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Camden County New Jersey
Genealogy and History
Biographies


Captain William C. Scudder, the President and Treasurer of the Scudder
Lumber company, which has its yards on Delaware Avenue and Arch Streets,
Camden, was born at Cape May, N.J., April 21, 1823, son of David and Martha
(Gandy) Scudder. His grandfather, Samuel Scudder, who is thought to have come
to Salem County from Cape Code, Massachusetts, and was a large land-owner,
spent much of his time in looking after his property. He was the father of
seven children, and died in middle age. David Scudder spent his boyhood on a
farm, and was educated in the common schools. On taking up the serious duties
of life, he engaged in farming and lumbering, which he afterward followed
throughout the remainder of hiw active period. He lived to be seventy-five
years of age. His wife, Martha, born near Tuckahoe, N.J., was one of the
seven children of John Gandy, a general farmer and market-gardener. She had
nine children, seven of whom are still living. William C. Scudder is the
eldest. David is a physician in Tennessee; Martha is the wife of Captain
A. V. Corson, who is clerk for H. B. Woolston; Sarah married Matthew Hess;
Tabitha is the widow of the late Henry Wright; Lydia Ann is the widow of
the late Elmer Lake; and Thomas E. lives with William C. Their mother died
at the age of ninety-three years. Both parents were identified with the
Methodist church.

Until fourteen years of age William C. Scudder lived in Cold Spring,
N.J., receiving his education in the common schools. He then engaged on a
coasting-vessel running between Philadelphia and New York. At twenty-three
he had risen to be first mate of a vessel, and was serving in that capacity
when he witnessed the attack of General Scott upon the city of Vera Cruz. On
his return from the Gulf of Mexico to Charleston he was made master of
the vessel. From that time he was engaged in the West India trade, making
occasional trips to Yucatan and the Brazilian coast. When forty-one years
old, and after twenty-seven years of sea life, he came to Camden, and with
Robert Cook, forming the firm of Scudder & Cook, began to manufacture doors,
sashes, and blinds, and to keep a lumber yard. After seven years Captain
Scudder bought Mr. Cook's interest for fifty thousand dollars, and carried
on the business alone up to 1881. In that year he took his son, Reuben G.,
into partnership, and the business was carried on under the name of Scudder &
Son until in 1891, when the Scudder Lumber Company was former. Captain Scudder
and son abandoned their sash and blind factory in 1890, and have since devoted
their entire time to the lumber trade, handling all descriptions of hard
and soft lumber. The lumber yard is said to be the largest in the State,
and it is the second oldest in Camden County or Southern New Jersey. Their
factory building is rented to the Camden Wood Turning Company.

In 1848 Captain Scudder was united in marriage with Martha Godfrey, a daughter
of Captain Reuben Godfrey. Her father was a retired sea captain, and lived
at Cape May, near Seaville, where he conducted a large gristmill. Captain
and Mrs. Scudder became the parents of seven children, of whom three are
living - Martha, Reuben G., and Bertha J. Martha married William McCully,
and has two children - Florence and William; William McCully is in business
on Market Street; Reuben G. Scudder, who is in business with his father,
married Fannie F. Fitzgerald, and has three children - Howard G., William C.,
and Rollin F.; Bertha J. Scudder, the youngest daughter, resides at home
with the father. The mother died when sixty years of age. The Captain has
since married Mrs. Ellen Corson, a native of Cape May County. In politics
Captain Scudder is a Democrat. For many years he has held the office of
Master Port Warden of the city and county. He was also for years a chosen
Freeholder. Both he and Mrs. Scudder are members of the Baptist church,
of which he has been a Trustee for many years. In former years he belonged
to the Masonic order.

[Source: BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, CONTAINING LIFE SKETCHES OF LEADING CITIZENS
OF CAMDEN AND BURLINGTON COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY, BOSTON - BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1897 - Transcribed by FOFG]

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