Person:Keith Hudson (1)

Watchers
Dr. Keith E Hudson
m. 25 Aug 1853
  1. Dr. Keith E Hudson1854 - 1926
  2. Bradley W. Hudson1856 - 1874
  3. Henry R Hudson1858 - 1931
  4. Sarah Ann Hudson1860 - 1937
  5. Ada C. Hudson1862 - 1919
  6. Dr. Elmer M Hudson1869 - 1956
  7. Nellie P. Hudson1871 - 1888
  1. Leon HudsonAbt 1878 -
  2. Pollard Hudson1880 -
  3. Leo HudsonAbt 1883 - 1887
  4. Roy Briggs Hudson1886 - 1966
  5. Gordon Granville Hudson1894 - 1945
Facts and Events
Name[1][2] Dr. Keith E Hudson
Gender Male
Birth[3][4] 30 May 1854 Franklin, Arkansas, United StatesHudson Farm, Grand Prarie
Other[7] 1860 Charleston, Franklin, Arkansas, United States
Marriage to Emma F. Northum
Occupation[7] Physician and Farmer
Residence[8] Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States
Death[5][6] 7 Feb 1926 Franklin, Arkansas, United StatesGrand Prairie
Burial[5][2] King Cemetery, Franklin, Arkansas, United States

According to the Sallie DeWitt 1981 Genealogy, he was born, like the other six children, on the Hudson farm near Grand Prarie, Arkansas. Conflicting birth dates are given in the DeWitt Genealogy. both dates are in May of 1854, but one date is May 20th, the other is May 30th.

The gravestone of Dr. K. E. Hudson which I, Jerry D. Abshier, located and photographed at the King's Cemetery in Grand Prarie, Franklin County, Arkansas in June of 2000, lists the birth date as May 30,1854.

When his father died of pneumonia on Christmas Eve, after walking home from Georgia during the Civil War, Keith was faced with supporting his mother and six siblings. He was 18 years old. His mother died two and one-half years later. According to the Sallie Lee DeWitt 1981 Genealogy, he managed to plant a little cotton and a garden, he found husbands for the girls, and he put himself through medical school in Little Rock. After returning home, he also put his youngest brother Elmer Hudson through medical school.

Keith Hudson is the most likely "Doctor Hudson" that was credited in the Franklin County Historical Association's "Observer" (Volume 2,Number 4) as giving Peter Pender its name. The story goes that in about 1890 the government was setting up new post offices and the area four miles north of what is now Branch, Arkansas qualified for one. Jerome Pendergrass' store was the likely location, and the only thing needed was an official name. After the name "Lone Oak" was rejected by the government, as it was already in use, the locals were bound and determined to come up with a name that was original. A few of them were discussing possible names one day, under the the lone oak tree, and Doctor Hudson rode up on his horse. Doctor Hudson was known as a scholarly fellow, and he suggested the name Peter Pindar, after a famous story teller. He told the group that Peter Pindar was best known for telling tall tales, and it was befitting that many such tales had been told right there under that oak tree.

It is rumored that not one of the locals had ever heard of the famous story teller "Peter Pindar", but they all agreed that it was an original name. Peterpender is now (April 2002) served by the Charleston Post Office, but its major settlement happened after the Civil War. At its peak there were two stores, a cotton gin, a blacksmith shop and a barber shop.

References
  1. 1860 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Prarie Twp. (Charleston), Arkansas.

    page 74, family ID# d-1060
    Image 150, page 150, sheet 390, residence #1014.

  2. 2.0 2.1 Clark, Sue and McPhail, Virginia. Franklin County Arkansas Cemeteries. (1997)
    pg. 120.
  3. Ellen DeWitt Baker. Family Bible - Barbara (Beachum) Kanipe. (Presented as a gift on 5/25/1956).
  4. Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
    ppg. 69, 70.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Copyright 1983 by Mrs. Louise Byrum, Route 1, Charleston, AR 72933. Cemetery Listings, Branch Area. (Published by Franklin County Early History Council)
    pg. 17.
  6. Read and photographed by Jerry D. Abshier. Hudson, Dr. Keith E., tombstone. (June 2000).
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981).
  8. Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
    pg. 71.