Grant County, West Virginia Biography of Edmund D. Judy ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Sue Schell, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, Pg 329 & 330 BIO: Edmund D. Judy, Grant Co., WV Edmund D. Judy. The Impression seems well founded that among the sturdy upbuilders of the region comprised by Grant County such accessories as ancestors or family traditions count for little as a community asset. There is something about the conformation of the country that makes an individual desire to rely upon himself, to develop his latent forces and to relegate to a respectful distance the deeds of his forefathers, which might overshadow or interfere with the workings of his own individual destiny. Nevertheless, no class of men are more appreciative of creditable forefathers or more ready to do honor to the qualities which brought them to the front in the times in which they lived. An instance at hand is Edmund D. Judy, of Petersburg, a man of wide experience and pronounced usefulness, an intelligent, wide-awake factor in the life if his community, and one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers in Grant County. Mr. Judy belongs to one of the ancient and honorable families of this section of West Virginia, the history of which residents of what is now Pendleton County dates back several generations. He was born near Fort Seybert, Pendleton County, February 10, 1870, a son of Manassah Judy, who was a stockman and farmer on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River for some years, but later changed his residence to the country near Petersburg. There he secured possession by purchase of the Cunningham farm, a mile and one-half east of the town where his death occurred. Manassah Judy was born March 24, 1821, in what was then Hardy County, Virginia, but a part of which is now Grant County, West Virginia. While his educational advantages were confined to the rudiments of the”three R’s,” he learned to read, write and cipher acceptably and his inherent business qualities, which could not have been learned from a book, were such that he was able to carry on his enterprises in an entirely successful way. While he raised a number of products on his farm, his chief business was that of a stockman, and in that field of endeavor he became well and favorably known. He died in 1886, when his community lost a good citizen and one who had always been a supporter of education, religion and good citizenship. He was a democrat in politics, but not an office seeker, although he was ever ready to accept and discharge any responsibility. Mr. Judy was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Dyer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Dyer. Mrs. Judy, who was born April 22, 1933, survived her husband a number of years, dying in 1910. She and her husband were the parents of the following children: Mary Virginia, the wife of Andrew Trumbo of Bedford County, Virginia; William Andrew, of Petersburg, one of the successful farmers of Pendleton County for many years; Henry Seymour, of Petersburg; George Franklin, who died near Petersburg, in Grant County, leaving a family by his wife, who was formerly Mattie Sites; Josephine Margaret, who married John Koler and died at Monterey, Virginia; Rebecca Lee, who married Jared Hiner, of Doehill, Virginia; Edmund Dyer, of this review; and Manassah Parron, of Brunswick, Indiana. Like his father, Edmund Dyer Judy had only a limited schooling, which was a very common kind. In later years however, he has made use of his powers of observation and these, with much reading, have given him an education of a practical nature. He never had a desire to leave the parental roof in his youth, accompanying his parents from Pendleton County to the vicinity of Petersburg when he was a youth of fifteen years, and here settling down to the business of assisting his father in the daily duties of the home place. Under the excellent teaching of the elder man he learned the stock business thoroughly, from every view-point and angle, from the bottom to the top. When he was ready to begin operations for himself, therefore, he was fully prepared to make the most of his efforts. His early independent ventures were conducted on the parental estate, and there he continued to make his home during all the time that he was active as a farmer. These operations he continued to personally supervise until the year 1913, at which time he built a home and moved to Petersburg, where he has since resided. However, he still owns his property in the country, where he is identified with the stock business, wintering, feeding and fattening heavy cattle, which he sells to shippers in the Baltimore market, and his light cattle he sells locally over a wide territory to local butchers for home consumption. His property comprises more than 2,000 acres, and may be called an all-purpose farm, with 200 acres under cultivation. He has installed the latest improvements, has erected modern buildings, conducts all his operations along modern lines, and in addition to being a stock raiser, grows all kinds of grain, conducts a diary and operates all other departments of farm work. His reputation in business circles is an excellent one, and his word has been said to be fully as good as a bond. Mr. Judy has had no active part in community matters in a business way, his time for the most part being devoted to his personal affairs. However, he shows the interest maintained by every good citizen in the welfare of his community, and is a co-operator in worthy movements. He has never held nor aspired to office, and in political mattes is inclined to act independently in local affairs, although nationally he supports the democratic ticket. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church and he has no fraternal affiliations. Physically Mr. Judy is a man weighing 225 pounds, being a trifle larger than the members of his family usually are. Near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, May 15, 1900, Mr. Judy was united in marriage with Miss Wiltie M. Huffman who was born in Rockingham County, a daughter of Elijah and Susan (Bowman) Huffman, and the ninth in a family of ten children. No children have come to he home of Mr. and Mrs. Judy. They lent their sincere aid in the World war movements, purchasing bonds and contributing to the Red Cross drives and other enterprises. Their home at Petersburg is one of the conspicuous residences of the county seat, containing eight rooms, generous in proportions and well appointed in equipment, an ideal place for spending years of retirement by those who have labored hard and well.