GEORGE EDMUND DUDEN

Sacramento County

Biographies

GEORGE EDMUND DUDEN

GEORGE EDMUND DUDEN, farmer and blacksmith, Sutter Township, was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1832, a son of David and Anna (Barrick) Duden, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Both his grandfathers, Daniel Duden and William Barrick, came from Germany, and both families also moved to Licking County, Ohio, in 1833, and there passed the remainder of their lives. In Daniel Duden’s family were two daughters and four sons, viz: William, David, Jacob, George, Elizabeth and Betsey. The only member of the family now living is George, of San Francisco. In William Barrick’s family were twelve children, viz: Henry, James, Samuel, Elizabeth, Anna, Rebecca, Polly, Samantha, Catharine, and three others. Of these there are three daughters and three sons living. All of them lived to a good old age, and brought up children. David Duden lived in Ohio, where he followed farming and blacksmithing, and died there about fourteen years ago. His wife, a native of Pennsylvania, died in Missouri. In their family were nine children, as follows: William, who resides in Monroe County, Iowa; George E., the subject of this sketch; Adolphus D., who resides in Iowa; Daniel D., in Henry County, Missouri; Charles W., in Henry County, Missouri; Anna, in Licking County, Ohio, and Lewis, in Henry County, Missouri. Mr. Duden, our subject, was brought up in Licking County, Ohio, most of the time of his youth near Neward, the county seat. At the age of sixteen years he made a trip West, through Illinois, etc., and worked at his trade in Canton, Fulton County, that State. In 1849 he returned to Ohio and worked a year and a half in a shop in Sylvania, Licking County; next, in partnership with another man, he carried on a shop at Galena, Delaware County, Ohio, until the fall of 1852. Starting then to California, he stopped at Booneville, Missouri, and took a job of ironing a number of wagons. The next spring he came on, in a party of thirty-two, starting from Howard County, Missouri, with a drove of cattle and mules, and coming by what was called the northern route. After halting for the night, on one occasion, and hitching their horses, on Salt River, they discovered the remains of a portion of 200 emigrants who died there the year before, of cholera. The corpses, although they had been buried, had been exhumed by the coyotes, and, being exposed and in a state of decomposition, constituted such a sickening and repulsive sight that the party immediately hitched up again and moved on, not finding a decent camping-ground until midnight. Another incident might be mentioned. At one time they were surrounded by several hundred Indians. The wagon train was in charge of an old Santa Fe man named Frank Broudar, who told his men that they must put on a bold front and not permit the Indians to think that they were afraid; also to see that their fire-arms were in good order. The result was, the Indians left without molesting them. In the train were some very nice race-horses, valuable cattle, mules, etc. The party arrived at Sacramento August 26. Mr. Duden found work at his trade until February, then until the 1st of October following was engaged at mining at Clarkville, El Dorado County. Returning then to Sacramento, he purchased a shop on Ninth Street, between J and K. In 1859 he sold out this place and bought a shop at the corner of Ninth and K, and prosecuted his trade there until 1864. In the autumn of this year he purchased his present place in Sutter Township, on the upper Stockton road, five miles from Sacramento, where he has ever since resided. This farm contains eighty acres of good land, in a fine state of cultivation. When he entered upon it, it was entirely unimproved. The place is now well stocked with a great variety of fruit and ornamental trees. The farm generally is devoted to hay, grain, etc.; and ever since he located there Mr. Duden has carried on a blacksmithing shop upon the premises, also carriage building and painting, etc. He is also the proprietor of the Sacramento Thoroughbred Poultry Yard, and is an importer of thoroughbred poultry, having on hand all the leading varieties. This industry he started here only two years ago, but it has already proved a success. Orders are coming in faster than he can fill them. His ambition is soon to have a poultry yard second to none in the State. Mr. Duden was married December 31, 1857, to Emma P. Burke, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 6, 1842, and was brought by her parents, in 1853, in their emigration, to this State. They settled in Sacramento city, on L street, between Tenth and Eleventh. Her father was William W. Burke. Mr. And Mrs. Duden have brought up ten children: William L., born August 26, 1860; Edith L., April 4, 1862; Ellsworth Fred, July 5, 1864; Frank H., July 16, 1866; Alice O., March 25, 1868; Florence A., May 6, 1870; Mabel V., March 3, 1872; Lillian L., July 21, 1874; Leona A., October 31, 1877; and Ethel A., November 17, 1879. Ellsworth is an excellent stenographer and caligraph operator, in the office of Hon. W. J. Davis, court reporter, Sacramento. Mr. Duden is a veteran Odd Fellow, belonging to Sacramento Lodge, No. 2.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 667-668. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.