- DR. THORWALDSEN JUDD, of Janesville, one of the leading dentists
of Southern Wisconsin,
- established business in this city in June, 1881, opening
an office on the East Side, but in June of the following year
removed to his present location on the northwest corner of Milwaukee
and Franklin streets. He is a son of Dr. Frederick Hill JUDD,
who was born in the town of Bethel, near Danbury, Conn., April
20, 1811. His father was reared and educated in his native State,
and at the age of twenty-one years started out in life for himself.
Going first to Canada, he lived for a time in the family of a
physician, and while there an epidemic of cholera prevailed.
His experience at the time induced him to pursue the study of
medicine, and he soon afterwards entered the Ohio Medical College
at Cincinnati, graduating in 1834. But a little later he settled
at Greenville, Pa., where he engaged in the practice of his profession
for a period of eighteen years, when in 1852 he removed to Rock
Island, Ill., in which city, as at Greenville, he established
an extensive and successful practice.
- During the early days of his medical profession, he was united
in marriage in Mercer Co., Pa.,
- with Miss Harriet J. WAUGH, a sister of the eminent artist,
S. B. WAUGH, whose daughter has become famous. Four children
were born of their union: J. H., wife of John H. KINNEY, of Janesville;
Dr. L. D., of Philadelphia; Dr. Thorwaldsen, of Janesville; and
Ella, who married Phil. MITCHELL, a banker of Rock Island.
- In 1860 Dr. JUDD with two bankers of Rock Island, Ill., formed
a mining company and established
- the town known as Black Hawk, near Central City, Col. This
firm became possessed of large mining interests, in fact the
largest then known in that territory, called the Gregory and
Bobtail Lodes. After several years of successful mining operations
the company sold out to a stock company at considerable advance.
In 1865 Dr. JUDD removed with his family to Brooklyn, N.Y., and
purchased one of the most elegant homes in that city. In 1867,
accompanied by his eldest son, L. D., he went abroad, spending
a year visiting most of the principal places of interest in Europe.
Soon after his return he came to Janesville, and being impressed
with the many advantages of the city and its healthful character,
decided to locate here. He purchase an improved and already beautiful
home and settled down to rest after a lifetime marked with sturdy
toil which had been rewarded with a competence. Here he and his
interesting family gathered about them many warm friends, and
here he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring
July 28, 1877. He was a Christian gentleman, altogether such
an [a] one as could adorn a life of ease, exemplifying before
younger men the profit of an active life, the value of integrity
and the final compensation of steadfastness to the principle.
Those who knew him (and his friends were many) bear tribute to
his memory, to his many virtues, to his clear mind and abounding
goodness. He was a man whose heart never grew old. Venerable
in appearance, his flow of spirits seemed to come from another
life from within, as in truth it did, for his faith, his religious
life was joyous. He permitted no doubts. When he came to die
there was no hurried anxiety to balance eternal accounts; he
was ready.
- Dr. Thorwaldsen JUDD, whose name leads this sketch, is the
only one of the family who did not
- accompany his father to Colorado. He was born in Mercer Co.,
Pa., in 1846, and was but about four years of age when his father
removed with his family to Rock Island, Ill. Later he was sent
to Norwalk, Conn., to attend school, and there remained for about
three years, rejoining his family after their removal to Brooklyn.
His father invested largely in the Eagleton Manufacturing Company
in that city, and gave to his two sons, L. D. and our subject,
an interest of about $75,000 in that business. Several years
later the business was sold to Demas Barnes, and in 1868 the
family came to Janesville. Soon after Thorwaldsen engaged in
the hardware business under the firm name of E. S. BARROWS &
Co., which connection continued about three years, when the partnership
was dissolved and he carried on the business alone, gradually
converting it into the manufacture of gas generators, automatic
machines for generating gas, which he invented and for which
he obtained a patent. In 1872 he went to Philadelphia, and with
his brother, Dr. L. D. JUDD, engaged in the manufacture of this
machine on a large scale. The business finally merged into a
stock company and he became its manager.
- While residing in Philadelphia, Dr. JUDD led to the marriage
altar Miss Abbie T. LANMAN, a
- native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a daughter of David T. LANMAN,
a resident of that city and a representative of one of the early
Connecticut families, being descended from the eminent TRUMBULL
family of that State. Unto them one son has been born, Frederick
H., whose birth occurred in November, 1884.
- In 1877, the Doctor returned to Janesville and engaged in
the study of dentistry. He is one of the
- energetic and progressive citizens of Rock County, and these
elements of character are illustrated in the pursuit of his profession,
in which he holds high rank. He is an earnest and consistent
member of the Presbyterian Church, and is Superintendent of its
Sabbath-school. In his political sentiments he is a Republican,
and socially is a member of the Order of the Knights of Pythias.
He was one of the organizers of the Janesville Guards, which
was afterwards converted into the Janesville Light Infantry,
and served as Quartermaster Sergeant of the former organization,
also as Quartermaster of the regiment.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 746-747.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|