it has already been observed that the earlier generations of the ludington family, in colonial days, were prolific; as, indeed, the ludingtons of the old country are said to have been. in revolutionary days, comfort, elisha, stephen, and other collateral relatives of his were the comrades of henry ludington in the war and his neighbors in dutchess and the adjoining counties. their descendants, and the descendants of those of colonel ludington’s twelve children who married and had issue, have been numerous, and many of them have made their mark in contemporary affairs in various parts of the land. it is not the purpose of this work, nor would its compass permit it, to give any detailed chronicle of all the ramifications of the family. brief notices of a few of its members follow. let us first deal with some of a collateral line.
colonel henry ludington married, as already noted, his cousin abigail ludington. her brother, comfort ludington, who has been mentioned as a soldier in the revolution, had a son named zalmon,[216] who in turn had a son also named zalmon. the last named was a soldier in the war of 1812; in 1818 he went to virginia, and four years later married lovina hagan, of preston county. three of his children are still living, namely: mrs. m. l. patrick, of louisville, kentucky; dr. horace ludington, of omaha, nebraska; and general marshall i. ludington, u. s. a. another, colonel elisha h. ludington, u. s. a., died in 1891. zalmon ludington himself lived to be more than ninety years of age, and at the age of eighty-eight was able to make an important public address in the city of philadelphia.
one of the sons of zalmon ludington, elisha h. ludington, entered the united states army as a captain in 1861, did important field service with the army of the potomac in 1863, being engaged in the battles of chancellorsville and gettysburg, and for “gallant and meritorious service” in the latter conflict was brevetted a major on july 2, 1863. on march 13, 1865, he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel “for meritorious services during the war,” and also colonel on the same date “for faithful and meritorious services in his department.” he served at washington and elsewhere as assistant inspector-general until his retirement for disability on march 27, 1879, and died on january 21, 1891.
frederick ludington,
son of col. henry ludington.
marshall i. ludington was born in somerset county, pennsylvania, on july 4, 1839, and entered the army as captain of volunteers and acting[217] quartermaster-general on october 20, 1862. like his brother he served in the chancellorsville and gettysburg campaigns, in the wilderness, and at petersburg, and then became chief quartermaster at washington. in january, 1867, he became major and quartermaster in the regular army, and served in various places and was successively promoted until in 1898 he was made brigadier-general and quartermaster-general of the united states army, with headquarters at washington. for several years he had been acting quartermaster-general, but had not enjoyed full authority to organize the department according to his own ideas. consequently, when he became quartermaster-general, only four days before the declaration of war with spain, he was confronted with a task of peculiar difficulty, for which he had not been able to make satisfactory preparations such as had been made in other branches of the service. before he retired from the office, however, he had so perfected the organization and equipment as to make the department a model which military experts from europe were glad to study. he served until july 4, 1903, when he was retired under the law for age, with the rank of major-general, u. s. a. since his retirement he has lived at skaneateles, n. y.
mention has been made of frederick ludington, son of colonel henry ludington, who with his brother lewis engaged for a time in general merchandising at frederickstown, or kent, n. y. he married susannah griffith, and among their children[218] was a son to whom they gave the name of harrison, in honor of the general who was just then winning distinction in the united states army and who afterward became president. harrison ludington was born at kent, new york, on july 31, 1812, and served for a time as a clerk in his father’s and uncle’s store. in 1838 he removed to milwaukee, wisconsin, in company with his uncle, lewis ludington, and there engaged in general merchandising, in partnership with his uncle lewis and later with his younger brother, nelson. they also had extensive interests in the lumber trade. withdrawing from their firm, he formed a partnership with messrs. d. wells and a. g. van schaick, in the same business, with extensive lumber mills on green bay. he was for many years conspicuously identified with the development of the city of milwaukee, and as the proprietor of a “general store” is said to have purchased the first bag of wheat ever brought to market at that place. he served for two terms as an alderman of milwaukee, and in 1872-75 was mayor of that city. his admirable administration of municipal affairs fixed the attention of the whole state upon him, and as a result he was elected governor for the two years 1876 and 1877. he filled that office with distinguished success, but at the end of his single term retired from public life and resumed his manufacturing pursuits, in which he continued until his death, which occurred at milwaukee on june 17, 1891.
