Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-09-15
COLONEL DUDLEY'S HOME

ley home written by Margaret Bough-
ton Barton. and published in the To
ledo Times, may be of interest to our
readers:
Landing on the thickly wooded
bank of the Maumee, being pursued
by the Indians and British, captured
and massacred is briefly about all
history relates about Col. Dudley,
whose name and achievement is set
forth on a large bill board in the old
courthouse yard at Maumee.
This meteoric appearance of the
colonel in this war of 1912 was really
not much more than his friends and
relatives back in old Kentucky eX.
pected. for a communication from
greatgrandson of Dudley's, w. T.
Gaines of Devine, Texas, states that
whenever his grandmother spoke
about Col Dudley she always told
what a rash, impetuous man he was.
The sequel of the reconnaissance
ordered by Gen. Harrison at Fort
Meigs proved the fears of his friends
to be well founded.
In appearance Col. Dudley was
every inch a soldier. This same old
lady while quite a young child at the
time of Mr.. Dudley's departure for
the front, was so impressed by his
solderly appearance that she always
spoke of him with a great deal of
pride.
BY birth, Col Dudley was a Vir-
ginian and went to Kentucky at an
early day with his brother, Ambrose,
who was his guardian.
The Dudleys secured tract of
some three hundred acres on what is
now known as the Winchester road
FIVE miles from Lexington. This land
was covered with timber, but by hard
work and perseverance was all clear
ed and today is one of the most beau
tiful places in the noted Blue Grass
region
Gradually Col. Dudley increased in
wealth and at the time of the break
ing out of the war of 1912 was con-
sidered one of the substantial men of
men of means, Col Dudley kept
slaves and when he left for Fort
Meigs two of them accompanied him.
When the seige was raised these two
returned to their mistress who was
always called "old miss" by the
darkies.
When the Dudleys obtained posses
, sion of their land they built log
+ cabin which is still standing. Here
Col. Dudley and his young wife be-
; gan housekeeping and here it was
that their four sons and three daugh.
ters were born.
Mrs. Dudley was a Miss Smith be-
fore her marriage and was sister TO
the father of Generals Gustave and
Sidney Smith of the confederate army.
Some time before the breaking
out of the war Col. Dudley realizing
that his family would soon outgrow
the small log house, began prepara
tions for the building of residence
more in keeping with his circum-
stances.
The task of making the brick was
a long and arduous one for the thou
sands required were all made by
hand, and just as he was about to
realize his fond ambition the war
broke out and he was ordered to the
front
He and Mrs. Dudley had made all
the plans for their new house and the
colonel instructed her that in case he
did not survive the war she was to
complete the house just as they had
arranged to do.
Consequently a typical southern
home was reared among the elms OF
: that plantation which is known as
Elmwood and is now owned by W. w
/ Estill
The house stood until few years
ago when it was deemed advisable tn
rebuild. The bricks of the old house
were carefully cleaned and in the new
, residence which was erected on the
site of the old one, were utilized
in constructing the inside walls So
that Mr.. and Mrs. Estill can still say
that they are living in Col. Dudley's
old home.
The battle which Col. Dudley
fought with the Indians and which
led not only to his death, but to the
destruction of most of his command
I was nothing less than butchery
J. Leslie Combs, now living in Lexing
ton, KY, and Peter Dudley, a nephew
! of the colonel, were standing at his
side when Gen. Proctor was arrang
a ing the terms OF surrender. These
4 terms were that the men were to be
Il fxa.l 4.