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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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O. C. Ludwig is the editor of the Herald Journal, one of the best wide-awake, breezy and ably-edited journals of the State. Mr. Ludwig was born in Decatur, Ala., in 1858, being the eldest of six children born to Frederick and Mary (Hoxter) Ludwig, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Maryland. The father came to the United States at the age of twelve years, being brought there by his parents, and after coming to Arkansas, he followed the calling of a confectioner in Decatur, and died in 1878. He served in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion and did some gallant service for the cause he espoused. His widow survives him. The immediate subject of this sketch attended the schools of Huntsville, Ala., and at the age of sixteen years entered the post-office at Decatur as a clerk, in which capacity he served for three years. At the end of this time he opened a grocery store, which he conducted in a fairly satisfactory manner until 1880, at which time he came to Arkansas and settled at Atkins. At this point he started a commercial business, but soon purchased an interest in the News and for a short time was its owner. After spending a few months at Eureka Springs he went to Springdale, where he established the Enterprise of that place in 1882, the first paper ever published in the town. After remaining there eighteen months he came, in 1883, to Clarksville, where he founded the Enterprise, a paper he ably and successfully conducted until eighteen months later, when he sold it and entered the office of the Secretary of State, under E. B. Moore. Six months later he was appointed postmaster at Clarksville, which office he held during Cleveland’s administration. He is a stockholder in and has been for a long time editor and business manager of the Herald-Journal. In 1888 he began editing the Arkansan, but suspended it and connected himself with the Herald-Journal, but in 1890 resumed the publication of the Arkansan, which he has since continued with success. Mr. Ludwig has been married three times, first in 1880, at Atkins, to Miss Kate Roberts, who lived but eighteen months, bearing one child, Katie. His second marriage took place in Springdale in 1883 to Miss Theo Wilson, who died ten months later at Clarksville. His third union was consummated on January 7, 1885, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of A. P. May, of Clarksville. By her he has three children: Mary, Thomas May and Oswald. Mr. Ludwig is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and socially is a member of Calantha Lodge No. 38, of the K. of P., in which he is past chancellor. In politics he has always been a stanch Democrat, and has been a delegate to several State, congressional and judicial conventions. He is the owner of a good residence and several small lots in Clarksville. His worthy wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 65 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Arkansas family biographies here: Johnson County, Arkansas

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