Dudley D. Akin was born on February 16, 1844, in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky, one of four children of Joseph and Josephine Akin. Although his parents owned slaves, young Akin was opposed to slavery from an early age, and when war broke out between the states, he joined the Union Army. His career in the Civil War was an exciting one, during which he and a small group of troupers leading the charge resulting in the defeat and capture of Confederate raider General John H. Morgan. Unfortunately for Sgt. Akin, he was taken captive a year later near Atlanta and was held prisoner at the infamous Andersonville prison for six months. According to his obituary, “There he endured unbelievable inhumanities, where diseases ran riot, and death claimed a mighty tribute.” Of the 21 men of his company who had been captured and imprisoned, only Akin and three others survived. Following his discharge, Akin was married to Sarah Elizabeth Sagerser of Jessamine County, Kentucky; to them were born five sons and two daughters. Akin was licensed as a local preacher in 1870; admitted on trial in the Kentucky Annual conference in 1872; ordained Deacon in 1874 and ordained Elder in 1876. After nine years in the Kentucky Conference he was transferred to the South Kansas Conference in 1880; two years later he was transferred to the newly organized Southwest Kansas Conference and was a member of the committee that located and helped to start Southwestern College. Rev. Akin’s appointments in Kansas included McPherson, Caldwell, El Dorado, Hutchinson, Wichita (Emporia Avenue), Arkansas City, and Lyons. After 44 years of service as a minister, Rev. Akin was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the American University of Harriman, Tennessee, in 1902. Rev. Akin’s wife Sarah (Sagerser) Akin died on February 6, 1900. In 1901 he married Mrs. Elle Randal of Peabody, Kansas, who passed away in 1915. Upon retiring in March, 1916, after 44 consecutive years of active ministry, Rev. Akin moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he married Helen Foster in 1916. According to his obituary, he “spent his latter days with his flower garden.” He was a specialist in growing dahlias. His enjoyment of Colorado is also reflected in his 1914 poem “Fishing for Trout,” included in this collection. Rev. Akin died on November 15, 1938, at the age of 94. His funeral was attended by many friends including the men’s Bible Class which Rev. Akin had taught during most of the 20 years of his retirement. Burial took place at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

Note written by Sarah St. John