WI BIO - Dane Co - DUDLEY, John
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 148-150

John DUDLEY, one of the early settlers and self-made men of Dane County, WI, 
was born in Orleans County, VT, 20 Feb 1823. His father, Timothy DUDLEY, was 
born, as far as known, in NH, and his father, Stephen DUDLEY, is thought to 
have been a descendant of three brothers, natives of England, who came to 
America in early colonial times. Stephen DUDLEY moved to Barton, Orleans 
County, VT, where he followed his trade of blacksmith and spent his last days 
there.

Timothy DUDLEY was 19 years old when he left his native State for VT, where 
he was married. A few years after marriage he removed to Caledonia County, 
VT, and bought a farm, on which he resided a number of years, and then 
returned to Orleans County, and bought a farm in Barton, where he died. 
Timothy DUDLEY speculated extensively in land and raised a good deal of 
stock. Timothy DUDLEY died in Jul 1890 in Orleans County, VT, in his 90th 
year. The maiden name of his wife was Patience JACKSON, born in NH, daughter 
of Thomas JACKSON. She died about 1860, after bearing her husband nine 
children, five of whom are still living: John, George, Levi, Henry, and 
Diantha.

John DUDLEY was reared and educated in Orleans County, VT, attending school 
in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. He remained with his 
parents until 1844, when he resolved to go West to seek his fortune, so via 
team, Burlington railroad, Lake Champlain and Champlain canal to Albany, NY, 
Lake Erie to Buffalo, NY, and then to Milwaukee, WI, from which city he 
secured a ride with a Green County, WI, farmer to Janesville, WI, and from 
there made his way on foot to the present site of Brooklyn [WI]. Here he 
spent four months with Esquire GRAVES and assisted him at cutting and 
splitting rails.

In Jul 1845 John DUDLEY went to Janesville, Rock County, WI, which was only a 
small town and the surrounding country was but sparsely settled, much of the 
land being owned by the Government and selling for $1.25 per acre. Mr. 
DUDLEY found employment in Janesville, quarrying stone and burning lime, and 
remained three years, during which time he saved his earnings, and at the end 
of the three years purchased the place he now owns [in Dane County, WI], 
consisting of 120 acres, at $3.50 per acre, on which there were no buildings 
nor fence. At this time he was a single man and was obliged to pay for his 
board, a part of the time working for it. At times he worked by the day, at 
others by the job, and when nothing else offered, directed his energies 
toward improving his own land, on which he settled at the time of his 
marriage.

John DUDLEY was married on 18 Feb 1852 to Rhoda SIMMONS, born in Shrewsbury 
[Rutland County], VT, 15 Sep 1823, daughter of William SIMMONS, a native of 
the same town, and his father, John SIMMONS, was a native of Germany, who 
came to America during the Revolutionary War as a soldier in the British 
army. The sympathies of John SIMMONS became enlisted on the side of the 
colonists, so he deserted and fought for independence, and became a good and 
loyal citizen of the U. S. after the war. John SIMMONS settled in Shrewsbury, 
VT, where he purchased a farm and resided on it until his death.

The maiden name of the wife of John DUDLEY was ROBY, born in RI, and died in 
Shrewsbury [Rutland County], VT. The father of Mrs. DUDLEY [William SIMMONS] 
was their [John and --- (ROBY) SIMMONS] only child, and he was reared and 
married in VT. In Apr 1827, William SIMMONS moved to Mendon [Rutland 
County], VT, and bought a farm, where he remained a few years. His next 
removal was to Sherburne [Rutland County], VT, where he lived until 1846, 
when he came to the Territory of WI, settled in the town of Fulton, Rock 
County, bought a farm of 40 acres, improved it and resided there a few years, 
then removed to MN, settled in Rice County, and resided there until his 
death, which occurred in 1870, in the 83rd year of his life. The maiden name 
of the wife of William SIMMONS was Jane CHENEY, born in Deerfield, VT, 
daughter of Barnabas and Rhoda CHENEY. Jane (CHENEY) SIMMONS died in Rice 
County, MN, in 1871, aged 83 years.

John DUDLEY has been a Republican since the formation of the party. His farm 
is one of the finest in Dane County, WI, and on it he has a set of buildings 
that surpass almost all in the county. He and his wife are good, worthy 
citizens, and highly esteemed by all who know them.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly