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Surnames: Hudson, Corey, Downard
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/2386
Message Board Post:
>From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana," Logansport, B. F.
Bowen, 1903, pp. 216-218.
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 cpatain, 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 Mary (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 lyding 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 (five?) buildings, the house having been built in 1893. About
1880 the subjects' 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 disease at 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 children
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.
[poster is not related to this family and has no additional information]