Robert Lee Hudgens, Marion Merchant and city Alderman, was born in Williamson County on February 24, 1866. He was the son of Zachariah Hudgens and Mary Jane Cooksey, who had 14 children. Zachariah Hudgens was the founder of Hudgens, Illinois which used to be located next to the railroad tracks that cross Hudgens Road south of Marion but no longer exists. He also was a mill operator, merchant, Goreville banker and served as Williamson County Sheriff from 1872 to 1874.
In the 1870 census, Robert was 4 years old, living with his parents, brothers and sisters. They lived in what is today Southern Township in Williamson County, Illinois near Pulley’s Mill. His father, Zach, was listed as a farmer.
By the 1880 census, Zachariah was a merchant; they still lived in Southern Township and had eight of their children in school. Robert Lee was 14.
Robert Lee received his education at Ewing College in Franklin County and later took a business course at Lexington, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1888. His first employment after leaving college was as a clerk in a general merchandise store owned by his father at Pulley’s Mills. For three years he was manager of J. M. Jean and Sons wholesale produce.
In 1899 Robert went into general merchandising on his own account at Marion, which he ran for five years.
Also, in 1899, Robert was elected alderman from his own ward, Ward 1, and served seven terms in all through 1905. Although his home address is unknown for this period, Ward 1 encompassed the northwest quarter of Marion and included everything north of the center of West Main Street and everything west of the center of N. Market Street.
He was also, at times, in the employ of C. A. Bell of Marion who sold dry goods, boots and shoes and he also worked for Gents’ Furnishings.
On October 21, 1899 Robert married Ora Eunice Campbell who was born on March 4, 1881.
In the 1900 census, Robert and Ora had not been married a full year; he was 34 year old merchant and she was 19. They owned their own home without a mortgage in the city of Marion.
By the 1910 census, the Hudgens family had moved to Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois. Robert and Ora then had two children: Joe R., 9, and Mary L., 5. Robert was a salesman for wholesale dry goods. They were renting a home and had been married for 11 years.
Through the WWI years, 1917-1919, Robert and his wife were both active in the war effort serving on various committee.
When the 1920 federal census was taken, they were living back in Southern Township again, south of Marion operating a grocery and dry good store. Robert was 53 and Ora was 38. Their children, Joe, 19, and Mary, 15, were still at home.
In 1922, Robert and Ora were living in Marion again, at 804 S. Court St. No occupation was listed for Robert.
In 1927 he was a salesman for Baker Stores Co. and in 1928 he became manager.
In 1930, their daughter, Mary L. Collier, and her husband Jesse were living with her parents, Robert and Ora Hudgens. Robert, 64, was a salesman in a grocery store and they were still living at 804 S Court Street which was valued at $2000.
Robert Hudgens died on May 9, 1939 and Ora died on December 7, 1969. Both are buried in Fountain Cemetery south of Marion as are their children, Joe R. Hudgens and Mary Hudgens Collier.
Notes on the Children:
Joe R. Hudgens was born in 1900 and died in 1932. He married Ruth Shaffer. There is a military marker on his grave.
Mary Hudgens Collier was born on July 19, 1904 in Williamson Co., Ill. and died December 31, 1999 in Marion Williamson Co., Ill. She married Jesse Collier 27 Apr 1926. He was born 14 Apr 1906, and died 24 Aug 1964. They had Carolyn June Collier, born 13 Aug 1930 and married Richard Harrison Cook on 10 Aug 1958.
Notes on the Siblings:
Emmaranda Luvenia Hudgens, b. 01 Nov 1859, Williamson Co.IL; d. 05 Aug 1886, Williamson Co.IL; m. Theodore Hudson, 1881, Williamson Co.IL; b. 12 Aug 1850, TN.; d. 01 Sep 1931, Williamson Co.IL.
John Bell Hudgens, b. 26 Apr 1861, Williamson Co.IL; d. 03 Jan 1944, Goreville Johnson Co.IL; m. (1) Anna L. “Emmaranda” Mcinturff; b. 23 Jun 1862, Williamson Co IL; d. 07 Aug 1893, Williamson Co IL; m. (2) Bertie Fly, 1894; b. 14 Mar 1876, Wayne Co Illinois; d. 02 Sep 1960.
