The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-09-30
A SELF MADE MAN.
Sketch of the life of Harrison Lud-
dington. Republican Candi-
date for Governor.

Kent, Putnam county, New York, on th e
31st day of July, 1912, and is conse-
quently 63 years of age. His ancestors
emigrated to this country from England
several generations before, and his faith
er.was an honest and entarprising, though
not very wealthy, farmer and miller,
with whom the subject of this sketch
labOred until he was nineteen years of
age, when he set out for the then new
territory of Wisconsin, landing in Mil
waukee on the 81 day of November, 49,
80. His little start IN life consisted of a
sound and vigorous body, habits of self
denial, industry and economy, acquired
under the teachings of good parents, and
800 which his father had borrowed for
him from a kindly disposed neighbor.
Young Iudington expected to purchase
farm and make that the business of
his life, having been trained to it at
home but upon his arrival in AIilwau-
kee, his uncle, Lewis Huntingdon, per-
suaded him TO go into company with him
his note for his share of the concern, and
continuing business until 1851. In the
spring of 1889, Mr.. Ludington rode an
Indian pony to Louisville, Kentucky,
where he married his wife, and returned
Immediately to Milwaukee to commence
housekeeping in little tenement on the
corner of Martin and Biddle streets. An
inventory of his property at that time,
revealed the fact that he had household
goods to the amount Of one hundred
dollars, and n good wife, whose value
could not be too highly estimated. His
house rent wss seventy-five dollars Il
year, which he was required to pay in adj
vance His example from the first day
he set foot upon Wisconsin soil up to
the present time, has been worthy
of the imitation Of young men, rich
and poor. He opened and swept his
own store every morning he sawed his
own wood; he established himself in
his own home, humble though it was ;
paid his debts he worked hard and iv
ed prudently, and it is not surprising
that he has prospered in all his under
takings, or that, in the maturity of his
powers, his fellow citizens should call
him to perform public duties of the
highest and most responsible character.
When the future historian writes the
biographies of the seif-made men of
Wisconsin, the name of Harrison Iud
iugton will stand out conspicuously
among them al, a help and Oh encour-
agement to the young men of the land.
But to return to dates and figures.
In the year 1912, the Ludingtons es-
tablished a small lumber yard in connec
ton with their little store, and this was
done more to accommodate their country
customers who came in with produce to
sell, than any hope of making money out
of it. The first load of wheat ever sold
in Milwaukee, that has now become the
largest primary wheat market in the
world, was bought by Harrison Luding
ton of q farmer living on Caldwell's
Prairie, at 50 cents per bushel. The
farmer and the ''storekeeper" carried
the wheat up stairs on their backs, and
thus it is true that our candidate for
Governor was not only the first wheat
buyer in Milwaukee, but he owned the
first eleUGtOr also and this, he declares,
is the only monopoly that he ever had
any interest in. In 1851, Mr.. L.. bought
an interest in some saw-mills in Green
Bay, and from that day to this he has
been engaged in manufacturing and sell
ing lumber, without the aid of middle
men, but in n perfectly safe and iegiti
mate manner. He has never been a
speculator of any kind in all his life,
neither in grain, gold, stocks, bonds or
lands, and never purchased an acre of
pine lands except for the use of his
company, and which was paid for with
their own money. 1t is true that tile
business O. his company has expanded
into gigantic proportions, involving enor-
nous outlays for labor, supplies of
grain, meat, clothing, cattle and horses,
but all of which being purchased within
the limits of the State, must benefit
some section or somebody in one way
or another. 1t is true also, that his
business has prospered, Just as hard
work, rigid economy, and close attention
added to great sagacity viii make almost
any honest undertaking successful in the
end.
His love of agricultural pursuits finds
its consummation in tilling one of the
best farms in the State, adjacent to the
city of Milwaukee. on which he has col
lected some of the finest animals from
some of the most noted herds OF blooded
stock in the United States. As breed
er of excellent judgment and as an ex-
hibitor of choice stock at county and
State fairs, Mr.. Ludington is recognized
by all leading agriculturists of the
Northwest, and his interest in farming
in all its branches is not exceeded by
those who have followed it all their
lives.
Mr. Ludington's discretion III public
affairs is as great and as valuable to his
fellow citizens rs it has been profitable
and reliable to his partners in private
matters. When the mania for mortsag-
ing farms to aid in the construction of
railroads in this State was at its height,
he advised the farmers to beware Of the
scheme and predicted the loss that
eventually did fall upon large and re-
aIoc, of o,,- To-.