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Name: DUDER, Alexander Francis 'Alex'

Birth Date: 1 Jan 1879 Taunton, Somerset

Death Date: 30.1.1947 Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside, Westmorland

First Date: 1904

Profession: One of the early settlers in the Muhoroni area where he farmed. Later he joined F.A. Bates at Molo and then in 1909 bought a 2800 acre farm near Molo where he concentrated mostly on cattle and merino sheep.

Area: Muhoroni, Westmorland Farm Molo, Rongai, 1930 Kampi-Ya-Moto, 1919 Faida Estate Nakuru, Red 22 - Fiada, Nakuru

Married: In Formby 24 Mar 1915 Constance Mary Mellor b. 26 Sep 1887 Garston, Lancs., d. 1 Dec 1965 Tettenhall

Children: Alexander Hyde (28 July 1917 Molo River-18 Jan 1972); dau Leslie (11 July 1916 Nakuru-1996); Michael Sedgwick (25 Mar 1922 Nakuru-9 Mar 1942 RAF in war, buried in Uden War cem. Noord, Neths.)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, Cuckoo, KFA, Gethin, Joelson, Kenya Diary, Verandah, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Playne, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, Advertiser, EAHB 1906, AJ, North, EAHB 1907, Leader14, Rift Valley, Red Book 1912, LG, Red 19

War Service: WW1 with KAR - wounded in hip and leg

General Information:

Farmer. Half portion "Ferada Estate" with John Stanning. Eventually sold his share in the estate to John Stanning in the disastrous drought years
Stephen Ellis's ledger shows Duder & Bates (with Bates deleted), Westerland [sic], Molo, July 1907.
Cuckoo - mentions him as coming up from S. Africa with his partner Dix. Mentioned again - despite Muhoroni's unhealthy character, the area had already attracted a few European settlers with a view to cotton growing. Several farms were already occupied. Duder and Dix, in partnership, were the pioneer settlers in this region; but, about a year after his arrival, Dix died of blackwater fever on their farm. Duder did not remain long in that district, but removed to the Nakuru region and successfully grew sisal there. Story of Christmas dinner with Dix and Maples, minus Foran.
1939 England and Wales Register living with wife in The Lakes, Westmorland, as retired farmer
Gethin - 1908 - 'Duder occupied another farm [at Molo] and some distance past him were the two Abraham brothers, whose father was, I believe, at that time the Bishop of Bath and Wells.'
Kenya Diary - Muhoroni - Jan 1906 - All the captured cattle from the Nandi expedition have been concentrated at Muhoroni, where two Englishmen called Duder and Dick have got the contract for looking after them and moving them to Nairobi and other centres.
Playne - Westmorland Farm - Mr A.F. Duder is one of the many men who came to BEA by way of South Africa. He is just the sort of settler a new country wants, for he had had experience of farming even before he left the Motherland. He went out in 1900 from England to South Africa, where he was on Government farms after the war. Four years later he arrived in Nairobi, and set to work on 16,000 acres of land at Muhoroni, 4,000 of which were his own property. He gave up his interest in this farm on account of malarial fever, and then worked for the Govt. in the Nandi Reserve (repatriating etc.) Afterwards he went into partnership with Mr F.A. Bates at Molo, and took up 7,000 acres. In 1908 he dissolved the partnership, and early in the same year he managed 6,000 head of captured stock at Kericho, in the Lumbwa District, as well as Govt. cattle captured in the Kisii expedition. Then he took Westmorland Farm, of 2,800 acres, 11 miles from Molo Station. Here he has plenty of timber for his own use, excellent grazing for sheep and cattle, and a good water supply. .......... The buildings are of split cedar logs, with iron roof, and thatched. From one tree on the farm some 800 logs, 8 feet long were cut, and a waggon has been built from timber growing on the property.
Drumkey - Cattle Brand - T1D - Duder & Bates, Molo
Drumkey 1909 Directory of Residents - J. Duder, Muhoroni 
Red 22 has A.F. Duder, Fianda, Nakuru AND A.F. Duder, JP, Molo
Red 22 - Justice of the Peace - Molo - A.F. Duder
Land 1909 - A.F. Duder - Grazing and agricultural, 2817.83 acres - Mau Escarpment - 24/9/06 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/10/06 - Registered 26/8/09
Advertiser - 12/6/1908 - Advert - Butter from Messrs Duder & Bates, Molo
EAHB 1906 - A.F. Duder, Nyando River Estate, Muhoroni
Agricultural Journal 1908 - Brands allotted and registered - Duder & Bates, Molo - Lumbwa T1D
Joelson - Notes in proof copy of 'Eastern Africa Today' - Approved Vacancies for Pupils (Convention of Assocns.) - A.F. Duder, Kampi ya Moto
North - Arr. Mombasa from Zanzibar 113/3/1904; Land Grant application, Nyando River 7/4/1904; Landholder's Game Licence, Muhoroni, 2/8/1905
EAHB 1907 - J. Duder - Muhoroni
Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 1910 - A.F. Duder
Red Book 1912 - A.F. Duder - Naivasha London
Gazette - 23 Feb 1917 - granted temporary rank for service with the Forces in East Africa - as Captain
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - A.F. Duder - Farmer - Nakuru and Constance Mary Duder - Married - Nakuru
Red Book 1919 - District Committees - Nakuru - A.F. Duder
Red 25 - JP, Molo
 

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