WI BIO - Dane Co - HUDSON, John W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 621-623

Few of the citizens of Madison, Dane County, WI, have been more closely 
identified with the city's interests and enterprises, both as a promoter and 
substantial backer, than John W. HUDSON. For forty years he has been a 
citizen of Madison, and during that time his name has been associated with 
more successful enterprises, all of which have redounded to the city's credit 
and contributed to its growth and prosperity, than any other one man.

John W. HUDSON was born in the town of Gaines, Orleans County, NY, 12 Jan 
1834, and is the son of Daniel T. and Lucinda (BUTTS) HUDSON, both natives of 
Chatham [Columbia County], NY. Daniel T. HUDSON was born 11 Feb 1810, and 
his wife was born on 16 Sep 1812. Our subject's paternal grandfather was 
Elijah HUDSON, who was a native of Columbia County, NY. The maternal 
grandfather was Lewis M. BUTTS, also a native of Columbia County, NY, who 
removed to western NY in 1833. In 1840 Lewis M. BUTTS came to WI, settling 
in the town of Cottage Grove, Dane County, and was one of the first settlers 
at Door Creek. Thus he was a pioneer of three sections of our country, first 
in NY, thence in western NY, and last in WI. Lewis M. BUTTS died in 1860.

Daniel T. HUDSON, father of our subject, settled at Milton, Rock County, WI, 
in 1844, where he followed farming until his death in 1891, which resulted 
from an accident. His widow survived him, residing at the present time with 
her son on the old homestead. Eight children were born to the parents [to 
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel T. HUDSON], seven sons and a daughter, of whom six sons 
are living, the eldest being our subject [John W.]. The other sons are Lewis 
B., of Bloomington [McLean County], IL; Albert C.; Elijah B. F., of Milton 
[Dane County], WI; and George W., of Minneapolis, MN.

John W. HUDSON was reared on the farm in Rock County until his eighteenth 
year, and secured his education at the old Milton Academy. Upon leaving the 
farm he began teaching school and taught for a year and a half in Milton 
[Rock County, WI] and vicinity. In his twentieth year he began business for 
himself by embarking in the grain business at Milton. Upon the completion of 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad to Stoughton, Dane County, WI, he 
removed to that town, and for several months carried on the grain business. 
In 1853 however, before the above railroad was completed to Madison, John W. 
HUDSON removed his business to this city [Madison, Dane County, WI], buying 
and hauling grain to Stoughton and from that point shipping by rail to 
Milwaukee, WI. He was a pioneer of the grain business in Madison, at which 
he continued from 1853 until 1869, with the exception of two years during the 
war, when he was "at the front." In 1862 John W. HUDSON enlisted in Company 
D, 23rd WI Volunteer Regiment, and served until he was mustered out in Dec 
1863, on account of disability.

Closing out the grain business in 1869, he turned his attention to 
manufacturing, real estate, and various enterprises. He was one of the 
promoters of the old Madison Manufacturing Company. He was also a promoter 
and Secretary of the Wisconsin Wagon Company, and was a promoter and 
President of the Ostrander Manufacturing Company. This enterprise was 
reorganized and removed to Wausau [County], WI, and became the Wausau 
Furniture Company, of which he is a director, and his son Secretary. He 
[John W. HUDSON] was one of the promoters of the Madison Electric Light 
Company, and President of the same until [p 622] its sale to the Four Lakes 
Light and Power Company in 1892. He is also Director in the Capital City 
Bank of Madison, of which he was a promoter and organizer, and is President 
of the Spanish Peaks Gold and Silver Mining Company, which company is 
operating valuable mines in CO. In connection with Mr. Moses S. KLAUBER, he 
is engaged in the leaf tobacco business, with warehouses in west Madison. 
Besides these enterprises, John W. HUDSON has his means involved in various 
other interests, more or less prominent. He was a promoter and President of 
the Northwestern Mutual Relief Association, whose headquarters are in 
Madison, and was a promoter for twenty-two years, from 1869 until he resigned 
the same, Director and Treasurer of the Wisconsin Odd Fellows Mutual Life 
Insurance Company. He was a promoter and President of the Northwestern 
Building and Loan Association, and Vice President of the Madison Land and 
Improvement Company.

John W. HUDSON became a Mason in 1875, and at present [1893] is a member of 
Madison Lodge No. 5, Madison Chapter No. 3, and Robert McCoy Commandery, No. 
4, Knights Templar. He became an Odd Fellow in 1865 and has since held his 
membership in Hope Lodge, No. 17, and Madison Encampment, No. 8. He has held 
the prominent position of Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of WI in 
1869, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of WI 1884, Grand Representative to the 
Sovereign Grand Lodge and an officer of the same body for ten years, from 
1870-1880. He is a charter member and Past Chancellor of Monona Lodge, No. 
12, Knights of Pythias, and is a Past Post Commander of C. C. Washburn Post, 
No. 11, G. A. R.

In politics John W. HUDSON has always been a conservative Republican, though 
not a partisan. He was once the candidate of his party for Assemblyman and 
Mayor, and though running ahead of the ticket, was defeated, the party always 
being in a minority in the capital city [Madison].

John W. HUDSON was married in 1853 to Rachel GARRISON, daughter of Ezra 
GARRISON. She was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, NY, of which State 
her parents were also natives. Five children have been born to John W. and 
Rachel (GARRISON) HUDSON, one of whom died in infancy. The living are: J. 
Edwin, of Chicago [Cook County, IL]; Flora B., at home; Charles H., in the 
mail service at Madison; and Fred L., Secretary of the Wausau Furniture 
Company, of Wausau [Marathon County], WI.

John W. HUDSON is a self-made man. He began life for himself before he had 
obtained his majority, spurred on to do so by a worthy ambition to be 
independent and self sustaining. In twenty-five years he has built himself 
up from a grain dealer of limited capital to the position of promoter and 
organizer of large manufacturing interests, and to a place among the most 
substantial citizens of a community noted for its large number of men of 
affluence and prominence, and this proud position has been attained by purely 
legitimate business methods. As a public spirited citizen, possessed of 
broad and liberal views, he has established a reputation second to none among 
the people of Madison, and his friends and acquaintances admire [p 623] 
esteem him for his splendid business ability and for his strict integrity and 
honesty. He is a most genial and pleasant man. Of rugged stature and 
nature, with a mind well cultivated and stored with diversified knowledge and 
experience, and a good conversationalist, he is at once a most agreeable 
companion and valued friend.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly