| Mrs. Beulah Carter 20207 State Route 328 New Plymouth, Ohio 45654 (614) 385-7418 Dear Beulah, I apologize for being so dilatory writing to you about my (our) exciting summer visit to your valley. I looked up a copy of a former letter I sent to you to get your address and discovered that I wrote a note to you on this exact date one year ago. What a coincidence! I thought I would have to take you up on your family's offer to guide me to the old Sudlow farmhouse as I was obviously having difficulties finding it on my own. But, during a springtime trip to Urbana, Ohio, I planted the idea in the "Old Skunk's" mind that he could guide a group of family members to the farm during one of the summer months if enough people showed an interest and if Beth and I could get him most of the way there in Beth's Jeep. Well, my sister Paula and her husband, my brother Larry and his wife, and Bob Alexander's son Dalton all wanted to go, so we planned the trip for July 3rd. I also wanted to stop by the New Plymouth and Starr Cemeteries to look for more relatives that I had leads on. The word got around among the family that we were planning an outing to the Union Furnace area, and more interest developed. In all, about twenty of us made the trip, including Wilma Miller (Maynard's wife and Lovina Sudlow's daughter-in-law); Edwin Miller, Lovina's grandson; Paul Laugharn from California, grandson of Edward Sudlow; Bob Alexander and Dalton, son and grandson of Zada Sudlow, respectively; and, of course, John Sudlow's grandchildren Larry, Paula, and myself. A few cousins from other branches came also. Our first stop was the New Plymouth Cemetery where we found George Sudlow's grave next to his wife Thurza (where did they get these names?) and son Geo. Jr. We then went to the Starr Cemetery where we visited Joseph and Hanna Sudlow's graves. We then found Richard Sudlow Jr.'s grave. Finding George, Richard Jr. and Joseph accounts for all of the first-born-in-America Sudlow's graves. They were all born in the 1700's. [It is now believed that Richard Sudlow Jr. is buried in Iowa and the gravestone in Starr Cemetery for �Richard Sudlow, Died Nov 22, 18?4, Aged 53Ys 19 Ds� is that of Joseph and Hannah Sudlow�s son who died in 1874.] Some of our sharp-eyed relatives also found Peter Clapp's headstone (brother of Hanna ((Clapp)) Sudlow), Great Aunt Louisa and Uncle Dexter Gray's grave, Lucy Lillibridge, and a host of other relatives. Lyn Sudlow, one of my second cousins from Maine had made arrangements with a realtor to tour the house at the intersection of State Route 328 and the Washburn Road. Under all of the dilapidated siding is the original log house built by James Harvey Sudlow in the 1800's. Lyn wanted to buy the house but couldn't justify owning a fixer-upper in Ohio when she lives in Maine. Has it sold yet? The price seemed a bit steep. After a picnic lunch, we went up on the Tick Ridge Road where Bob related his memories of the Tick Ridge School and church. We later found out that Vernie Sudlow and Zada Sudlow were both school teachers there for a time. Bob has some of the old school programs listing them as teachers and my Great grandfather Francis Marion (Frank) Sudlow as the Director. As the sun was sinking lower in the western sky, we loaded the Old Skunk and some of the others into our Jeep and Lyn's Jeep and headed up Cliffie's Lane toward the farm. Bob blazed the trail through the thick underbrush with his machete; pace-maker and all! The rest of us followed his lead right to the house. So... I know �exactly� where the house and barns are now! I could probably find them again with blinders on. I will not have to take Larry upon his offer to take me back there, but I would still enjoy his company when we get the chance to meet, I'm sure! Bob also showed us where the old brick walk was that lead from the house to the well outback. We dug down a ways and found several of the bricks in good condition. Each of us brought a brick home as a memorable keepsake of our visit to the farm and of our ancestors who lived there. The remains of the huge old chestnut tree on the hill behind the old farmhouse are still there. My father used to tell me stories about playing around that old tree when he was a boy in the late nineteen-teens. I brought an extra brick from the sidewalk home for my father. My siblings, our spouses, and their children are going to get together in the spring to bury his brick next to his headstone in Catlin, Illinois. I think he would like that! We had intentions to drop by your house for a "Howdy-do" because everyone has heard so much about you after our meeting a couple of summers ago. But, time ran long and the day got too short to do everything, so we had to pass on the visit. We'll have to do it next time, for sure! I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday was enjoyable and the upcoming Christmas season will be a festive one! Please extend my greetings to your family, and to Bob and Charlene. John Sudlow 1996 Return to the index |