John Scudder (January 24, 1815 – May 23, 1869)''Architecture of the Old South'', Mills Lane (1993), p. 161 was an American

master builder A master builder or master mason is a central figure leading construction projects in pre-modern times (a combination of a modern expert carpenter, construction site supervisor, and architect / engineer). Historically, the term has generally ref ...

who was prominent in the second half of the 19th century. During his time in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Brita ...

, he became one of the city's "most prolific and successful

antebellum Antebellum, Latin for "before war", may refer to: United States history * Antebellum South, the pre-American Civil War period in the Southern US ** Antebellum Georgia ** Antebellum South Carolina ** Antebellum Virginia * Antebellum architectu ...

builders".''Savannah, Immortal City: Volume One of the Civil War Savannah Series''
- Barry Sheehy, Cindy Wallace, Vaughnette Goode-Walker (2011), p. 287

Early life

John Scudder was born on January 24, 1815, to

Amos Amos or AMOS may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Amos'' (album), an album by Michael Ray * Amos (band), an American Christian rock band * ''Amos'' (film), a 1985 American made-for-television drama film * Amos (guitar), a 1958 Gibson Fl ...

and Phebe Scudder. He was one of their eleven children, and the eighth in the family's line of Johns. He was baptized on July 2 at the Presbyterian Church in

Westfield, New Jersey Westfield is a Town (New Jersey), town in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 31,032, an increase of 716 (+2.4% ...

.''Amos Scudder: A Yankee in Savannah'', Shelley Carroll, Armstrong State College (1994)

Career

Scudder worked with his younger brother, Ephraim Scudder (1819–1872), for about twenty years.''Savannah in the Old South'', Walter J. Fraser (2005), p. 273 They formed their own practice, J. & E. Scudder, in Savannah. Between 1847 and 1858, the brothers were owners and part-owners of the Savannah–Ogeechee Canal, which was completed in 1830. More a passion of their father's, their interest in the canal waned after his death in 1856. In late 1855, Scudder purchased a large amount of Savannah Grey bricks from the McAlpin Brothers, who owned the Hermitage Plantation just east of the city. By 1860, aged 45, his wealth had reached $87,000. He also owned five slaves at that time.

Notable works

* 11 East Jones Street, Savannah (1851)''Historic Savannah'',

Mary Lane Morrison Mary Lane Morrison (August 15, 1907 – July 16, 1994) was an American writer, historian and preservationist. She was the curator of the Georgia Historical Society, a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state ...

(1979), p. 174 * 15 East Jones Street, Savannah (1851) *

Scudder's Row Scudder's Row (possibly Scudders Row) is a historic row house in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It comprises the five homes from 1 to 9 East Gordon Street, in the southeastern residential block of Monterey Square, and was completed in 1853. ...

, 1–9 East Gordon Street, Savannah (1853) * Quantock Row, 17–31 Jones Street, Savannah (1854)''Historic Savannah'',

(1979), p. 166 File:John_Scudder_House.jpg, 11 East Jones Street, Savannah File:John_Scudder_Property_(2).jpg, 15 East Jones Street, Savannah

Personal life

In December 1839, Scudder married Sarah Amanda Crawford Wilson at Savannah's First Baptist Church, which his father helped construct six years earlier. They had two children: Mary Elizabeth and Henry Wyler. Amos Scudder was living in Savannah when daughter Catherine was baptized at the First Baptist Church on October 7, 1853.

Death

Scudder died on May 23, 1869, in Westfield, from acute

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

. He was 54. Ephraim died in Savannah three years later while visiting Thomas Davis, a friend of his. He had been ill for a period of time, and was visiting Bryan County in the hopes of recuperating. He is buried in Savannah's Laurel Grove North Cemetery. His headstone reads "a beloved brother". His and John's sister, Caroline (1823–1884), is also buried in Laurel Grove North, alongside her husband, Milton Julius Buckner (1809–1875).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scudder, John 1815 births 1869 deaths American builders People from Westfield, New Jersey Artisans from Savannah, Georgia American slave owners Deaths from pneumonia in New Jersey Burials at Laurel Grove Cemetery