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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead 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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James T. Dudley, a prosperous merchant, and postmaster at Bay, also interested in agricultural pursuits, is a native of Madison County, Ga., born December 25, 1852. His parents were Lemuel and Nancy S. (House) Dudley, both natives of Georgia. After his marriage, Lemuel Dudley engaged in farming, blacksmithing and wagon building in Madison County, and left his farm to enlist in the Confederate service. He served throughout the entire war, and in 1865 died of small-pox in Atlanta, Ga. Mrs. Dudley moved with her family to Arkansas, and in October of 1867, located in Craighead County, where she died October 14, 1883. James T. grew to manhood in this county and is mainly self-educated, having devoted much time to study since arriving at years of maturity. January 11, 1873, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bryant, a native of Georgia, but reared and educated in Craighead County. She is a charitable lady and is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Dudley followed farming until 1882, when he began merchandising eight miles west of the Bay. He there sold dry goods, groceries and general merchandise for two years, and in 1844 moved to Big Bay, where he has since continued in business, with the exception of seven months, while running a saloon in Memphis in 1887. He owns a fine farm adjoining the town, and has thirty-five acres of it in a fine state of cultivation and the same amount in timbered land. He has four fair residences on the place which bears evidence of thrift and industry. He has built and owns four business houses in Bay, and as a merchant has a good trade. In 1884 he was appointed postmaster, which position he has held since that time.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Craighead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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