LUDLOW-Volney P. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Volney P. Ludlow, farmer, Steam Corner, is a s/o Wm. and Ann (Abbott) Ludlow. Wm. Ludlow was in the service of the government and helped survey Ohio. While surveying he entered a piece of land near Cincinnati when he was 18 or 19. There he married to Ann (Abott) Merritt, a native of Pa, He was a member of a common stock society org. in Ohio and about 1822 he came to Fountain County and entered land in Van Buren township in the interest of the company. The company becoming quarrelsome he received as his share a mill seat near Portland, which he left to his wife and he returned to Ohio, where he was taken sick and died aged 75 years. He brought to Indiana a half bushel of appleseed and became the first nurseryman in Fountain County. He was also a ropemaker and made the rope that hung one Richardson, the only man ever hung in Fountain County for crime. He was a whig and bitterly opposed Jackson. His wife lived in Fountain County till 1861 when she died at the age of 77. In the family were 6 sons and 3 daughters. Volney P. Ludlow, s/o William was b.Sept 3, 1825 in Ft Co. At the death of his father, Volney, 8 years of age was left to work his own way in life. At the age of 16 he began the tanner's trade; then bought out his employer and continued the business till he enlisted in 1847 (sic) in Co C 5th Ind under Capt. R. M. Evans and Commander James H. Lane for the Mexican War. Returning, he sold his land warrant received for services or traded it for 61 acres of land, giving $50 additional. Mr. Ludlow built a cabin on his farm and in 1849 he married Rebecca A. Furr d/o of Enoch and Mary (Inlow) Furr. She was born in Fountain County, and died in 1855, aged 22 years leaving two children, yet living: Manford and Arrista. In March 1857, Mr Ludlow was married to Savannah Booe, d/o John and Jane (Moffet) Booe she was born in Fountain County in 1839 and her parents came from Ireland. Mr Ludlow has added to his farm till he owns 192-1/2 acres, good house, etc. Politically, he started a whig, then became a republican, and in 1880 espoused the doctrine of the national party. He was an early constable and also township trustee 5 terms. During the war he was Captain of the home guards. Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow are members of the Church of the Disciples. THey have had 9 children by the present marriage: Leona J; Charles S; Ross A; Warren C. and Arthur, living, and 3 infants dead, and Conner, killed when six years old by a horse. Mr. Ludlow has had an unbroken residence in Fountain County for 55 years.

Submitted by: Karen Zach