year at the carpenter trade. At the expiration of that period he went to Madison county, Iowa and farmed for two years. In 1868 he came to Poweshiek county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where he bought one hundred acres of land in the cultivation and improvement of which he immediately engaged. Here he followed general farming with such success that it was possible for him to increase his holdings later by the addition of another eighty acres. Mr. Fudge is now living retired on the farm.

On the 20th of March, 1866, Mr. Fudge was united in marriage to Miss Ann Highlands, a daughter of William and Eleanor (Slane) Highlands. The father was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. In his early manhood Mr. Highlands, who was a farmer, migrated to Coles county, Illinois, where he met the lady who subsequently became his wife. Together with his wife and family he came to Iowa in 1843, settling in the vicinity of the present site of Monroe, having the distinction of being the first settler in Jasper county. He filed on a quarter section of land which he improved and cultivated until his demise; his wife also passed away on the homestead. In his political allegiance he was ever true to the principles of the democracy and served for seven years as a member of the board of supervisors. The church connection of both Mr. and Mrs. Highlands was that of the Presbyterian faith. Their family numbered six, five of whom survive, the order of birth being as follows: Thomas M., who is deceased; Ann, now Mrs. Fudge, who was born in Coles county, Illinois, on the 31st of October, 1839; Elizabeth, a widow of Daniel Mortimore, of Linden, Adair county, Iowa; James R., of Alameda, California; Sarah Jane, the wife of Carry Roush, of Churdan, Greene county, Iowa; and John A., who is a resident of Grant county, Oregon.

Mr. and Mr. Fudge have two daughters and two sons, namely: Vista Jane, the eldest, and who is the wife of John P. Baker, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; John R., a resident of Hand county, South Dakota, who is married and has three children, Ava, Elda and Gerald; Lulu Eleanor, who became the wife of Fred Robertson, of Havelock, Nebraska, and who has three children, Mildred, Russell and Vera; and William T., a resident of Poweshiek county, and who is married and has four children, Ora, Arthur, Glenn and Lela.