The Search for David Lufkin and Caroline Kelsey,

Parents of Susan Josephine (Dudley) Titus

By Connie Lenzen

The Titus family in 1897, Charlotte, Michigan.

Seated: Susan (Johnson) Dudley, Ben Edward Titus, William Henry Dudley.

Standing: Tzilla Lila Titus, William Sanford Titus, Jr., Susan Josephine (Dudley) Titus, Dudley Roy Titus.

My Life

To day sitting here I was led to think over the way I have been led all through these 95 yrs and I did want to call to remembrance how God look over and cared for me all the way. I was one of eight children born to inhabit so much that was noble and religious from a godly father and mother.

About the time I was getting my schooling Mary Lyon was making the venture of starting a school for girls for a higher education. My home was not far from Mt. Holyoke. Her school was a success and when her pupils graduated after four years they had a good college education. The expense was only sixty dollars a year. The pupils doing all the work.

Finally in 1837, [Mary Lyon] returned to Massachusetts and founded Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts. [For further information about Mt. Holyoke, go to http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/library/arch/col/lyonr.htm. Last viewed 30 March 2002.]

My Father sent all his children to Andover and now as the year comes round I always receive a circular and am considered one of the alumni of Abbott Academy. [Note: Abbott Academy, Andover College is in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts.]

I taught a country school when I was seventeen and as I was exceedingly fond of music I was sent to Worcester to study both the piano and vocal music. I remained in Worcester 2 years taught in the public school sang in a quartet on Sundays. I sang several times at Edward Hales church while he was pastor in Worcester at the early age of 25 years.

I was married when I was twenty to William Dudley in the year 1850 on the first day of January.

Now after 73 years of married life with a husband who never gave me an unkind word, blessed memory, he went home 20 yrs ago trusting in Jesus while I have lived to be an old woman. [William Henry Dudley died 1 March 1904 in Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan.]

We went housekeeping in Rogersonville. Mr. Dudley kept the village store for five years. Then he went to Boston doing business on Long Wharf. We went to Charles Woods to board, stayed there 1 year, then went to housekeeping at Newton.

In 1857 next year moved to Melrose where we remained several years. In the next year we adopted Charlie when he was four months old. I had been married 9 years. 2 years later we adopted Frankie a sweet lovable boy 2 yrs old. About a year after we adopted Bessie. She was left on the doorstep of a house in Boston just a baby a few weeks old. Bessie died when she was 3 yrs and five months old. Oh how we did love her. She was a remarkable singer. When only 11 months old she would sing the tune Greenfield. Oh how hard it is to give up these little ones no one knows but those who have had such an experience themselves 

Next year we moved to Cambridge. We adopted a little baby girl who only lived a few months. She had some trouble with her lungs when we took her and we laid her beside Bessie at Cambridge.

About this time Mr. Dudley dissolved partnership  it was a time of great financial panic and men were failing in business all the time  Mr. Dudley never failed although their business suffered in those years.

Next year went West to Kalamazoo. Charlie was 7 yrs old. We adopted the same year our baby Susie,  she was four months old.

While we lived in Kalamazoo I became very much interested in the Temperance work  was in the praying band that visited every saloon in the village and closed them. I became an active member of the Woman's Temperance Union worked with Frances Willard, helped the boys clubs of Murphy Blue and also the red clubs of reformed boys.

I had now been married 30 years. Charles was 22 and Susie was 16 the day we moved to Charlotte. After two years Susie was married to Mr. W.S. Titus. Boarded with us until Dee was two years, went to housekeeping but owning to an accident, Mr. Dudley came back to the house and had part of the house so they kept house by themselves Tzilla was born. Will went to Saranec into business for Brown brothers. Will went into business in Grand Ledge. Mr. Dudley went with him as silent partner. There was terms at financial crisis and many failed Will's among other after all was settled we found our house was saved as Mr. Dudley had turned over to me after paying Miss Titus what we owed her and Mrs. Dann who had a mortgage on the house had about $3,000 left. Bought a house and lived with sister Josie 2 years. After her death went to live on Henry street in a house I had bought.

After 5 years went to Portland. I was then about 80 yrs old have lived with Will until now a dependent on Mr. Titus who has kindly offered me a home. I am now 95 yrs old. I do want to be willing to live until God calls me home. He knows best and loves me as one of His dear children saved through faith in Jesus and born again by the Holy Sprit just waiting. I have never had a serious illness except having an ovarian tumor removed when I was about 70 yrs old. In all my life I have never known what severe pain is, never even having headache, never had children and never had my monthly sickness after I was 25 yrs old. Am well except as old age creeps on and my inability to walk owing to spinal trouble

Susan Dudley

Milla Tzila Lufkin child of David and Caroline Elisabeth Lufkin, born in Boston Mass May 12/65.

Father born in Ipswich Mass, formerly a seaman, latterly a boot maker.

Deserted his wife over a year.

Mothers maiden name Kelsey, born in Princeton, Mass.

No relatives of either party known.

"Home" and Probate papers signed Sep 23/65.

Copy of surrender and Probate papers sent Oct 1/65 to William H. and Susan H. Dudley, West Cambridge Mass. Firm Dudley & Butler 51 Commercial St. Boston Mass. Box 1557.

Mr. & Mrs. Dudley to move to Kalamazoo Michigan.

Name changed to Rena Alice Dudley. Paid for board $5 to Oct 5/65

Oct 21/84 Rena married Wm. S. Titus of Charlotte, Mich. where they all reside. Genuine adoption papers were made out at this time.

May 23/89 rec'd a letter of inquiery from Mr. W. S. Titus in which he speaks of his little boy 3 years old and a darling daughter 7 months old. The letter was dated Saranac, Mich. Mr. & Mrs. Dudley then living.

A true Copy

Very Truly

Matilda Goddard

251 Newbury St.

Boston, Mass.

Lufkin, David, born in Ipswich, Mass., lived in Charlestown, Mass., in 1865, married Caroline Elizabeth Kelsey, born in Princeton, Mass., had child, Milla Tzilla, born in Boston, Mass., May 12, 1865. Any information leading to the address of above persons or their heirs will be thankfully received by.

S. M. Watson,

Portland, Me.