GEORGE M. RUDES, the proprietor of Maple Grove farm, Clay township, Ottawa county, is one of the oldest of the pioneers, and a prominent agriculturist and manufacturer of that township. He has watched the progress of the country from a state of nature, a wilderness of forest trees and underbrush, inhabited by wild animals, to its present proud position in the State, with fertile fields and comfortable homes, and feels that to his strong right arm is due in a measure the prosperity and beauty of this favored section.
Mr. Rudes was born in Genesee county, N.Y., February 4, 1827, a son of Ephraim and Hannah (Hudson) Rudes, also natives of that State, born of English and Welsh descent. They removed to Ohio when their son George was but eight years old, making the long journey in a wagon, drawn by horses, and located in Medina county. Here our subject attended the common and high schools, and then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter and joiner's trade, at which he worked for several years. He then went to Huron county, going into the hotel business, which he carried on some three years; but, tiring of this, he purchased a farm in that county, which he worked for five years. He then sold out and came to Ottawa county, settling in Clay township, where he began manufacturing lumber. With keen foresight and good business tact, he purchased eighty acres of timber land and a sawmill and went to work, cutting down the trees, often standing knee deep in water. He sawed the logs, making them into lumber, for which he found a ready sale, and in the course of the twelve years in which he carried on operations used all the timber on his own and the neighboring farms. A part of this timber covered what is known as "Middle Ground," in the city of Toledo. In addition to the manufacture of lumber, Mr. Rudes devoted every spare moment to the improvement of his farm, and succeeded in bringing it to a high state of cultivation. He sawed and dried the lumber used in the construction of his dwelling and barns, which he built himself, in a picturesque spot, and which for beauty and design can not be surpassed in Clay township. He made many other improvements upon his land, and has to-day a valuable piece of property. In 1866 Mr. Rudes sold out his sawmill, and attended strictly to his farming operations. In 1873 he bough a sawmill in Genoa, adding thereto a planing-mill, and for ten years lived in Genoa, buying also eighty acres of timber land in the vicinity of his farm. The mill is still in operation, employing a number of men, and is successfully conducted by his son, Heselton F., who thoroughly understands the business.
Our subject was married November 9, 1851, to Miss Louisa J. Baxter, and to them eight children have been born (two of whom are deceased), a brief record of them being as follows: (1) Heselton F., born September 10, 1853, attended the schools of Genoa, and was married April 25, 1878, to Miss Fanny Butheway; they have had three children - Guy, born July 14, 1878, died in 1892; Lester, born in 1887; and Verne, born in September, 1891; they reside in Genoa, where he has charge of his father's mill. (2) Bribner H., born September 15, 1854, in Huron county, received his education at Genoa; he is unmarried, resides with his parents, and is interested in the business of grain threshing and well drilling. (3) Carlos A., born July 21, 1857, in Clay township, attended the schools in Genoa, and was married December 9, 1879, to Miss Lillie Hatch, daughter of Charles Hatch, of Hancock county; they have had five children - Ercell, Harry, Earl (deceased), Merrill and Gail. (4) Amy, born December 25, 1867, died July 27, 1875. (5) George A., born September 30, 1862, in Clay township, was educated in Genoa; he carries on well drilling and threshing; he was marred in Genoa, December 12, 1880, to Miss Avis, daughter of Austin Tuttle, and seven children have been born to them - Albert M., Alice L., Florence, Metta, Howard, Emery, and Inez. (6) Minnie M., born September 1, 1864, is single and resides with her parents. (7) Roy C., born May 10, 1874, is what might be termed a born machinist; he is entirely self-taught, but seems to have a thorough knowledge of all kinds of machines; he tried farming for a while, but is now agent for a threshing-machine manufacturing company; he is single and lives with his parents. (8) Metta, born August 1, 1876, died July 24, 1877.
Ephraim Rudes, the father of our subject, was born in the State of New York, in 1800, and followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married in 1821 to Miss Hannah Hudson, who was born in the same State, July 16, 1803, and their family consisted of seven children as follows: Sarah A., Amy and Abel (twins), George M., Clarinda, Allen H. and Lucy. The father died in 1846, and the mother in 1890. The wife of our subject was born July 20, 1832, in the State of New York, and was one of thirteen children born to her parents. She is suffering from the effects of a stroke of paralysis, which prevents her from performing household duties, although her mind is clear and active, and she converses with ease and intelligence. She and her husband, who is a very quiet and unassuming man, have many interesting incidents to tell of the early day in the settlement of this State, when they were surrounded by dense forests, when neighbors were few and far between, and when none of the comforts and conveniences of civilization were at hand. Now they are enjoying the results of their early toil and hardships, and the evening of their useful and busy lives finds them contented and happy.
Mr. Rudes has always deeply regretted his inability to take part in the war for the defense of the stars and stripes, in 1861-65, owning to chronic rheumatism, contracted when a boy and added to when clearing his land and preparing his lumber for his mill, the ground being very wet and marshy. He has been a great sufferer from this disease, although always a busy man. Mr. Rudes has held the office of supervisor for ten years, and has been school director for the same length of time. He is a stanch Republican, going into the ranks of that party on its formation. He believes in principles not men, and has never been an office-seeker. His first Presidential vote was cast for Zachary Taylor, who was the Whig candidate.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES printed by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1896. Taken from pages 383, 384 & 385
