Contra Costa County Biography

CHARLES LUDDEN

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
Charles Ludden is one of the foremost, and in point of residence one of the 
oldest, contractors and builders in Contra Costa County. He was born in Beverly, 
Massachusetts, on September 16, 1853, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth 
(Woodbury) Ludden. His father was of Welsh descent, and located in the State of 
Maine, and died July 4, 1897. His mother was of English birth, and died in 1907. 
Mr. Ludden's grandfather was one of the pioneers of Beverly, Massachusetts, and 
a butcher by trade. During the gold excitement in California he came to the 
coast during the rush in 1849, but finally located in San Francisco and 
conducted a butcher-shop in Stockton Street from 1850 to 1852. The subject of 
this review received a limited education in the public schools of his native 
State, and at the age of fifteen he started to learn the carpenter's trade with 
an uncle. He has followed this vocation for forty-eight years continuously. He 
left home August 14, 1876, in company with two friends, and continued westward 
until he reached Oakland. Here he remained for a few months and then removed to 
Martinez in 1877, where he has since resided, and has been active in his 
occupation. He has erected many fine buildings in Martinez which have added 
considerably to the beautification of the city. Among these structures are the 
Curry building, the library, Gazette building, and the National Bank, besides 
many of the finest houses and store buildings in the county seat. On September 
16, 1879, Mr. Ludden was united in marriage to Miss Eudora Smith, daughter of 
Captain John R. L. Smith, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, formerly a whaling 
captain, who followed the seas for many years and was one of the respected 
citizens of his community. To this union were born three sons, and one daughter 
- Everett, who is identified with the United States Mint at San Francisco; 
Harris, a carpenter residing in Oakland; Raymond, a chemist, with the Mountain 
Copper Company of Martinez; and Elizabeth, wife of James F. Hocy, deputy tax 
collector, a resident of Martinez. Mr. Ludden is a Republican, and he has served 
as town trustee for eight years. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
having joined this order in Massachusetts in 1876, and in July, 1882, was one of 
the charter members of Martinez Lodge No. 297. He is also a member of the 
Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He has gained for himself a 
position of prominence in the building line and his influence is always given in 
support of whatever he feels will promote the best interests of the community.

Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 515-516.