Ancestry

I discovered some photos that my father had saved, along with a few news clippings. These are located here.

My father filled in the Collins Ludden end of the family (see file below) for the book James Ludden, the Old Planter, 1611-1692 and descendants, published 1971. Collins will have no living descendants in a few years.

My grandfather, Jerome (Romie) A Ludden, Sr, owned the Ludden Drug Company in Pomona California for fifty years. Jerome A. Ludden and spouse Minnie N. Ludden lived at 770 East Holt Avenue. Jerome was a pharmacist. Merritt W (Ida B) retired is listed as living at 1050 Loma Vista. Merritt W. and Jerome A. Ludden, Sr were brothers. Jerome A. Ludden is listed in Brackett's 1920 edition of A Brief Early History of the San Jose Rancho as the proprietor of the Ludden Drug Company at 300 West Second Street. The business is described as a first-class complete establishment and one of the pioneer drug companies of the city. He was the son of Collin Ludden who was a druggist for many years in Windom, Minn, before coming to Pomona on June 15, 1895. Collin ranched for the first few years on North San Antonio Ave. He then bought out the drug store of S. Caldwell at 410 West Second Street and after a few years in that location moved the business to 300 West Second Street on the corner of Main. In 1914 he sold out the establishment to his son Jerome. Jerome was fifteen when he came to Pomona. Jerome completed a pharmaceutical degree from USC in 1900. Jerome married Minnie Newkirk, a native of Kansas. In 1920 they had one son Jerome A. Ludden Jr.

On my mother's side, Guy G. Frary was a state chemist for South Dakota. The Frarys came to America early, too. See The Frary Family In America 1637-1980. So both families came to this continent early. The first Frarys came from England and settled in Massachusetts.