Stephen Loudon, a retired farmer of Fulton, Schoharie County, was born in the town of Blenheim, N. Y., February 16, 1821, son of John and Sarah (Tinkelpaugh) Loudon.
John Loudon was born in Delaware, where he grew to man's estate on the parental homestead. Choosing farming as his life occupation, he moved to Schoharie County, which was then in its primitive wildness. He took up a tract of land in Blenheim, at a time when there were very few clearings in that locality or in the county, and there partly improved a farm. Disposing, however, of his newly acquired land in Blenheim, he bought land in the neighboring town of Gilboa, and was there engaged in his independent calling until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Tinkelpaugh, died at the age of fifty-nine years, having borne him ten children. Four of the nine are still living, namely: Mary, wife of John Mattice; Stephen; Libby, wife of Jacob I. Coons; and Nancy. Both parents were members of the Baptist church.
Stephen Loudon, by persevering industry and wise economy, accumulated considerable property, and while yet a young man purchased a farm in Breakabeen, which he afterward sold, and bought a large farm on Bouck's Island, adjoining the Governor Bouck homestead. Upon that farm he resided until 1894, when he bought his present home property, which is managed by his son-in-law, C. E. Markham, in connection with his own farm. Mr. Loudon has always been deeply interested in the welfare and advancement of the town of his adoption. In politics he is a firm supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
On August 31, 1846, Mr. Loudon married Lavinia Whaley, who is a native of Dutchess County, New York, and is the only living child born to the late Daniel and Sarah (Carpenter) Whaley.
Mr. and Mrs. Loudon have three daughters, namely: Caroline, wife of Prof. C. E. Markham, teacher and farmer of Fulton; Emma, wife of George Coykendall; and Mary, wife of Peter E. Schoonmaker, both of whom are successful business men in Kingston, N. Y. These daughters are all graduates of the State Normal School, and were all of them teachers in their younger days. Mr. London is a member of the Baptist church, and Mrs. London belongs to the Reformed church.