340 TJic American Geologist. June, i899 
integrity, deep piety, sound sense and solid character made 
him a marked man in the community and in the church." 
Doubtless these characters in the father explain the traits so 
conspicuously seen in Benjamin, as well as in his brothers. 
James, Zachery and Thomas, who were all clergymen, the last 
named professor of sacred literature in McKendree college, 
and all more or less noted as scholars and authors. Of the 
thirteen members of the family, eight reached maturity, and 
all, but especially the sons, were of studious and scholarly habit 
from early childhood. 
Professor Aludge received his early education in the pul)!ic 
schools of Lynn, whither his parents returned while he was 
yet an infant. He prepared for college in the Lynn and Wil- 
braham academies. He entered Wesleyan Lfniversity at ]\Iid- 
dletown. Conn., in the sophomore year and graduated in the 
scientific course in 1840. The following year he returned, 
however, to complete the classical course. While a student at 
Wesleyan L^niversity he first made the acquaintance of Alex- 
ander Winchell. the well-known geologist and author, who 
graduated a few years later at the same institution. 
During the time of his preparation for college and later. 
Benjamin aided his father in his shoe business at Lynn, since 
the rearing and education of the eight sons and daughters was 
a not inconsiderable draft upon the family resources, though 
his father was a man of some considerable means for those 
days . 
After graduation, he entered upon the study of law, and 
was admitted to the bar of Essex county. Mass., in 1844. He 
practiced his profession at Lynn until 1859, largely in probate 
work. During this period he held the oflfices of mayor of the 
city of Lynn and associate justice of the police court. An 
ardent, but by no means unreasonable advocate of temperance 
throughout his whole life it was upon this issue that he was 
made mayor. The following, from a Lynn paper published at 
the time of his election to the of^.ce might have been said of 
Mudge at an\- period of his life with entire truth: "He is 
openly and unequivocally on the side of temperance and moral- 
ity; his example is such as any father may hold up to his son 
to follow; his qualifications are undoubted; he will always be 
at the post of duty, calm, clear-headed, and prudent." 
