Wood County, West Virginia    Biography of George L. DUDLEY

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Submitted by Pam Honaker <pam_honaker@hotmail.com>
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
page 461-462


     GEORGE L. DUDLEY.  Three generations of the Dudley family have had a 
very substantial participation in the life, affairs and progress of the 
Parkersburg community.  George L. Dudley is a man whose business 
qualifications have been appreciated by all who have come in contact with 
him, though normally he is very unostentatious, accomplishes his work with a 
quiet efficiency, and has been well satisfied to remain completely outside 
the sphere of politics and political honors.


     His father, Lysander Dudley, was born about 1847 in Connecticut.  When 
he was about a year old he was brought west by his parents Lysander and 
Betsy (Hull) Dudley, to Wood County, where they located on a country 
property on what is known today as Dudley Avenue in the northern part of 
Parkersburg.  Lysander, Sr., was a carpenter and contractor, and in that 
industry he erected many of the important bulidings of his day.  He also was 
very active in the Baptist Church, and met all the test of good citizenship.


     His son Lysander up to 1892 lived on a farm that is now included in the 
City of Parkersburg.  After he left the farm he gave his attention to buying 
and selling coal, timber and other lands.  As a matter of duty and not in 
line with any ambition he accepted the responsibiities of public office when 
called upon, and among other local positions he was a councilman.  He was 
also a devount member of the Baptist church.  His death occurred in 1916.  
Lysander Dudley, Jr., married Mollie F. Burdette, a relative of the late Bob 
Burdette, the famous humorist.  She is still living, and of her nine 
children seven are living.


     George Lewis Dudley was born at Parkersburg November 1, 1868, and 
supplemented his public school education with a course in a business college 
at Wheeling.  He also left the home farm in 1892, and for several years 
thereafter was associated with his father in business.  For about two years 
he had merchandising and timber interests in Roane County, but his chief 
business now and for some years past has been the Citizens Lumber Company, 
of which he is vice president and general manager.


     Mr Dudley is a Presbyterian, a democrat who frequently exercises 
independent choice of candidates, is a Knight Templar and thirty-second 
degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, and the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  He is identified with the Chamber 
of Commerce and is a member of Blennerhassett and Country clubs.


     In 1892 Mr Dudley married Mary Frances Foley.  Their two sons are 
George L., Jr., and Samuel Burdett.  The older was in the aviation section 
as a second lieutenant during the Worl war, but the armistice was signed 
before he was sent abroad.  The younger son, at the age of fifteen, ran away 
from home and enlisted, but had only one month of soldier life.