Benjamin Jones Ludlum
A county assessor Benjamin J. Ludlum is a county official who not only performs with fidelity and efficiency the usual routine of duties, but has also brought to his office special vitality and a spirit of service which has resulted in a great improvement of the office, increasing its value to the county and the county's citizenship.
Benjamin Jones Ludlum, who has been a resident of Grant County for a quarter of a century, was born in Butlerville, Warren County, Ohio, March 26, 1870. His parents, Dr. B.F. and Elizabeth (Jones) Ludlum were both born in Warren County, Ohio, and Dr. Ludlum came to Marion, Indiana in 1886, practicing his profession here until his retirement a few years ago. He now lives retired with Benjamin J. at the age of seventy-eight. He was born in June, 1835. At one time he served as county health officer. The mother died in 1882, and of the four children in the family, only one other is now living, John C. Ludlum, whose home is at Lebanon in Warren County, Ohio.
Benjamin Jones Ludlum received his education in the common schools of Warren County, Ohio until the removal of the family to Marion, where he finished in the high school. He also attended the Nation Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, where in 1889 he graduated in the scientific course, and in 1890 in the classical course. His first professional activities were in the educational field, and he was a teacher in Grant County, for a while was connected with the Marion Normal School, and was in the country schools for seven years. His next occupation was practical farming, and he lived on a farm three years, and then became associated with Mr. J.B. McClain as manager or foreman of the dray and transfer line operated by that gentleman in Marion. He remained in this business for a number of years until November, 1910, when he was elected county assessor of Grant County on the Republican ticket. He took up his official duties in January of the following year, his term of office running for four years. In the assessor's office Mr. Ludlum, among other changes and improvements, ahs card-indexed all the records of mortgages, and this system has proved its value in greatly facilitating the work of the township assessor.
On June 16, 1892, Mr. Ludlum married Estelle Davies, of Huntington County, Indiana. Her parents died when she was very young and she was reared in the home of Isaiah Dill from the time she was four years of age. The six children now living of Mr. and Mrs. Ludlum are: Mrs. Lillian Scott, of Franklin Township, Grant County; Miss Estelle; Harrison McKinley; Emma; Evangeline and Roberta. One child, Elizabeth, died in infancy.
For the past three years Mr. Ludlum has been connected with the Marion Fair Association, for two years having been superintendent of privileges. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being chancellor commander, and is chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Benevolent Crew of Neptunes, and the Sons of Veterans.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner