Individual Details

Although Ardena was age 9 in the first census in which she appears, 1860, the 1900 census gives her birth as Feb 1853.


Ardena married Charles Michael or Michael Charles Duggan as his 2nd wife on 11 May 1878, Polk Co AR. He was previously married to Mary Ralls who died 8 Nov 1877. Ardena has not been found in the 1870 census for certain, unless her name was misunderstood by the Enumerator in Johnson Co AR [See note for her sister Arkansas], or she was living with her uncle Elias Hays in Crawford Co, listed as A. D. S/L, which I believe to be the most likely. Hays, female, age 19, b. AR. Her name was Ardenia/ Ardena Frances so the initials don't match although her age does. [A. D. could be for ArDena]

In 1860, Ardenia, age 9, and Arkansas, age 7, both born in Arkansas were living with Delitha Hays in Johnson Co AR, along with their mother Margaret.

1860 Census. Sulphur Springs Twp, Polk Co AR. p. 693, Hh 676
Michael Dugan age 34, Taylor [sic - tailor], born Ireland. Mary age 23, b. TN. James 2 and Margaret 6 months, both born in AR.

1870 Census. Sulphur Springs Twp, Polk Co AR, Hh 332
M. C. Duggan, Tailor, b. Ireland. Father & mother both foreign born.
Mary 32, Keeping House, b. TN.
Children born in AR: James D. age 12, Margret E. age 10, Paulina 4, Ellen 2, and Allace 7 months, born in October 1869.

1880 Census. Ozark Township. Polk Co AR, p.544, Hh 165
Michael Duggan, age 59, Farmer, b. Ireland as were his parents. Aradena, age 28, wife, b. AR, parents born in Mississippi [This isn't correct but having lost her parents as a child she may not have known where they were born, only that they came to Arkansas from Mississippi.]
Children of Michael's 1st wife. James, age 22, Alanor [Eleanor] age 14, Alice age 13, Thomas M. age 8, Florence age 4.
And 1st child of Michael & Ardenia: Roina [Rowena] age 11 months. Born July of 1879.
They lived next door to "Porter" Allen, Peter B. P. Allen, brother of my great-grandmother Josie Allen, who married John J. Hays, probably a 1st cousin to Ardenia.

One of Ardenia's descendants stated the following:
Ardena married Michael Duggan May 11, 1878. as far as I know she always used
Ardena F. (Frances) Hays Duggan. I have a copy of a notarized statement she
gave to the U. S. Pension office July 21, 1919......she signed her name
Ardena F. Duggan.
There is a card for Michael C. Duggan in the Civil War Pension files. The widow's name seems to be Andera F. Duggan but the handwriting is not clear. He was in Regt 3, IL Cavalry. Application number 905919, dated, Oct 7, 1908. Application made in Arkansas. This service is recorded on Michael's military grave marker.

The 1900 census was taken by Nathan O. Allen, brother of my great grandmother, Josie Allen who married John J. Hays, a son of Elias Hays who was Ardena's uncle. Elias Hays' daughter Ann Eliza Hays also married Henry Clay Allen, another of Josie's brothers. Elias Hays and family never lived in Polk Co but seem to have gone from Johnson Co to Crawford Co. I have always wondered how these couples might have met. Ann Eliza & Henry Clay Allen were married in 1868; John & Josie Allen Hays were married 1876; then Ardena & Michael Duggan married in 1878 and were living next door to Porter Allen in 1880 - Porter was still another brother of Henry, Nathan & Josie Allen.
1900 Census. Ozark Township. Polk Co AR. p.344B, Hh 521
Charles M. Dugan, b. Aug 1822, age 77. Married 22 years. Born Ireland. Immigrated in 1853 and has been 47 years in the U.S.
Ardena F., b. Feb 1853, age 47. Has had 8 children, 5 are living. Born AR, her parents born in Ms.
Benjamin F., b. Jun 1884, age 16. Susan E./C. born Mar 1886, age 14. Jaradine [probably Geraldine] born Mar 1890, age 10. Agna [Agnes?] born Jun 1891, age 8. Raina [Rowena] Young, born Jul 1879, age 20. Widowed. Has had 2 children, both living. William R., born Mar 1899, age 1 and Lela F. [she will later be Lillian] born May 1900. Their father was born in Missouri.

2 Jun 1904 Ardena F. Duggan, widow of Michael C. Duggan, received a U.S. Land Patent for 160 acres in Polk Co, Ark.
Homestaed Certificate #11337; Application 18536. The SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4, the N 1/2 of the SW 1/4 and NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 31 West.

7 Oct 1908. Ardena F. Duggan, widow of Michael C. Duggan, Civil War Pension application #905919. He served in the 3rd Illinois Cavalry.

