The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10

A former Fargo man, Edwin U.
Judd. now a resident of Anacortes,
Wash. has the distinction OF being
the only survivor of those who FOUND
ed the Republican party. He is man
well known to the pioneers of this city
and in addition to the distinction OF
being one of the founders of the he
publican party he is also to be given
credit for being the man to bring
Congregationalism to North Dakota
Every one of the early settlers OF
Fargo is acquainted with Mr.. Judd,
whom they consider one Of the most
remarkable men they have ever
known.
Among those who knew Mr.. Judd
here in the early days was DR.. X. A.
Beard. pastor of the First Congrega-
tionaI church, who in speaking of Mr.
Judd today, said that he was without
a doubt the most remarkable man ne
has ever known.
Mr.. Judd was an officer in the Con-
sregational church here during the
first pastorate Of DR.. Beard In this
city.
HE was a man with a Wester1an
head" said DR.. Beard. Although ne
was a self-made man there was no
problem too big for him and when
had any kind of difficult problem to
solve I always went to Mr.. Judd. he
could always solve 1T.
Had he had a college education he
would have been one or the great
characters of this country"
Mr.. Judd came to Fargo about 1881
and lived here for ten years during
which time he was very active In the
affairs of the town and church. He
was a carpenter by trade, at which
he worked while in Fargo.
HE built the first sidewalk along
NV property" said Frank Pearson
''and let met tell YOU it was a good
walk, too"
The activity of Mr.. Judd was re-
called to the people Of this city by an
article in The Post-1ntelligencer OF
Seattle. a clipping from which was va
sent to Judge Charles A. Pollock,
another of the early settlers acquaint-
ed with Mr.. Judd.
The article reads:
The state of Washington has the
distinction of being the home or the
only surviving member Of the little
group of men who were the original
| founders of the Republican party, In
the person Of Edwin u. judd OF Ana
cortes, who, despite his 81 years, still
retains a remarkably keen recollection
of the details connected with the
launching of the party. To the stu
dent of political history the story
which he tells is of more than ordln-
ary interest and can best be told In
the words of Mr.. Judd himself.
Why Party Was Founded.
"In order to fully understand the
reasons for the founding Of the Re-
! publican party" said Mr.. Judd, "one
must have a knowledge Of the political
situation. At the time there We're
three parties of about equal power
Wing, Democrat and Free Soil.
was chairman Of the Free Soil party
for the First Congressional district OF
Wisconsin and also chairman or the
Free Sellers for the Western assembly
district, or Fond Du Lac county. Ii
was during the excitement in connec-
| ton with the repeal of the Missouri
compromise then before congress. In
the assembly districts the assembly,
men had been elected. Alvin A. Bovey
had been defeated candidate for the
Wings for assemblyman in the fall or
I1S53. Bovey was dissatisfied and felt
the need of a new party based on q
platform of No further extension OF
slavery On Feb. 20, 1854, Bovey cali
ed a caucus ina little school house in
Ripon, Wis. About twelve men were
present, and after talking the matter
over decided to meet again II the
Missouri compromise was repealed.
Senate Repeats Law.
Between Feb. 20 and March 20.
1854. the repeal passed the senate, and
Bovey decided not to wait any longer,
and the meeting in the school house