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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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A. Hudgens was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1834, and is the son of John and Nancy (Durham) Hudgens, and the grandson of James Hudgens, a native of Virginia. John Hudgens was also a native Virginian, but later moved to Tennessee, where he married Miss Durham. He had limited opportunities for an education, but made up for this to some extent by studying at home. Besides his work on the farm he conducted a store in Marion, Ill., and at one time was in quite comfortable circumstances, but was obliging enough to place his name on a friend’s bond, in consequence of which he was compelled to pay a large sum of money. Thus he was badly harassed for some time. A. Hudgens attained his growth in Tennessee, learning the carpenter’s trade, and went with his father to Illinois in 1852. He was married in that State to Miss Harriet Mclntosh, a native of Williamson County, Ill., and the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Mason) Mclntosh, who came from Robertson County, Tenn. After living in Illinois until 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Hudgens moved to St. Francis, there being but one dwelling there at that time, and put up the third house in the village. Here they now live and have a very nice residence. He has followed his trade and has built more than half the houses since he came. He has followed contracting and building, and is now holding the office of justice of the peace in the county. To his marriage were born seven children, all in Illinois. They are named as follows: Emma, received her education in the high school at Marion, Ill., and after teaching in that State for some time is now teaching in Arkansas; Sula, at present finishing her education at Carbondale, and is studying stenography, having taken one course in St. Louis; Minnie, is attending school at the State University at Fayetteville, Ark., and will graduate in the class of 1889; Oscar, is also attending the same school and will graduate in 1889; Frank is at home; Gertrude is also at home, and Bessie, an infant. Mr. Hudgens is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located at St. Francis, as is also his wife, and he affiliates with the Democratic party in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Clay County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clay County, Arkansas family biographies here: Clay County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Clay County, Arkansas here: Clay County, Arkansas Map

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