Richard & Josephine Hudgel

HUDGEL MORY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 17:34:23

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Richard and Josephine (Mory) Hudgel
By Marjorie Hudgel Loyd

Richard Hudgel, 1876-1943, was born May 1, 1876, to William J and Priscilla Polly Hudgel in Fairview Township, Monona County, Iowa. He grew to manhood in the Sloan vicinity, receiving his education in the Sloan School. After farming a number of years, he operated a grocery store at Sloan from 1903 to 1905. He then went to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1906 to study embalming at the Hohenschuh Carpenter College. In 1906 he served his apprenticeship under the direction of W R Barnard of Sloan, Iowa.

He married Winnie Driggs of Sloan and to this union was born: Lester R and baby girl Driggs who along with her mother, is buried in the Sloan cemetery.

Early in September of 1907, Richard came to Anthon and purchased a store, sold furniture, and operated an undertaking business. He buried the world’s tallest-person May 23, 1921. This article appeared in the Book of Guinness. This person lived in the Anthon-Oto community.

Richard married Josephine Mory of Riverside, Iowa, on November 24, 1909. She was the daughter of Stephen and Christina Mory of Riverside. Together they reared a large family, namely: four sons – Lester R, Clause B, Laurence E, and Edwin F; and six daughters – Susan (Mrs George P Mack), Edith (Mrs Richard D Moore), Herma (Mrs J E Cummings), Marjorie (Mrs Eldred Loyd), Mary Clare (Mrs J G Holland) and Jeanette (Mrs Tom P Kelley). Two sons, Herman and Clarence, died in infancy; one daughter, Margaret, died at age three and one-half.

Mr Hudgel was widely known in the area for his exceptional abilities in his field of work, and assisted Sioux City morticians work, and assisted Sioux City morticians with many difficult cases. He was very active in community affairs. He was Republican committeeman from Miller Township a number of years. He was postmaster in Anthon form 1912 to 1016.

Richard died at the age of 67 on May 3, 1943. Josephine died at age 94 on February 11, 1976. Both are buried, along with four of his children in St Joseph’s Cemetery, Anthon, Iowa.