Hon. Joseph G. and Holder HUDGINS
". . constitute the firm of Hudgins & Bro., at Dallas, Ark., which has been in existence since about 1867, their well selected and extensive stock of general merchandise bringing them the sum of $75,000 annually. They comprise one of the best known firms in Western Arkansas, and in connection with this they do an extensive farming and milling business, being the owners of about 5,000 acres of land in Arkansas, and a large amount in Kansas. They have an excellent saw, grist-mill and cotton-gin in the town of Dallas, also an excellent gin and saw-mill and shingle machine two miles from the town. They are large live-stock dealers also, and their property is the result of their indefatigable efforts to do well in everything they undertake. They pay out to their employees from $50 to $75 per day, and have in their employ a large force of men. They came to Dallas soon after the war and almost immediately engaged in general merchandising, and for some years also had charge of the mail routes centering at Dallas from nearly all directions, long distances over the mountains and streams. For the first few years Joseph G. was also extensively engaged in stock trading in the Indian Territory , and the southwest frontier, and on foot would drive his stock to Memphis and other points. He was born in Jackson Co., Ga., in 1837, and his brother in the same place in 1849, their early lives being spent on a farm where they received but little education. They are truly self-made men in every sense of the term, and the liberal fortune which they are now enjoying is the result of their own earnest endeavors. In the family of which they were members, there were six sons and four daughters, Joseph G. being the eldest of the family. He was married in 1871 to Miss Cynthia E., daughter of Berry and Margaret CECIL, her father being one of the ablest attorneys in Arkansas and one of Polk County's most prominent citizens. He died about 1861, his widow surviving him. Mrs. Hudgins was born in Carroll County and has borne her husband six children, one of whom is deceased. Mr. Hudgins figures prominently in every enterprise that tends to elevate and advance the general interests of Polk County, and as he has at all times evinced excellent business qualifications and principles, he is one of the wealthy residents of this section of the State. He is a prominent Mason and an active worker for the Democratic party. In 1876 he was elected to the State Legislature but did not qualify, and in 1884 was again elected to the same position and served with credit for one term, being on railroad and other important committees. His parents, Holder and T. Caroline (ALBRIGHT) HUDGINS, were born in Georgia, where they lived until about 1870, when they came to Dallas, where they passed from life in 1881 and 1874, respectively, members of the Methodist Church for a great many years. The father was a successful farmer, and served a short time in the Confederate Army. His father, Beverly HUDGINS, was born in Virginia, but at an early day removed to Jackson County, Ga., where he successfully followed the occupation of planting, and died at an advanced age. He was of Irish extraction, and at the age of six years was left an orphan, therefore never received the advantages of schooling. The maternal grandfather, Jerry ALBRIGHT, was a Georgian, and throughout life was a farmer. He and his wife both died before Joseph G. Hudgins was born. The Hudgins brothers have built every public building of consequence that has been erected in this county since 1870. J. G. Hudgins was largely engaged in the cattle business in Texas for a time; then he sold, realizing by the investment nearly $50,000."