Ira Fudge

As printed in 1900

IRA FUDGE.

Deeply engraved on the pages of pioneer history of Preble county is the name of Fudge, for the family of which our subject is a representative has long resided in this section of the state and has borne an important part in the substantial development and material improvement of the county.

Ira Fudge was born January 31, 1851, in Lanier township, on a farm adjoining his present home. Many years before that his grandfather, Jacob Fudge, had taken up his above in this county. He was a native of

Rockingham county, Virginia, and was born December 26, 1779. His father died when he, Jacob, was only three years 'of age, leaving a widow with two little sons — Jacob and David. She, however, again married and the family removed to Kentucky, where they resided until Jacob was fourteen years of age. In the year 1793 they emigrated to the wilds of Warren county, Ohio, locating where Lebanon, the county seat, is now situated. In 1799 they settled on Clear creek, near Springboro, in the same county, and a few years later Jacob and his brother, having attained the adult age, started out in life for themselves. They made their way through the forests to what is now Lanier township, Preble county, and purchased five hundred acres of land on Twin creek, on sections 34 and 35. This tract is now owned and occupied by Jacob Urich and Ira Fudge, of this review, and is as rich and fertile a portion as can be found in any part of the state. When the purchase was made, Jacob Fudge went to Cincinnati to make payment and receive the patent for the land, transacting his business in the upper story of a log building. The city at that time was a small village on the very outskirts of civilization. Mr. Fudge then refused an offer of real estate that would have proven a most valuable investment in the course of time, but he preferred his broad acres in the woods on Twin creek to property in the little village. Later he exchanged land with his brother until he became the owner of the entire fivehundred-acre tract. A large part of this land was overllowed nearly every year and he built a large and expensive levee which protects much of it. He was one of the organizers of Preble county and its first sheriff, l ie did not, however, seek or desire office — in fact, much preferred to give his attention to other interests. He possessed a retiring disposition, but was industrious and systematic, paying close attention to his own business, and this application, guided by sound judgment, formed the secret of his success. His school privileges were meager, but he was a man of strong intellectuality and good judgment and was most successful in the conduct of his business affairs. In his religious belief he was in accord with the Universalist faith.

Mr. Fudge was married November 14, 1810, to Elizabeth, a daughter of Gasper Potterf, who was a pioneer of Gasper township, which was named in his honor. Mrs. Fudge was born February 10, 1790, in Rockingham county, Virginia, and after their marriage was installed mistress of the little log cabin home, which stood upon a hill, until about 1810. In 1819, however, her husband erected a brick residence, which V'as torn down by her son Jacob about 1879, the brick being used in the construction of the new residence at the foot of the hill. The grandfather of our subject died March 27, 1863, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, but his widow survived him until the 3d of February, 1869, when she, too, was called to the home beyond. Their thirteen children all reached mature years and were married with one exception, and there were about seventy grandchildren.

Franklin N. Fudge, one of the children, was the father of our subject. Plaving arrived at years of maturity, he married Miss Susanna Mar key, the wedding taking place on the 30th of September, 1849. She was born in Frederick county, Maryland, August 5, 1830, and when seven years of age was brought to Preble county. Franklin Fudge, however, was a native of this county, his birth having occurred in Lanier township,

December 15, 1826. To him and his wife were born the following children: Ira, whose name introduces this review; Ada, born May 9, 1852, and is the wife of J. W. Kinsey, a farmer of Lanier township; Eliza Ann, who was born June 27, 1854, and became the wife of V. J. Drayer, whom she left with three children at her death on the 3d of June, 1893; Nancy, who is the wife of Id. C. Butterbaugh, of Clay township, Montgomery county, by whom he had six children, four yet living; Samuel, a farmer of West Alexandria, who has had five children, four of whom survive; Laura Elizabeth, who married Daniel Ulrich, of Lanier township, by whom she has eight children; Amos, who is living on the home farm; and Susanna, the wife of Lorin Brubaker, of Lanier township, by whom she has two children. The father of these children died February 6, 1896, but the mother is still living and is yet active in body and mind.

Ira Fudge received fair educational privileges in the public schools and was reared to the work of the home farm, assisting his father in the cultivation of the fields until twenty-four years of age. He has always made farming his life work and is to-day the owner of a very valuable property, consisting of two hundred and twenty-eight acres of choice farming land and forty acres of timber land. In 1885 he erected a beautiful and commodious brick residence, and the other improvements upon the place are in keeping with his home. He built an extensive barn, sixty-four by forty-nine feet, with eighteen-foot posts, and thus secured ample shelter for grain and stock. His residence is octagonal and is surrounded by a beautiful lawn and shade trees. There are two fine fruit orchards and fertile fields under a high state of cultivation. He spares no effort or expense to make his home as good as any in this fertile section and has indeed an attractive and valuable property. He raises corn and wheat and also makes a specialty of the cultivation of tobacco, raising annually fifteen acres of that crop. He breeds polled Durham cattle and thoroughbred horses and sells considerable stock. He also raises and sells about forty Poland China hogs annually and much of his stock could be registered.

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wife of M. M. Brubaker, of Winchester; Ada N., who is a student in the Winchester ! high school and is pursuing a musical education; one daughter who died in infancy; and Jesse L., a comely boy of thirteen years, who is a diligent student in the public; schools.

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He belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of the county and is a representative farmer who in the active walks of business life has ever been honorable and upright, commanding the respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.