My Genealogy Hound

COL. D. W. C. LOUDON, Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Georgetown, was born in Georgetown, Ohio, May 29, 1827. He is a son of Gen. James Loudon, prominent citizen of Brown County, now deceased, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Judge Loudon’s mother was Elizabeth Chapman. She is still living, in the enjoyment of good health, and resides in Georgetown, an honored and highly esteemed pioneer of Brown County, and a lady of culture and refinement. When five years of age, Judge Loudon accompanied his parents to a farm in Pleasant Township, where he passed his boyhood days. In early life, he attended the district schools of the neighborhood, but a desire for a better education induced him to attend the Ohio University, at Athens, from which he graduated in 1850. In 1846, he enlisted in the First Ohio Regiment Volunteers to the Mexican war, serving one year, and being mustered out as Quartermaster Sergeant. In 1852, he purchased the Democratic Union, of Georgetown, of which he was the editor and publisher for two years. He studied law with Lot Smith, of Athens County, Ohio, and David G. Devore, of Georgetown. He was admitted to practice in the courts of Ohio in November, 1851, to the United States Circuit Court in 1860, and the United States Supreme Court in January, 1868. He has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1861, Judge Loudon assisted in organizing the Seventieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, accompanying it to the field as Lieutenant Colonel. He was subsequently promoted Colonel, and served in the Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee, under Gen. Sherman. He was discharged, on account of disability, in August, 1864; he returned to Georgetown, and resumed his practice. In 1857, he was elected Probate Judge of Brown County, to fill a vacancy; he resigned this position in November, 1858. In the fall of 1881, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Brown County for a term of five years, commencing February 9, 1882. Previous to the war, Judge Loudon was a Democrat, but at that time joined the Union party; he voted with the Republicans till the Greeley campaign of 1872, when he became associated with the Liberal party. Since 1876, he has been a member of the Greenback party; he is connected by membership with the Association of Mexican Veterans, Post of Ohio, and the Society Army of the Tennessee. In his legal practice Judge Loudon has met with very fair success. He was united in marriage, in April, 1852, to Hannah W. Bowles, a native of Southbridge, Mass. They have five children — Fannie, Betty (wife of John M. Markley, an attorney of Georgetown), James, Anna P. and Julia B. Mrs. Loudon and two older daughters are members of the Presbyterian Church. Judge Loudon is modest and retiring in his manner; a thorough scholar and an earnest student. He is distinguished for his scholarly attainments, and his kindly manners endear him to all who know him.