John Scudder (builder)

John Scudder was born on January 24, 1815, to Amos 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.[3]

Scudder worked with his younger brother, Ephraim Scudder (1819–1872),[1] for about twenty years.[4] 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.[5] More a passion of their father's, their interest in the canal waned after his death in 1856.[3]

In late 1855, Scudder purchased a large amount of Savannah Grey bricks from the McAlpin Brothers.[6]

By 1860, aged 45, his wealth had reached $87,000. He also owned five slaves at that time.[4]

• 11 East Jones Street, Savannah (1851)[7]
• 15 East Jones Street, Savannah (1851)[7]
• Scudder's Row, 1–9 East Gordon Street, Savannah (1853)[8]
• Quantock Row, 17–31 Jones Street, Savannah (1854)[9]

• 
  11 East Jones Street, Savannah
• 
  15 East Jones Street, Savannah

Savannah's First Baptist Church, where Scudder was married in 1839

In December 1839, Scudder married Sarah Amanda Crawford Wilson at Savannah's First Baptist Church, which his father helped construct six years earlier.[3] They had two children: Mary Elizabeth and Henry Wyler.[3]

Amos Scudder was living in Savannah when daughter Catherine was baptized at the First Baptist Church on October 7, 1853.[3]