William Ludlow was born May 22, 1795, in Montgomery County, New York. His family moved to Oneida and Ontario counties, New York, and Sandusky County, Ohio. On April 1, 1833, he moved to Brown's Landing, also known as Laconia, on the Mississippi River, Desha County, Arkansas, with his wife Mary Brown Ludlow, and family. They had six children: Marvin W., Myron J., Julia, Fannie, Margaret, and Isabell. He served as Justice of the Peace for both Arkansas and Desha counties. Ludlow died in Napoleon, Arkansas, on September 28, 1866, while traveling from Little Rock to his home in Desha County.
This collection contains correspondence received by William Ludlow from family members and business associates, his Justice of the Peace commissions, business and legal papers, and miscellaneous materials.
- Correspondence (Reel MG00205)
- 1840 May 16: Thomas Ludlow, to William Ludlow, Arkansas
- 1841 January 5: Robert Ludlow, Italy Hollow, New York, to William Ludlow, White River, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1842 October 21: M.W. Ludlow and Julia C. Ludlow, to "Father and Mother, Sisters and Brother"
- 1843 September 4: Thomas and Eunice Ludlow, to William Ludlow, Mouth of White River, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1845 November 1: Ludlow and Whedon families, to Mrs. William Ludlow, Mouth of White River, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1846 April 20: Envelope to William Ludlow, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1846 December 17: Moses Greenwood, New Orleans, Louisiana, to William Ludlow, foot of Island 69, Brown's Landing, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1847 February 13: Moses Greenwood, New Orleans, Louisiana, to William Ludlow, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1848 April 3: Mary Russell, Memphis, Tennessee, to Mary Ludlow, Montgomerys Point, Arkansas
- 1848 July 20: Mary Russell, Memphis, Tennessee, to Mary Ludlow, Montgomerys Point, Arkansas
- 1850 April 10: Mary Ann Russell, Memphis, Tennessee, to [Mary Ludlow], Montgomery Point, Arkansas
- 1858 November 28: Margaret R. Dean, Lyons, Ionia County, Michigan, to William Ludlow, Laconia, Desha County, Arkansas
- 1859 March 5: [Thomas Ludlow], to William Ludlow, Laconia, Desha County, Arkansas
- Legal papers
- 1839 June 22: Sworn statement, Levi Brown, Phillips County
- 1841 January 18: Summons, Daniel McGlothlen and William Carack
- 1847 February 3: Quit claim deed, William Ludlow to John J. Murray
- 1847 February 15: Quit claim deed, William Ludlow to John J. Murray
- 1860 May 19: Bill of sale, James Brown to Margaret E. Ludlow
- Justice of the Peace commissions, William Ludlow
- 1838 November 12: Arkansas County, Arkansas
- 1840 November 14: Desha County, Arkansas
- 1842 October 18: Desha County, Arkansas
- 1844 October 25: Desha County, Arkansas
- 1846 October 26: Desha County, Arkansas
- Business papers
- 1838 December 15: Receipt, Helena Receiver's Office to William Ludlow
- 1845 August 30: Shipping notice, D.M. Curry to William Ludlow, Browns Landing, Arkansas
- 1847 February 13: Bill, M. Greenwood, New Orleans, to William Ludlow
- Miscellaneous
- 1852 May 26: Pressed flower
- Undated: Note about a sprig of an olive tree from the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
- Undated: Envelopes
- 1908 January 26: Newsclipping, "A Southern Hero," Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee
