Decatur County Journal Leon, Iowa Thursday, February 8, 1912 The subject of this sketch, NEWTON JUDD, was born in Pike County, Illinois, November 1, 1844, and died February 5, 1912, being at the time of his death, 68 years, 2 months and 5 days old. He came to Decatur County, Iowa, with his parents in 1854, when 10 years of age. He attended the country schools, such as there were in those days, and acquired an education and taught school for a number of years, then turned his attention to farming and stock raising. He was particularly successful in this vocation, and for many years made a study of local land values, soils, and approved methods of farming and farm economies, and acquired in these pursuits a small fortune as judged by our home people. He was considered by his friends and acquaintances for many years past, as one of the best judges of land values in the community and all his speculations have proved far sighted and have terminated profitably. He was married to ALIDA GURNSEY, in 1873. To this union were born 9 children, 7 of whom are now living, two having previously died. FREDERICK, the oldest son, unmarried, was at home at the time of his father's death, having the management of the home farm; Mrs. CARRIE BRIGGS, who died in the Phillipine Islands; Mrs. MABEL ARNOLD, who is a teacher in the Garden Grove Schools; RALPH, who is a successful farmer living on his farm near Pleasanton, Iowa; Mrs. MAMIE BOYD, of near Grand River, Iowa; Mrs. BESSIE STEARNS, of Caylesville, Mont., and THOMAS, the younger son, who is the District Passenger agent of the C. & C.W.R.R., living in Des Moines, Iowa, constitute the family with the exception of one child who died in infancy. For many years, Mr. JUDD had suffered mentally. To his particular friends, it was known at times that his mental disorders and hallucinations were serious; to his less intimate acquaintances, he was simply regarded as very eccentric. Although he was always a very mild mannered man and sought to do no person wrong by word or deed, on the other hand, he was much given to worry over his personal affairs and constantly seemed to fear that his family were becoming impoverished. His friends suppose that these matters weighed far more heavily on him than they had supposed and while the family were personally alarmed, they little thought that his mental condition was so serious as it proved to be. The details of his death are not given herein, but will probably appear elsewhere. While it is indeed sad for friends and relatives to contemplate the untimely end of a good honorable man whose personal life has ever been above reproach it is however, gratifying to know that the country in which he lived is better for his personal life and work. ------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert December 29, 2009 [email protected]