Amos Scudder

Amos Scudder (February 14, 1779 – June 13, 1856)^[1] was an American architect, builder and freemason.^[2] According to his biographer, Shelley Carroll, Scudder was "an aggressive, litigious entrepreneur who made financial success his business."^[3]

Scudder was the father of noted builders Ephraim and John Scudder, who were prominent in Savannah, Georgia, in the second half of the 19th century. Amos was also a prominent Savannah citizen who constructed some of the city's finest public and private buildings. He also served on the city council for nine years.^[3]

The Savannah–Ogeechee Canal, his "pet in the winter of his years", became known as "Scudder's Canal" in the 1830s.^[3]

Early life

Amos Scudder was born in Westfield, New Jersey, on February 14, 1779, the sixth child of the eight of American Revolutionary War veteran Captain Ephraim Scudder (1742–1788) and Martha Spinning (1750–1814). His siblings were Rachel, Ephraim, Sally (or Sarah), Elizabeth (or Jenny), Arrowsmith (Smith), Anne, Phebe and John Spinning.^[4]

Career

Scudder moved from Westfield to Savannah in the first quarter of the 19th century, appearing regularly in post-office records from 1811. For a long period, he maintained Westfield as his permanent address, while wintering in Savannah.^[5]

In 1830, Scudder was elected an alderman on the Savannah city council, a role in which he remained until 1839.^[3] The same year, he lost several buildings in a fire, including his Steam Saw Mill.^[3]

He was a contractor for several of Savannah's notable buildings, including the William Jay-designed The Savannah Theatre, the Nathanael Greene Monument, the First Baptist Church, the City Hotel and the Independent Presbyterian Church.^[3]

Personal life

In 1800, Scudder built a brick mansion in Westfield. It was demolished in 1970.^[3] Three years later, on September 23, 1803, he married Phebe Ross, the couple having had a marriage license since 1793, when Amos was 14 years old.^[3]

The couple had eleven children: Theodore, Emily P., Mary, Ann Eliza, Amos Picton, John, Catherine C., Ephraim, Caroline Mathilda, Phoebe and Sarah.^[3]

In 1820, Scudder purchased lot number 2, Frederick Tything, Derby Ward in Savannah.^[3] One of his other properties, in Johnson Square, on the southeast corner of Congress and Bull Streets, was purchased by J. P. Screven and became the Screven House hotel in 1857.^[3] It replaced Wiltberger's Pulaski House "as Savannah's finest."^[6]

Phebe Scudder died on July 31, 1838, aged 58. She is buried in the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield.^[3]

Death

Scudder died in Plainfield, New Jersey, on June 13, 1856, aged 77. His will left three of his sons — Amos Picton, John and Ephraim — as its executors. The will also identified five slaves as his property.^[3]

Selected notable works

• Ann Hamilton House, Savannah – now the oldest building on the city's oldest square

References