1910 Census. Ozark Twp. Polk Co AR. Sheet 12B, Hh 221
Ardina Duggan, Head of household. Age 56, Widowed. She had 8 children, 4 are living. Born AR, parents born in U.S.
Daughters Gerald age 19 and Aggie age 18.
Ara Young, grandson age 9 and Lillian, granddaughter age 7.
Living next door in Hh 220 is:
Ben Duggan, age 26, and Clara, wife age 17. They've had no children.

1920 Census. Ozark Twp. Polk Co AR. Sheet 5A, Hh 82
Ardenia F. Dugan, Head of household. Age 65, Widowed. Born AR, parents b. MS.
McCurley, Agnes, daughter, age 27, Widowed. Lois M. McCurley, granddaughter, age 5, b. Oklahoma. Hawdard [Howard] W., grandson, age 1 and 9/12, b. Arkansas
Clinton, Lillian, granddaughter, age 19, Widowed. Eugene, great grandson, age 9 months, b. AR.
Next door in Hh 83 is Ben:
Ben F. Dugan, age 35. Clara E. wife, age 27. Earl W. son age 7, Elma, son age 5, Velma, daughter age 5 [obviously twins] and Eunice, daughter age 3 and 6/12.

Ardenia must have died before 1930 as she isn't in the Census. Her death certificate gives the date of death as 5 Jan 1927. Says she was 70 years, 10 months, 15 days old which can't be correct given other records. That would be a birth of 21 Feb 1856 and she was listed as age 9 in 1860. If I found her in 1870 she was 19. In 1880 she gave her age as 28. In 1900 she was 47; in 1910, 56; and in 1920, age 65. Perhaps she fudged a bit when each census rolled around.

The following year of birth found on her grave marker, FindAGrave.com, is probably close to correct.
Overturf Cemetery, Polk Co, AR
Ardena Duggan 1852-1927. The Arkansas Death Index has the date 5 Jan 1927.
Others in that cemetery:
Michael Charles Duggan Pvt, 3 Illinois Cav. Civil War. 8 Aug 1839 - 17 Dec 1902
Mary Elizabeth Ralls Duggan [Michael's first wife] 5 Feb 1837, Obion Co, TN - 8 Nov 1877, Sevier Co, AR
James L. Duggan 1857 - 1927
On the same stone: Benjamin F. Duggan, Jan 4, 1884 - Mar 30, 1950. Clara E., Sept 23, 1892 - Dec 5, 1983
Mary Duggan, May 2, 1862 - Mar 15, 1866 [no stone pictured]
Michael Duggan 1879-1883 Age 4 years. [Michael wasn't in the 1880 census - I believe this birth year to be wrong on the stone - he was likely close to age 4]
Robert Duggan Age age 6 months , Died 1883
Vincent Duggan Age 2 years. Died 1883
Note: Ardena's stone and those of the three little boys are all similar and appear to have been placed at a later date.


Daughter Agnes married 2nd, Walter S. Hays. Elias Hays' son Benjamin married Sarah Stevens in Feb of 1880 and they had one child, named Walter before their marriage ended. [I've found evidence that Benjamin & Sarah may have divorced] Although the family traditionally believes Agnes Hays & Walter Hays were not related, the possibility they were 2nd cousins cannot be ruled out, particularly given the age of Walter S. Hays in 1930.
1930 Census. Rich Mountain Twp, Polk Co AR, p.139, Hh 4.
Walter S. Hays, age 49 [born 1881], Age at 1st marriage was 21. Born AR as were both his parents.
Agnes E., wife, age 38, She was also age 21 at her 1st marriage. Born AR, her father born Ireland, mother born AR.
Lucile M., daughter, age 12 [She must have been Walter's by a 1st wife since Ages & Walter were not married in 1920.]
McCurly, Lois L., Stepdaughter, age 15, b. Oklahoma, parents both b. AR.
McCurly, Howard W., Stepson, age 12, b. AR, parents both b. AR.

1910 Walter Hays was in Polk Co AR. Hh 87.
Walter Hays, age 28, married 1 time for 5 years. Addie, wife, was age 21. No children listed. Both were born AR as were their parents.

Birth	1851	Arkansas
Marriage	11 May 1878	Polk County, Arkansas - Michael Charles Duggan
Death	5 Jan 1927

Spouse	Michael Charles Duggan (1822 - 1902)
Child	Rowena Frances Duggan (1879 - 1902)
Child	Michael Duggan (1880 - 1883)
Child	Vincent Duggan (1881 - 1883)
Child	Robert Duggan (1883 - 1883)
Child	Ben Duggan (1884 - 1950)
Child	Susan Elizabeth "Lizzie" Duggan (1887 - 1945)
Child	Geraldine Duggan (1890 - 1969)
Child	Agnes Ethel Duggan (1891 - 1933)

Father	Martin HAYS (1828 - 1860)
Mother	Margaret R. [Hays] (1829 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Arenas Arkansas HAYS (1853 - )