Wilson Hudson

Biographical Memoirs of Wells Co., IN 1903 WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. WILSON HUDSON Wilson Hudson was born on the stroke of midnight and it is yet an unsettled question whether his natal day should be celebrated as the 9th or 10th of July, 1836. His grandfather, being an old sea captain, claims that it is permissible to date back, but not forward. So, in accordance with his grandfather's dictum, this solution was adopted and he was named George, born July 9, and so recorded in his grandfather's record. After a few years his uncle Wilson was killed by a falling rail while climbing a fence and so his grandmother would have the boy's name changed to Wilson, born July 10, 1836, in Clinton county, Ohio, and since that time he has been known and called by the name of Wilson. He came with his parents to Huntington County, Indiana, in 1853.

He obtained the rudiments of his education in the country in Huntington county. He remained under his father's control even to the extent of not being allowed to call upon young ladies, until he was twenty-three years old. As an instance of parental supervision, he relates that upon one occasion he with his father were cutting rail timber on a day the evening of which the subject had promised to call upon a young lady of the neighborhood. Being afraid his father might interpose objections, the young man invented an excuse to escape his lynx-eyed parent and account for his absence. So he left the measuring pole some distance back, and telling his father he would return for it, he hastened to the house to don his best clothes and seek the presence of his inamorata. After he had started, he heard his father calling him, and his mother answering, seeking to cover his retreat, as mothers will in such cases. God bless them, informing him that the young man had "dressed and gone." The father's only remark on the occasion was, "Why in the devil did he not say he was going," which would indicate that in this case young Lochinvar's fear was the chief element to discourage love's young dream. The subject was married May 20, 1860, to Margaret L. Corey, who was born in Rush county, Indiana, July 9, 1838, the daughter of Stephen and Marv (Downard), Corey.

After his marriage Mr. Hudson remained one year with his father, who still retained control over him, and even the second year after his marriage he could not say that he was his own boss. At this time he and wife moved to themselves and rented land in Huntington county. He remained there for two years, when he traded out and removed to the farm where he now lives. In 1863 this farm was all in the woods except twelve acres which was chopped to eighteen inches. (It was the custom in clearing land in the early days of the state to remove everything under eighteen inches in diameter, deadening the larger timber by girdling, and farming the land, a few years before finally clearing it off.) There were thirty-seven trees lying across the fences surrounding this twelve acres. The improvements in the way of buildings consisted only of a log house and barn. He now has one hundred acres of cleared land with fine buildings, the house having been built in 1893. About 1880 the subject's father sold his farm in Huntington county and moved onto a twenty-five-acre tract of land belonging to the subject. Here his parents remained for about ten years, when the son moved them into his own house where, after two years, the mother died. The son then gave his father the choice of any room in his house he wanted. He chose and was freely given the bed room of the subject and remained with him the rest of his life. He died very suddenly of heart diseaseat the home of Orlando Thorp in Warren, Indiana. As is frequently the case, he had presentiments of his approaching end, and the changes attending the inevitable lot of all cast their shadows before.

With the exception of three years during the war, which he spent in dealing in cattle, being known as a cattle broker, Wilson Hudson has devoted his whole life to farming interests, and is also a general stock farmer. He has eight producing oil wells on his farm and says it is just like finding the money. The subject is the father of two children, both of whom died unnamed in infancy. Since then he has turned his attention to needy children, having at different times brought clothing for sixty-three children who were objects for the charitably inclined. To many of these children he gave the privilege of buying the kind of clothing they wanted. He always has from one to four orphan chilidren around him and is indeed a father to the fatherless. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have served many years as live practical workers.

Politically Mr. Hudson's affiliations have been with the Democratic party, and he has ever been true to church and party. Although many times solicited, he has never accepted public office. Believing that a public recognition of the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship would be conducive to the moral well-being of his locality, he with others have petitioned that the oil wells be closed down on Sunday, but they have not yet succeeded in bringing this about. While the owners of the wells on his farm are pumping on Sunday, he has decided to donate his royalties of that duty to charity, and the proceeds of his Sunday production for the first year amounted to the sum of sixty-eight dollars and ninety-four cents. He is ever ready to lend a helping hand to the deserving poor, in which he observes the scriptural injunction in giving, to not let the left hand know what the right hand doeth. In the past four years the subject has aided four different parties (only one of whom was a relative) to the amount of fifty dollars each. Mr. Hudson thinks that he might have been wealthy if he had been a guardian. If it is more blessed to give than to receive, surely the subject is rich in the consciousness of good deeds well done. He has realized the proper use of money in creating happiness for others, thus setting a worthy example to others who are cloyed with the sordid practice of accumulation and hoarding, with the delusive hope that in the possession of money alone is happiness to be found.

Mrs. Hudson, the wife of the subject, was a maiden of nine years when she came with her parents to Grant county, receiving her education in that county. She has seen this part of Indiana when it was new, even when the wolves howled around their cabin door. She is one of those good, kind, affectionate. motherly ladies, whom it is pleasure to meet. She and her good husband's hospitable home is a haven for friend and stranger alike. Many hundreds have partaken from their bountiful table, and been cheered by the happy smiling faces of father and mother Hudson. Mrs. Hudson has ever been her husband's companion in all the walks of life, ever ready to cheer him by her sweet presence, advice and counsel. To show their wonderful generosity and hospitality it is said that one year thirteen hundred people dined in their home.