-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN W. LUDINGTON. In the person of the gentleman above mentioned we have another of the prosperous and successful farmers of Nance county who is now retired from active labors Mr. Ludington is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity, thrift and economy have added largely to the material wealth and growth of the state of Nebraska. Agriculture and stock raising forms the basis of weath and prosperity in the west as, indeed, in most sections of the United States, and it is, therefore, of great importance that the class of people who inhabit the farming regions of the country should represent those elements of sterling worth so prominently displayed by the pioneers of a great west, and which we find in the largest measure in our subject. John W. Ludington was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1842. When a small child he accompanied his parents into Iowa, where his father, John N. Ludington, became interested in farming, and there John Jr., grew to manhood. He was married in 1865 to Rebecca E. Newman, who came from Indiana, the event taking place at Adel, Iowa, and the young pair made their home in that vicinity for about nine years, then decided to try their fortunes in Nebraska, so started out to drive the entire distance in a covered wagon. They spent two weeks on the journey, landing in Merrick county, Nebraska, where Mr. Ludington homesteaded a quarter section on section seven, township fifteen, range eight, and there they succeeded in developing a good farm, making it their home for eight years, then sold the place and purchased two hundred acres, sixty of which was in Nance county. This he built up in good shape prospering in a marked manner, engaging extensively in mixed farming and stock raising, and continuing on the farm up to 1901, at which time he moved into Fullerton, where he purchased a fine home. During his residence on the farm, he ran a sorghum factory for twenty years, and some years made as high as two thousand gallons of the molasses in a season, for all of which he found a ready market at profitable prices. He also was the owner of a threshing outfit during the early days here, and made quite a nice littie income from this source. In 1877 he put in a cable ferry across the main Loup river just west of Fullerton, and ran this ferry for about six years. He had also established another cable ferry at Fullerton, and these ferries were kept in continuous use up to the time the bridges were built. While he operated these ferries all wagon freight was obliged to cross the river in this way, and Mr. Ludington ferried all the traffic which came his way. In 1882, he took the mail route between St. Paul aud Fullerton, which was a distance of thiry-five miles, and for four years traveled this route, making the trips in all sorts of weather, and having a fine _________________________________________________________________ Don’t miss your chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from Microsoft® Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0540002499mrt/direct/01/