Mary Elizabeth Hudgens, b. 19 Oct 1862, Williamson Co.IL; d. 15 May 1942, Carlyle Clinton Co.IL; m. Max Elbert “Epp” McInturff, 18 Nov 1883, Williamson Co.IL; b. 22 Jan 1860, Williamson Co.IL; d. 15 Nov 1940, St.Louis, MO..
Nancy Parlee Hudgens, b. 28 Aug 1864, Williamson Co.IL; d. 01 Sep 1952, Williamson Co.IL; m. Hiram Alexander Neilson, 27 Nov 1888, Williamson Co.IL; b. 01 Jun 1863; d. 02 Feb 1948, Williamson Co.IL.
Robert Lee Hudgens, b. 24 Feb 1866, Williamson Co.IL; d. 09 May 1939, Williamson Co.IL; m. Ora Eunice Campbell, 21 Oct 1889, Williamson Co.IL; b. 04 Mar 1871; d. 07 Dec 1969, Herrin IL.
Hiram Alexander Hudgens, b. 15 Jan 1868, Williamson Co.IL; d. 01 Sep 1952, Williamson Co.IL; m. (1) Emma Mighell, 23 Dec 1894; b. 15 Sep 1873; d. 29 Jan 1906, Williamson Co.IL; m. (2) Bertie Kelly, 20 Sep 1908; b. 31 Jan 1886, Johnson Co.IL; d. 18 Feb 1945, Elgin IL.
Alice Nora Hudgens, b. 20 Feb 1870, Williamson Co.IL; d. 19 Feb 1934, Williamson Co.IL; m. Thomas Alexander Bradley, 15 Sep 1887, Hudgens Williamson Co.IL; b. 12 Nov 1863, Williamson Co.IL; d. 1932, Goreville Johnson Co.IL.
Joshua Hudgens, b. 24 Jan 1872, Williamson Co.IL; d. 30 May 1916, Williamson Co.IL; m. Ludie Davis; d. 14 Feb 1959.
Zachariah II Hudgens, b. 23 Feb 1874, Williamson Co.IL; d. 20 Sep 1955, Fountain Cemetery Williamson Co.IL; m. Carrie Fly, 10 Nov 1895, Williamson Co.IL; b. 04 Feb 1873, Wayne Co Illinois; d. 08 Feb 1961, Fountain C Williamson Co Ill.
Herman Hudgens, b. 16 Jan 1876, Williamson Co.IL; d. 08 Sep 1950, Williamson Co.IL; m. Emily Dora Newlin, 09 Sep 1897; b. 07 Apr 1877, Pulley’s Mill IL; d. 07 Aug 1977, Williamson Co.IL.
Egbert Theodore Hudgens, b. 27 Jun 1878, Williamson Co.IL; d. 16 Jun 1966, Williamson Co.IL; m. Bessie Francis Wright, 30 Aug 1899, Williamson Co. IL; b. 10 Dec 1880; d. 13 Sep 1967.
Hugh Hudgens, b. 29 Jan 1882, Williamson Co.IL; d. 04 May 1969, Ross CA; m. Mary Ann Lilliey, 17 Jul 1903; b. 08 Jul 1882, Union Co.IL; d. 17 May 1953, Williamson Co.IL.
Leroy Cleveland Hudgens, b. 19 Dec 1885, Williamson Co.IL; d. 21 Dec 1950, Williamson Co.IL; m. Clara Mae Thompson, 08 Mar 1905; b. 22 Jun 1888; d. 21 Dec 1956.
Arthur Franklin Hudgens, b. 27 Jun 1888, Williamson Co.IL; d. 08 Apr 1972, Williamson Co.IL; m. (1) Minnie Brown, 11 Oct 1911; b. 29 Feb 1892; d. 18 Dec 1922; m. (2) Mamie Lou Smoot, 24 Jun 1924; b. 16 Feb 1893; d. 15 May 1975.
(Sources: Federal Census Records; 1905 Souvenir History; Pioneer Folks and Places; Hudgens family genealogy; compiled by Colleen Norman)