James R. Fudge
From "Pencilings From the Senate" (Ohio), published in 1852, the following is taken: "John Fudge represents the counties of Fayette, Clinton and Greene in the Senate of Ohio. He is a Whig, and physically the largest man in the Senate, weighing 250 pounds. He is a hale man, looking young, and not yet gray, although 55 years old. He has filled a seat in the Legislature several times, and as a Senator is something of a model."
The Hon. John Fudge, thus mentioned, was the great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical sketch. He was a Virginian, born in Botetourt county, in the Old Dominion, April 13, 1796, and was one of the early settlers in this section of Ohio, locating at a point on Caesars creek six miles southeast of Xenia, in this county, where he purchased a considerable tract of land and where he erected a tannery, carrying on the operations of the latter industry in addition to farming. For many years he served as justice of the peace in and for his home township, was a member of the board of county commissioners for years and in 1852 was appointed by Governor Bebb an associate judge for this judicial district. As noted in the above "Pencilings From the Senate," he served several terms in the Ohio General Assembly, both in the House and in the Senate. He served as administrator for something like three hundred estates and was for many years an office bearer in the Methodist church. Judge Fudge died suddenly, death coming from a paralytic stroke on September 15, 1868. He had been three times married. His first wife was Catherine Sellers, of the neighboring county of Warren, who bore him five children. His second wife was Temperance Spahr, who died two years after her marriage, leaving one child, a son, Morgan Fudge, who became editor of the Bellbrook Moon. On February 25, 1846, Judge Fudge married Susan Barnett. This last marriage was without issue.
One of the children born to Judge John and Catherine (Sellers) Fudge was Joseph H. Fudge, who was born on February 15, 1824, in this county, and who married Cinderella Sutton, who also was born in this county. August 17, 1826, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Sutton. Joseph H. Fudge spent his life in agricultural pursuits in New Jasper township, dying at his home there on April 26. 1888. His widow survived him for nearly three years, her death occurring on February 16, 1891. Of the children born to their union, John W. Fudge was born on the old paternal farm on March 23, 1846, and there grew to manhood, and continued actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement and removal to Xenia, where he is now living. John W. Fudge is a Republican and in 1895 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners. He was re-elected and became president of the board which erected the new court house at Xenia, tearing down the old edifice which his grandfather, Judge Fudge, had aided in building while on the board of commissioners more than a half century before. The new structure was erected at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars and Mr. Fudge made several trips to New York City and other places in search of information that would prove beneficial in the erection of the new temple of justice. Mr. Fudge also served as trustee of New Jasper township for fourteen years, in 1890 was elected real-estate appraiser and in 1895 was elected infirmary director, an office in wliich he served for three years. On June 26, 1866, in New Jasper township, John W. Fudge was united in marriage to Amanda J. Smith, who also was born in that township, daughter of Nelson Smith and wife, and to that union were born five children, four of whom are still living, namely: William, a farmer, of New Jasper township; James R., the subject of this biographical sketch; Charles N., who is operating the old home place one mile south of Jasper, and Ray S., who is also living on a farm in New Jasper township. The mother of these children died on October 31, 19 15. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is her husband, and their sons were reared in that faith.
James R. Fudge was born on the old home place in New Jasper township on December 10, 1869. He supplemented the schooling he received in the local schools by a course at Valparaiso University in Indiana, and at the age of nineteen vears began teaching school, in the meanwhile giving his attention to the farm during the summers. For eleven years Mr. Fudge continued teaching school, during all but one year of this period being thus engaged in his home township. In 1892 he married and established his home on the farm, where he continued to make his residence until 1907, in which year he bought the William Anderson farm of one hundred and six acres on the Jamestown pike, in his home township, and there has since made his home. Mr. Fudge is a member of the Grange. Politically, he is a Republican and for ten years served as a member of the New Jasper township board of education.
On May 25, 1892, James R. Fudge was united in marriage to Mary L. Brown, who also was born in New Jasper township, daughter of Cyrus and Mary E. (Smith) Brown, both of whom are still living on their farm in that township, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Miriam, who was born on July 3. 1896, and who on August 1, 1917, married Paul Turnbull, who had been a teacher in the schools at St. Marys, West Virginia, and who is now serving in the National Army, first sergeant of Company F, Three Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in camp at Camp Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. Fudge are members of the New Jasper Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Fudge is one of the stewards. He also has served as assistant superintendent of the Sunday school and is now serving as recording steward for the New Jasper circuit of the local conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, following in that office his father, who served in that capacity for more than thirty years.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918