hon. harrison ludington,
governor of wisconsin, 1876-1878.
grandson of col. henry ludington.
george ludington, second son of frederick ludington,[219] and grandson of colonel henry ludington, was born in putnam county and spent his life there. he married emeline c. travis. for some years he occupied and conducted the store which had formerly been managed by his father and uncle, as already related, and afterward became cashier of the bank of kent, later known as the putnam county national bank, a place which he filled until his death.
a great-grandson of colonel henry ludington, through his son frederick and the latter’s daughter caroline, is lewis s. patrick, formerly in government service at washington but now and for many years living at marinette, wisconsin. to his painstaking and untiring labors must be credited the collection of a large share of the data upon which this memoir of his ancestor is founded.
old store at kent, built by frederick and lewis ludington about 1808
sibyl ludington, colonel ludington’s oldest daughter, who married henry ogden, a lawyer of catskill, n. y., (elsewhere called edward and edmund,) went to live at unadilla, n. y., and bore four sons and two daughters. the distinguished career of one of these sons may well be told in a quotation from the “new york observer” of october 18, 1855, as follows:
major edmund a. ogden, of the united states army, who recently died of cholera at fort riley, kansas territory, was born at catskill, n. y., feb. 20th, 1810. soon after, he removed[220] to unadilla, n. y., where he remained until he entered the united states military academy. on graduating, he was attached as brevet second lieutenant to the first regiment of infantry, then stationed at prairie du chien. he was subsequently appointed a first lieutenant in the eighth infantry, where he served until appointed a captain in the quartermaster’s department, in which corps he remained until his death. he served with credit and distinction through the black hawk, florida and mexican wars, and was created a major by brevet, for meritorious conduct in the last named of these wars.
his services, ever faithfully performed, have been arduous and responsible. he has disbursed for the government millions of the public money; he has labored hard, and always to the purpose, and after giving to his country five and twenty years of hard and useful service, he has died poor.
for the last six years previous to last spring, major ogden was stationed at fort leavenworth, where he has rendered important service to the army in his capacity of quartermaster. from this post he was ordered to california, and he removed with his family to new york with the expectation of embarking on the 20th of april last, when his orders were suddenly suspended, and he was sent back to assist in outfitting the expedition against the sioux indians. he was afterwards charged with the arduous duty of erecting, within three months, barracks, quarters and stables for a regiment of troops at fort riley—a point about 150 miles west of leavenworth, and which he had himself selected as a suitable place for a government post, when stationed at[221] fort leavenworth. this place was not settled, and was an almost perfect wilderness. he took with him about five hundred mechanics and laborers, with tools and provisions, and commenced his labors. in a new and unsettled country, so destitute of resources, many obstacles were encountered, but just as they were being overcome, and the buildings were progressing, cholera in its most fatal and frightful form made its appearance among the men, from two to four of them dying every day. far removed from homes and kindred, and accustomed to depend upon major ogden for the supply of their daily wants, they turned to him in despair for relief from the pestilence. he labored among them night and day, nursing the sick and offering consolation to the dying. at last the heavy hand of death was laid upon him, and worn out with care, watching and untiring labors, he fell a victim to the disease whose ravages he had in vain attempted to stay.
in the death of this officer the army has lost one who was an ornament to its list; his own corps has lost one of its most efficient members—one whom they appreciated, and whom they delighted to praise. among his associates in the army there is but one sentiment—that of regret for his loss and admiration for his professional and private character, and love for his estimable qualities. his associates in the army are not the only sufferers; but many and many in various parts of the land have lost a warm and true friend, and the country has lost an honest man and a christian soldier.…
in the hour of death, far from all he most loved[222] on earth, he was cheered by his christian hope. his faith was unshaken and enduring, and proved capable of supporting him in that last sad hour. although weak and exhausted, he repeated the lord’s prayer audibly, and said to his friend the chaplain, who was by his side, “tell my dear wife and children to try and meet me in heaven,” and then sank sweetly and quietly to rest.
