Boone County >> 1902 Index

A Biographical Record of Boone County, Iowa. 
Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1902.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Michael E Judge submitted by Janette Lager

Among the self-made men of Boone county who are now prosperous as a result of indefatigable labor and keen discernment in business affairs is Michael E Judge, who is now the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred acres on section 23, Colfax township. He was made his home in Boone county since 1872, a native of Wisconsin , his birth occurring in Janesville , Rock county October 18, 1855. His father James Judge, was an early settler of Rock county, where he followed farming for some time. About 1865 he removed to Green county, Wisconsin where he followed farming for two years and in 1873 came to Iowa , settling on section 13, Colfax township, Boone county. The land which he secured was wild and unimproved, but with the aid of his sons he developed an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for several years. Removing then to Boone, he lived retired in that city for a few years and then took up his abode in Ames, Iowa and since the death of his wife in August 1890 has resided with his son in Ames. He is now a hale and hearty old man of seventy-two years and is one of the respected and honored citizens of this portion of the state. Michael E Judge spent the first seventeen years of his life in the state of his nativity and no event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth. He attended the common schools, worked in the fields and enjoyed the pleasures of the playground as he found opportunity. He remained with his father until he attained his majority and aided him in developing the old home farm in Boone county. On the 31 st of March 1891 , he was joined in wedlock to Miss Maggie J Kirby, who was born, reared and educated in Monroe county, a daughter of John Kirby, one of the early settlers of that locality. Their marriage has been blessed with five daughters: Mary Agnes, Helen T., Margaret J., Frances B., Adnah V. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Judge came to the farm upon which they are now living. He first purchased eighty acres of land on section 22, breaking and fencing this and over the plowed fields scattering grain which in due course of time brought forth rich harvests. After placing his first purchase under cultivation he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now resides and has since built a good residence and stable, and has added all the improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century. He uses the latest machinery in carrying on his farm work and is also engaged in raising of good graded stock, being numbered among the prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of Colfax township. He finds little time to take an active part in political affairs, but strongly endorses Democratic principles and has voted for each presidential candidate of the party since casting his first vote for Samuel J Tilden in 1876. At local elections, however, he is independent, thinking only of the capability of the candidate without regard to party ties. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church in Ames . During thirty years, Mr. Judge has resided in Boone County , this covering the entire period of his manhood. He has seen the wild land broken and fenced, while the district has been so splendidly cultivated that it is now one of the richest farming portions of Iowa . Mr. Judge is well known in Boone county as a man of sterling worth and both he and his wife have many friends in this part of the state.