By: Mark Holtsberry
James Guy Hudkins Sr. was born on February 20, 1893, in Summers, Doddridge County, West Virginia. He was the son of Bryon Jacob Hudkins, born in September 1859 in West Virginia, and Laura Emmigene (Brown) Hudkins, born in January 1863 in West Virginia. This couple was married on July 10, 1887, in Doddridge County, West Virginia. By 1900, the couple had four children: Folsom Rebecca, born on October 28, 1888; Ami Port, born on August 28, 1890, who passed away from scarlet fever on August 18, 1895, and was buried in South Fork Cemetery, Oxford, Doddridge County, West Virginia; James Guy, born on February 20, 1893; and Paul Flowers, born in 1895.
Bryon was working as a watch and clock repairman. By 1907, James had quit school after the eighth grade. By 1910, Bryon had gone off to medical school, and Laura had become a dressmaker. On July 29, 1912, Laura gave birth to a daughter, Helen Francis Hudkins. On March 20, 1917, Laura Hudkins, James’s mother, passed away. She was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in West Union, Doddridge County, West Virginia.
Somewhere during this timeframe, James moved to Akron, Ohio, living at 317 Water Street. While living in Akron, on April 27, 1918, James joined the National Guard. He was assigned to Company K, 315th Infantry. He served until May 25, 1918. He was then assigned to serve with the Engineers Training Regiment Camp in Humphreys, Virginia, until August 23, 1918. Later, he was transferred to Company C, 209th Engineers, until his discharge. He was promoted to Sergeant on September 16, 1918, and to Sergeant First Class on December 10, 1918. He was honorably discharged on February 4, 1919.
In 1920, James was living in Akron, Ohio, on Camden Street with his brother Paul and Paul’s wife, Alma G. Hudkins. James was working as a laborer. In 1922, James married a woman named Erma Gill in Wood County, West Virginia. On July 22, 1924, a son, James Guy Hudkins Jr., was born. By 1930, James, Erma, and little James were living at 1557 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. James was working as a tire maker at B.F. Goodrich.
By 1940, James, Erma, and James Jr. were still living in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. James Sr. was working at the tire plant as a shipping clerk. In 1942, James Sr. had to register for the World War II draft. However, he was not selected due to his age. On August 29, 1944, James’s father, Dr. Bryon Jacob Hudkins, passed away and was buried in Spencer Memorial Cemetery in Roane County, West Virginia.
By 1950, James and Erma were still living on Front Street at 2772. James was still working at B.F. Goodrich as a shipping clerk, while James Jr. was making a mark in the world. On February 12, 1958, James Sr. filed for Social Security. In 1959, his wife, Erma, passed away. James later met a neighbor, Gladys Alzine Westfall, who lived at 2745 Front Street. A divorced woman, Gladys, and James married on June 3, 1960.
On December 18, 1963, James passed away. Gladys passed away on March 11, 1995, in Summit County, Ohio, and was buried with her sister. Now, you, the reader, are probably wondering why this article was written about him. Well, I had the opportunity to purchase his World War I saddle from another collector who had previously purchased it from James Jr.’s estate. So, I had a saddle pad that this collector needed to complete his collection, and we simply traded. Now you know the rest of the story.
