The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-20

years ago was his pastor. were also present to hallow the occasion of the anniversary of the faithful old soldier of Christ who has been an officer In the Methodist Church for fifty-nine years three score and ten years of the Psalmist. Those whose ages reach beyond that period are held in high respect, and in their communities they are the objects of veneration and love. Their experiences are eagerly sought, and their opinions on men and things in the long past Is of interest and value in these swiftly moving days of commercialism and material pro- gress.
 On Thursday, the 16th inst, Jere- respected and esteemed citizens of Lowndes county. celebrated his eigh- | ty-fifth birthday at his home near Farmersville. Hale and strong. sur rounded by children. grandchildren and great grandchildren. together with his pastor, and another minister, who nad been his pastor thtrty-tour years l ago. he spent the anniversary In a most delightful way. and to the great pleasure of all present.
 Birth and Early Years.
 | MT. Dudley was born near Eatonton, Putnam county. Ga Sept 16, 1924. Ills | father, Edward Dudley. was born at Augustine, Fla. on January 10. 1795. but was reared in Sparta, Hancock county. Ga. In 1872 he removed to Eatonton, where he married Mary Thompson. the daughter of Jeremiah smith Thompson, of New York, and wife Beatrix Fleming. a native of Scotland. His paternal grandparents were John Dudley and wife, Elizabeth Jones. of Virginia. but who migrated to Florida in 1790 and thence to Hancock county. Ga.. in 1900. John Dudley was a soldier in the war of the revolution. and was of a Welsh de- scent.
 Edward Dudley was a saddler by trade. After marriage he lived 8 num- ber of years In Hancock county. In 1897 he came to Lowndes county. Ala bama, with his family, and settled near Farmersville Here he died in 1873 at an advanced age Speaking of the removal and of these times his son, Mir. J. S. Dudley. his memory still fresh and vigorous, says
 "I was then only twelve years old, and as a boy of that age. with the meagre facilities for the transporta- ton of news at that time. could not be expected to know much of what was transpiring in the county beyond my immediate neighborhood At that time. there was no school house and only one little log church. and no postofflce within eight or ten miles of the village. There was perhaps a half dozen grog shops (they had not risen to the dignity of saloons at that time). and a quarter race-track with | in a mile or two of the village. Sun day was the day usually spent in try ing the speed of their blow horses"
 MT. Dudley has interesting recolleo- tions of his early training and teach CTS. Commenting thereon he says: My father had moved from Putnam county. Ga, where there were pretty good schools. and where I had had some good opportunities. could read and write. but had a very limited knowledge of arithmetic. geography and grammar. My first teacher, Prof Sullivan, was an Irishman. who cut on the little end of his hickory switches, and used them indiscrimlnately. espec- ially on the larger boys. Other teach CTS remembered are P. H. Lunday, Ezra Howard. and E. W. Packard. the latter 6 Canadian, and the only teach CT ever had who seemed to realize his responsibility and obligation. Most Of the old field school teachers at that