Joseph Hudson (1860-1924)

HUDSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 10/3/2022 at 09:41:40

Joseph Hudson
(March 19, 1860 – September 24, 1924)

For twenty years Joseph Hudson has been a resident of Iowa, and since 1885 has made his home in Pomeroy where he is now engaged in the livery business. He was born in Winnebago County, Illinois, March 19, 1860, — a son of Thomas and Honora (Ouinlan) Hudson, who were of English and Irish descent. The father was a farmer by occupation, and on taking up his abode in Winnebago County he purchased a farm which he improved, making it a valuable tract. He was married in Cherry Valley, Illinois, and resided upon his farm until his death which occurred on the 4th of October, 1879. His widow still survives him and yet resides in Winnebago County, making her home with a daughter. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Martha, the wife of George Hooker, of Ogle County. Illinois; Joseph, the subject of this review; Mary, the wife of Thomas McDonald, of Winnebago County, Illinois; George, a resident of Janesville, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the insurance business; Nora, who married Henry Wallick of Charter Grove, Illinois; Ellen, the wife of William Ryan, of Winnebago County, Illinois; Hattie, a resident of Seward, Seward Township, Winnebago County, Illinois; Agnes,
who married John Murphy, of Ogle County, Illinois, and three children who died in infancy. Joseph Hudson is indebted to the public school system of Ogle County, Illinois, for the educational privileges he enjoyed and which fitted him for the practical duties of life. He followed farming until 1882 and then left the state of his nativity in order to make his home in Iowa, taking up his abode in Pocahontas County, where for a year he resided with an aunt. He then rented a farm in Pocahontas County and was a representative of the agricultural interests of this portion of the state until 1885 when he purchased a livery barn in Pomeroy and has since carried on business along that line. Success has usually attended his efforts, although he has met with some discouragements and difficulties. On the 6th of July, 1893, one of his barns was destroyed in the cyclone which swept over the city and both chimneys of his house were carried away. He also lost a good team of horses which was killed in the storm. One of the men in Mr. Hudson's employ had started on a drive of seven miles and was three miles away from the town when the storm broke upon this district. In 1899 all his barns were destroyed by fire and he lost practically everything be owned, but with characteristic energy be set to work to retrieve his possessions and in the ensuing years he has prospered so that he is now the owner of a first class livery stable and receives an excellent patronage as the result of his honorable dealings and his earnest desire to please his customers. On the 28th of February, 1885, Mr. Hudson was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Jentz, who was born in Plattville, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of Fred Jentz. In his family were five children: Louisa, Fred, John, Frank and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were married in Pomeroy and their union has been blessed with five children, but three of the number died in infancy. Those still living are Qiarles E., who was born April 15, 1895, and Mary, born May 28, 1892. The parents and children are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church, and socially Mr. Hudson is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of strong purpose and unfaltering determination, and though he has met obstacles in his path to success, he has presevered and has at length reached the goal of prosperity. His labors have been well directed and he has earned the proud American title of a self-made man. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.389]