Dudley's father, Franklin, came to Kansas in 1854 shortly after the passage of the Kansas - Nebraska Act. Dudley came to Kansas shortly after his father, in 1855, but left shortly to search for gold in Colorado, lasting but a year. Dudley, a large man who stood six foot three and weighed 210 pounds, enjoyed little mining success and decided to join the Union Army in 1861, becoming "Master of Transportation." He was out of the army by 1863. Then, he devoted himself to public service, and in the years 1872, 1875, and 1876, Dudley was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives; and in 1876 he served as Speaker of the House. He also served in the U.S. Congress as the Kansas representative from the Second Congressional District in 1878, 1880, and 1882.

This image from E.F. Caldwell's "A Souvenir History of Lawrence, Kansas, 1898."