From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

Gudgel was born March 2, 1858 in Anderson County. He is listed as an 18-year old man living in Edmond Smith's home in the 1880 Anderson County Census. In 1872, Edmond Smith was married to John's mother, Sarah Gudgel.

John Gudgel served as a cook for the Army Hospital Corps during the Spanish-American War. He enlisted at Lexington on May 6, 1898 and was discharged October 31, 1898.

In 1926 Gudgel appeared before court in  Sacramento, California to apply for a military pension. At that time he testified that he was born in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and remained a resident there until his enlistment in Lexington. His service was under command of General Sanular and Lieutenant Gilcress (not confirmed) at Camp Johnson (not confirmed), Kentucky, where he served as a company cook.

Gudgel was married to Miss America Jordan on October 11, 1882, and together they had two children, both deceased at the time of pension application. He was living in Fayette County, Kentucky in 1900 but by 1910 had moved to California, where he remained until his death, which occurred prior to 1929. In that year his widow wrote to the Bureau of Pensions to inquire about a widow's pension.