My Genealogy Hound

SWAN JUDY, attorney at law, Greenville. The subject of this biography was born in a rude log cabin on the farm of his grandfather Isaac Wilson, about seven miles west of Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio, on Dec. 7, 1851; he is the second son of Samuel H. and Lydia Judy, who were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living; while on the farm, our subject was sent to school as much as his tender years and delicate health would permit; his parents, though in limited circumstances, decided that the education for the children was of more importance than getting money, and in 1860 moved to the village of Enon, two miles distant, where the schools were convenient and better; here young Judy availed himself of school privileges as much as possible considering his rather feeble constitution, devoting a goodly portion of his time during vacation to his books; in 1864, his father felt obliged to return to the farm where young Judy’s services were required in the duties incidental to boyhood’s farm life; he had, however, acquired a thirst for knowledge, and not believing himself designed for husbandry, he, in company with his elder brother, Benj. F. Judy, returned to Enon and arranged with the Board of Education to again attend school, which he did during the school session, also studying nights and mornings, besides doing chores; during the summer season, he would raise truck, the proceeds from the sale of which he bought books and paid tuition; as he grew older, his health improved, and his desire for knowledge increased, so much so that he would take his book to the field and study during the moments of resting from his labors; in the spring of 1868, his parents moved to Greenville, near which place they now reside, bringing young Judy with them; here he entered the public schools, and in 1869, was granted a teacher’s certificate; at this time, the desire of his life to become a lawyer impelled him to begin the study of law, which he did under Judge Wm. Allen, of Greenville, though only at such times as he could spare from his other labors, which latter were required in obtaining a livelihood; during the winter of 1869 and spring of 1870, he taught a school about two miles north of Greenville, continuing the study of law during his otherwise leisure hours; at the close of his school, he went on the farm, raised corn and fattened hogs; in 1870, he engaged with Alexander Wilson, a cousin, of Madison Co. to feed cattle; in 1871, he was taken into partnership with Mr. Wilson in stock-dealing, which was continued until 1872, thereby making sufficient money to pay for a course in law at the university at Ann Arbor, Mich., which institution he entered and graduated on the 24th of March, 1875; he was soon after admitted to the bar to practice in Ohio, and shortly thereafter entered into partnership with Michael Spayd, deceased, and continued in practice with him until the fall of 1875, when the partnership was dissolved, and he went South, visiting several of the southern cities, but concluding the South was not the part of the United States in which he desired to locate for the purpose of practicing law, returned to Greenville in the spring of 1876; after returning, he managed an important lawsuit for his parents, in which he was successful; his parents then moving to Bradford Junction, he went with them, and, while there, made no effort to procure business in his profession, but as it became known that he was a disciple of Blackstone, a demand was soon made for his services, and he did quite an extensive business during the year or more he remained, though he opened no office in 1877, he with his parents returned to the farm near Greenville, and soon after he opened an office in the latter city, where he has since been practicing. On Feb. 27, 1879, he was married at Ansonia by Rev. Colgan, a M. E. minister, to Lilly May Bertch, youngest child and daughter of Dr. Daniel and Almira Bertch, formerly of Auglaize Co. In the month of February, 1880, he and his wife united themselves with the Christian Church of Greenville.