REASON T. HUDGEL was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October
31, 1839. His parents, Thomas and Ellen Hudgel, were born, reared and married
in Virginia, emigrating to Ohio ten years after marriage. Reason was reared a
farmer. In October, 1856, the family
came to Clarke County, and for two or three years the father rented land. He
then purchased 120 acres in Liberty Township. He died in 1875, aged sixty-two
years. His wife died January 27, 1883, in her sixty-seventh year. She had been
a member of the Methodist church over fifty years, and her husband over forty
years. Both are well remembered by all the old settlers for their many
excellent qualities of mind and heart. In
1860 Reason T. Hudgel left the parental home and started out himself. The gold
fever took him to California, where he was moderately successful. In September,
1861, he enlisted in Company M, First Colorado Cavalry. Serving out his time he
re-enlisted in Company H, and remained in the service four years and two and a
half months. He participated in several campaigns against the Indians, and was
honorably discharged late in the year of 1865.
He returned to Clarke County, and June 3, 1866, was married to Miss
Martishy, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Williamson, of Liberty Township.
Her parents are pioneers of Clarke County. [See biography of R. Williamson.]
Soon after their marriage they settled in Liberty Township. Their home consists
of 160 acres of land, 120 being under improvement. They have had no children.
The brothers and sisters of Mr. Hudgel are – Mrs. Ann Miller, of Warren County;
William, of Monona County; Knotts, of Murray, Clarke County; Mrs. Susan
Proudfoot, of Liberty Village; Angeline, died at the age of sixteen years; Mrs.
Amanda Pattison, of Warren County; John Wesley, died young in Ohio. Mr. and
Mrs. Hudgel are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Hudgel is a
Republican.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 399