so died the christian soldier, in the vigor of manhood, and at the post of duty. bound as he was by so many tender ties to this earth, not a murmur escaped his lips, but he met his summons with a cheerful resignation to that providence whose dealings he had recognized through life, and in whom he trusted in death.…
it is interesting to note the evidences of the estimation in which major ogden was held at fort riley by the residents and the men in his employ. the following is an extract from the kansas herald of the 10th:
“the death of major ogden left a deep gloom upon the spirits of all the men, which time does not obliterate. his tender solicitude for the spiritual and bodily welfare of those under him; his unceasing labors with the sick, and his forgetfulness of self in attendance upon others, until he was laid low, have endeared his memory to every one there. and, as a token of affection, they are now engaged in erecting a fine monument which shall mark their appreciation of the departed. the monument, which will be of the native stone of the locality, is to be placed on one of the high promontories at fort riley, and can be seen from many a distant point by those[223] approaching the place. it will bear the following inscription:
“erected to the memory of
brevet major e. a. ogden,
the founder of fort riley;
a disinterested patriot and a generous friend;
a refined gentleman; a devoted husband
and father,
and an exemplary christian.
few men were more respected in their lives, or more lamented in their deaths. as much the victim of duty as of disease, he calmly closed a life, in the public service, distinguished for integrity and faithfulness.
brevet major e. a. ogden,
assistant quartermaster, united states army, departed this life, at fort riley, august 3d, 1855, in the forty-fourth year of his age.
‘and i heard a voice saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the lord from henceforth. yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.’”
home of the late lewis ludington, son of colonel ludington, at carmel, n. y., built in 1855
a younger brother of major edmund ogden was richard ludington ogden, who became a captain in[224] the united states army, and was an extensive and adventurous traveler.
lewis ludington,
son of col. henry ludington.
(from portrait by frank b. carpenter.)
the sixth son and youngest child of colonel henry ludington was lewis ludington, who was born in fredericksburgh on june 25, 1786. at the age of twenty he engaged with his elder brother frederick in conducting a general store near their home. a few years later he married polly townsend, the daughter and oldest child of samuel townsend and his wife keturah crosby. the townsends had come to dutchess county many years before from long island, and polly townsend’s great-grandfather, elihu townsend, settled on a farm in south east precinct, close to the westchester county line. he died about 1804, at the age of 102 years, and was able to walk about the yard six weeks before his death. for several years after their marriage lewis and polly townsend ludington lived in a cottage near the ludington homestead at fredericksburgh, or kent, as it was then renamed. then, in the spring of 1816, they removed to the village of carmel, where soon after lewis ludington bought property which is still owned by members of the family. in the fall of 1855 he completed and occupied the house which is still the family homestead. the wood of which this house was built was cut on lands owned by mr. ludington in wisconsin, was sawed in his mills at oconto in that state, and was shipped from green bay to buffalo in the lake schooner lewis ludington. this circumstance suggests the fact that lewis[225] ludington was strongly identified with business interests in wisconsin. he went west in the fall of 1838, in company with his nephew, harrison ludington, already mentioned, and harvey burchard, of carmel, n. y. they visited milwaukee, which was then a mere village, and during that winter made several long trips on horseback through the interior of wisconsin, for the purpose of selecting government lands. they purchased extensive tracts, largely with a view to the lumber trade, and in 1839 they formed at milwaukee the general mercantile firm of ludington, burchard & co., of which lewis ludington was the eldest and harrison ludington the youngest member. a year or two later burchard retired and the firm became ludington & co., harrison’s younger brother nelson being taken into it. nelson ludington, by the way, was afterward president of the fifth national bank of chicago, and for many years was at the head of large and successful lumbering and manufacturing interests and was prominent in commercial life in chicago. for nearly twenty years lewis ludington was the head of the firm of ludington & co., which was one of the foremost in milwaukee, and which conducted what was for those days a business of great magnitude. the firm also had lumber mills at oconto and docks at milwaukee. about 1843, lewis ludington bought a tract of land in columbia county, wisconsin, and in july of the following year laid out thereon the city of columbus. for many years he personally[226] directed and encouraged the development of the new community, which grew to be a city of considerable population and wealth.
