Nelson Ludington

Nelson Ludington (January 18, 1818 – January 15, 1883) was a nineteenth-century businessman, lumber baron and banker. He was associated with the forming of the city of Escanaba, Michigan. Ludington was a past president of the Fifth National Bank of Chicago and much involved with the bank.

Ludington's great great great great grandfather William Ludington is the progenitor of the American branch of the Ludington family line. William (b. 1608) and his wife Ellen (b. 1617) were of English origins and started the Ludington family in America. They immigrated to the 13 Colonies in 1640 right after they were married in England and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts. They had seven children. About 1660 they moved to New Haven, Connecticut.

Ludington's grandfather Henry Ludington had moved from Branford, Connecticut, to Putnam County, New York, settling at what has since been called Ludingtonville of his namesake, which was later known as Kent, New York.

Ludington was born January 18, 1818, in Ludingtonville in Putnam County, New York. His father was Frederick Ludington and was married to Susannah Griffeth. Ludington was fourth of their sixteen children. He received private schooling by tutors for his early education. Ludington took courses at the Tucker Hill Academy as his last part of his formal education.

Ludington's training for the business world started at a general store at Cold Spring, New York. He later became a clerk in a dry goods store in New York City and received further training in retail business. Ludington in 1839 joined his brother, Harrison Ludington, in the firm Ludington, Burchard and Company which was owned by his brother, his uncle Lewis Ludington, and Harvey Burchard. After two years he purchased Burchard's share of the business and the firm changed its name to just Ludington and Company. Ludington was with the business until 1847 when he sold his ownership part to the other partners.

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