Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 482
REV. JOHN HUDSON, one of the pioneer preachers of Muscatine County, who was numbered among its honored citizens, was born in Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky., July 19, 1800, and there grew to manhood. His literary education was received at Transylvania University, and his theological at Princeton Theological Seminary, of which he is the oldest of the Alumni now living, and in 1887 he attended a meeting of the graduates of that institution. He chose the ministry as his profession, being a preacher of the Presbyterian faith, entering on the duties of his holy calling in 1822. About the year 1830 he removed to Warren County, Ohio, being pastor of the Church of Franklin for fourteen years. In 1844 he removed to Maury County, Tenn., where he was called to take care of a Presbyterian Church, also to become President of the Union Seminary. Stanley Matthews, late one of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, and his brother Charles, each filling a professors department in that institution. He returned to Franklin, Ohio, being re-called by his church in Franklin and later went to Xenia, Ohio, remaining pastor of the Presbyterian Church at that place until May, 1847, when he received an invitation to become the stated supply of the Presbyterian Church of Muscatine, then having the name of Bloomington, which he accepted. In that city he was instrumental in the erection of the first Presbyterian church-edifice in the city, which is still standing, but has long since been transformed into a wagon-shop. In 1849 he removed to a farm near West Liberty, which he had purchased while residing in Muscatine, and in that community organized a society and built a house of worship, which was afterward removed to West Liberty. His efforts in behalf of the church were untiring, his labors unceasing, preaching in destitute places and to feeble churches, establishing Sabbath-schools and organizing churches and laying the foundations for future churches, and not only by precept, but also by example, taught the people the meaning of a Christian life.

While residing in Lexington, Ky., Rev. Hudson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bell, a native of Virginia, and to them were born eight children, six of whom are living at this date, 1889 : Mary B., ( her first marriage was to Rev. James Gallatin, a popular minister of the Presbyterian Church ), wife of Nicholas C. Millhouse, of Keota, Keokuk Co., Iowa ; Elizabeth, who wedded Dr. C. L. Chambers, of Cedar Rapids ; John B., the present Recorder of Muscatine County ; Sally, wife of Charles Millhouse, of Keota ; Francis and William C. The latter was united in marriage with Flora Alger, and now occupies the old homestead near West Liberty. In 1884 the father of these children was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of seventy-eight years and seven months. She also was a member and an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, cheerfully doing what she could for the promotion of the cause of Christ on earth.

For over forty years Rev. Hudson has been a citizen of Iowa, having located in Muscatine County in 1847. On his arrival everything was in an undeveloped condition ; few improvements had been made, and the future of this great commonwealth could never have been dreamed of even by the most imaginative. Progress has made such rapid strides until now a church and school-house grace nearly every hillside, and the State is populated with a well educated, contented, and prosperous people, countless manufactories have been introduced, a perfect network of railroads cross and re-cross each other, penetrating every corner of this grand State, while the telegraph and telephone wires, which can scarcely be numbered, permit men to address a message or hold a conversation with others miles away. To be permitted to be an eye-witness to this vast improvement is certainly an honor, but to be an active participant in the various changes is a favor not shown to everyone, but among those who have had the liberty of aiding in this great work is Rev. John Hudson, who has always nobly borne his part and cheerfully performed the duties devolving upon him. He is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-eight, and resides in Keota, Keokuk Co., Iowa.

---

Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page