thus for almost a quarter of a century mr. ludington conducted a number of enterprises in wisconsin, enjoying at all times the respect and confidence of those who knew him and ranking among the best representative citizens of the two states with which he was identified. he was a whig in politics, and exerted much influence in party councils, especially opposing the extension of slavery, but would never accept public office, though frequently urged to do so. he died on september 3, 1857, at kenosha, wisconsin, and his remains were interred in the family lot in raymond hill cemetery, at carmel, n. y.
charles henry ludington,
grandson of col. henry ludington.
the fifth child of lewis ludington is charles henry ludington, who was born at carmel, n. y., on february 1, 1825. among the schools which he attended in boyhood was one conducted in the former home of “peter parley” at ridgefield, conn. in 1842 he became a clerk in a wholesale dry-goods store in new york, and later was for many years a member of a leading firm in that same business—the firm of lathrop, ludington & co., at first on cortlandt street, and afterward on park row. a considerable portion of the business of this firm was with the southern states, but a few years before the civil war its name was published in the notorious “black-list” of the pro-slavery secessionists, as an “abolitionist” concern, and as a result all trade with[227] that section of the country was ended. the “black-list” at first comprised only the names of bowen, holmes & co., lathrop, ludington & co., and a few others, but in time was increased until it embraced about forty of the leading houses in wholesale lines in new york, boston, and philadelphia, and was widely published throughout the south, to injure if possible the business of those who, like bowen, holmes & co., “sold their goods but not their principles.” of course the outbreak of the war ended what little trade remained for these houses in the south, but lathrop, ludington & co. more than recouped elsewhere the losses of their southern trade, and before the end of the war had become the third leading firm in that line in new york. mr. ludington was an ardent upholder of the union. unable himself to go to the war as a soldier, he employed and sent a substitute, and his firm contributed large sums for the recruiting and equipping of troops in new york city and in putnam county. retiring in 1868, he has since that time been engaged in various personal enterprises in new york and in the west.
james ludington, the sixth child of lewis ludington, was born at carmel, on april 18, 1827, went to milwaukee in 1843, worked in the establishment of ludington & co., aided his father in founding the town of columbus, and was for a time his father’s resident agent there. later, at milwaukee, he was treasurer of a railroad company and vice-president of the bank of the west at madison, wisconsin. in[228] 1859 he acquired extensive saw-mills at the mouth of the père marquette river, in michigan, and there founded the city of ludington. he died on april 1, 1891.
in addition to the impress thus widely made upon the military, political, business and other history of the united states by members of the family, the name of ludington, in memory of the influence and achievements of those who have borne it, is honorably inscribed upon the maps of no fewer than four of the states. a village of putnam county, at the site of the old homestead of colonial and revolutionary times, bears, as we have seen, the name of ludingtonville—at once a tribute to the ludington family and an unfortunate example of the unhappy american habit, now less prevalent than formerly, of adding “ville” to local names. far better was the bestowal of the simple and sufficient name of ludington upon the lake port in michigan, referred to in the preceding notice of james ludington’s life. the same name is borne by a village in the parish of calcasieu, in southwestern louisiana, while the part the ludington family played in the settlement and upbuilding of the state of wisconsin is commemorated in the name of a village in eau claire county, which retains an old and familiar variant of spelling, luddington.
the quoted tribute to the english ludingtons of former centuries, with which this volume was begun, might well, mutatis mutandis, be recalled at its close for application to the ludingtons of america. the[229] boast of being of “great estate” is worthily matched with the record of having contributed something of substantial value to the common wealth of the great republic, and travels in eastern lands are rivalled with travels and labors in the greater regions of the west; while even wars against the paynim and loyalty to the king did not surpass in merit the war for liberty and independence and loyalty to the intrinsic rights of man. in this view of the case, it is confidently hoped that not only for the sake of family affection, but also for its historical interest, it will be deemed worth the while to have told thus briefly and simply the story of henry ludington.
