One of the old settlers and retired farmers now living in Miltonvale is Lewis M. Trudell, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Trudell was born in Vermont in 1830. His parents were James and Bridget (Crapo) Trudell, both of French origin. James Trudell came from France to Canada when a young man and settled in the Province of Quebec, subsequently moving to Franklin county, Vermont, where he farmed in the Green Mountain country until his death in 1867. His wife died ten years later.

Lewis M. Trudell was one of eleven children, four of whom are living, viz: Eli, a farmer of Clay county, Kansas, and two sisters in Franklin county, Vermont. Mr. Trudell began his career by working on a farm and after several years bought a backwoods farm of two hundred and forty acres and in 1855 chopped the first tree to build his cabin. In 1869 he came to Illinois and settled in Henry county, where he farmed rented land four years. In 1873 he came to Kansas and took up a claim in the western part of Clay county, one mile distant from the Cloud county line, where he built a sort of "stone stockade," covered with dirt, and lived in true pioneer style for four years. In 1888 he traded his farm for a livery stable in Miltonvale, which he conducted profitably for eleven years and sold to his son, who, in turn, sold two years later to its present proprietor, James Stelter. In 1890 Mr. Trudell bought a cozy residence property, where he and his amiable wife are spending their declining years. Mr. Trudell owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Starr township - the original Adams homestead.

In 1849 Mr. Trudell was married to Delia Domina, of Franklin county, Vermont. Her parents were Canadian by birth and of French origin. Mr. and Mrs. Trudell have had born to them seven children, five of whom are living viz: Moses L., of Idana, Kansas, where he owns and operates an elevator and a lumber yard. Eli, a prosperous farmer of Clay county; Marion E., wife of Albert LaDue, a stone mason of Lead, South Dakota; Alice E. Burdick, of Miltonvale (see sketch of Burdick's Hotel); Jennie, wife of W.C. Wolf, a dentist of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Corris died in 1890 at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife and six children. He was a business man of Clay Center, Kansas; Nettie, deceased wife of Robert McNea, a farmer of Clay county; she died in 1892, leaving three children.

Mr. Trudell enlisted in Company A, Ninth Vermont Volunteer Infantry at the last call and served nine months; was on guard duty a greater part of the time. He is a Republican in politics; has held the office of justice of the peace for four years; was mayor of the town in 1896-7 and has served on the board of city council.

This estimable couple have been members of the Christian church for eleven years and are held in the highest esteem by their neighbors and friends. Mr. Trudell has the reputation of using his influence and best efforts for the promotion of all things that tend to make better his town or country.