BIOGRAPHY: Hudson Board; Chester, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

HUDSON BOARD is one of the honored sons of Orange County, where his birth
occurred October 11, 1823. He has long been identified with whatever pertains
to her best interests, and is the possessor of a truly enviable name for
integrity and fair dealing toward all. He is the owner of a large and
productive farm in the town of Chester, and his residence, which is very
commodious, is situated just outside the limits of the village.

Mr. Board was the eldest but one of the family born to James J. and Huldah
(Hudson) Board, also natives of this portion of the state, where they passed
their entire lives. When a boy the father was apprenticed to learn the trade
of a tanner, and passed many years of his young life working at this business.
Later, however, he engaged in farming and speculating, and subsequently
embarked in the general merchandise business. He was a man of prominence and
influence in his community, and ranked high among the progressive business
men. His death occurred in 1894, at the venerable age of ninety-two years. His
good wife preceded him to the grave by many years, and both were loved and
esteemed by all who knew them. 

Our subject first attended the district school, but later supplemented the
knowledge gained therein by a course at Professor Rankin's school at
Deckertown, N. J. After completing the course he returned home and devoted
himself to farming, learning all its details, and about 1850 engaged in this
occupation on his own account. That he has been more than ordinarily
successful is indicated by stating that his possessions aggregate over three
hundred broad and well cultivated acres, all of which lie in the town of
Chester. This property is located at the edge of the thriving little village
of that name, so that Mr. Board may be spoken of as a resident of the suburbs
of that place. The buildings on his estate are mod-ern in construction and
comprise all those which would be found on the place of a first-class and
progressive farmer.

In 1850 J. Hudson Board and Miss Mary E. Seeley were united in marriage, she
being the daughter of Wicks and Martha Seeley, also natives of Orange County.
This union resulted in the birth of eight children, two of whom are de-ceased.
Those living are: Huldah, the wife of Charles Green, of this county; Martha
and Lizzie, at home; Wicks, who married Miss Durland, and makes his home at
Vernon, N. J.; and James J. and Chester, both still under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Board are members in excellent standing of the Presbyterian
Church, meeting with the congregation at Chester. In politics the former
affiliates with the Democratic party, and therefore gives his vote and
influence toward the success of its chosen leaders. He is known as a man of
sterling integrity of character and good business qualifications, and
therefore ranks among the solid citizens of the county.