Although Lee Dudgeon’s farm near Soledad is not the largest in the vicinity, it is acknowledged as one of the best managed and best improved in that part of Monterey county. Its owner was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 2, 1870, a son of David and Mary Jane (Freeman) Dudgeon. His paternal grandfather, Simon Dudgeon, was a native of the Emerald isle, though David Dudgeon was born in this country. The latter was engaged in farming all his life and was known as one of the leading sheep raisers of Knox county.
Lee Dudgeon grew to manhood on his father’s farm, attending the common schools during the fall and winter seasons, where he picked up a good practical education. As a boy he took a great interest in his father’s sheep and became an expert sheep shearer, following this occupation every spring for a number of years, both before he left home and afterward. About 1897 he went to Adams county, Iowa, where he farmed for three years. Subsequently he was on a small ranch near King City, California, for one and one-half years, and came to Soledad in 1904. Here he rented a farm for a few years and then purchased what was known as the Charles Romie farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres. He has since sold ninety-six acres of this land and has brought the remaining seventy-five acres under a high state of cultivation. His principal crops are beans and alfalfa and he has over two hundred high-grade sheep. Mr. Dudgeon has long contended that the raising of sheep was profitable and has proven his contention to be correct, even on high priced land.
Mr. Dudgeon has always taken great interest in all subjects pertaining to agriculture. He was active in the organization of the Fort Romie Grange in 1911 and has been master for nine of the years of its existence. He has also served as steward in the California State Grange and is now state deputy for the counties of Monterey and San Joaquin counties. His dwelling-house is one of the best in the county. There is also a tenant house on the farm, most of the improvements having been made by him since the place came into his possession. Mr. Dudgeon is president of the Fort Romie Water Company.
Mr. Dudgeon was married to Miss Jennie Ulrey of the San Luis valley, Colorado. Mr. Dudgeon is a master mason and both he and Mrs. Dudgeon belong to the Eastern Star. Politically he is a democrat, and he has membership in the Baptist church.
Source: History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California : cradle of California’s history and romance : dating from the planting of the cross of Christendom upon the shores of Monterey Bay by Fr. Junipero Serra, and those intrepid adventurers who accompanied him, down to the present day. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1925.