BIO: Robert HUDSON, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  ROBERT HUDSON. No country has afforded greater opportunities to the 
poor man than America; it is indeed the poor man's land. Here an 
industrious, frugal man has a chance to accumulate wealth. Many fail to 
do so, but the best lay by some of their earnings, and soon find 
themselves in the possession of a handsome property. Among them is the 
gentleman whose name introduces this article, a leading harness maker 
and saddler of Philipsburg.
  Mr. Hudson was born November 13, 1830, in the city which is still his 
home, a son of John and Hannah (Gattice) Hudson, natives of Stockport, 
Lancashire, England, and Glasgow, Scotland, respectively. They met and 
were married in Philipsburg, whither the father had come with Hardin 
Philips in 179-. He was a butcher by trade, and a consistent member of 
the Episcopal Church. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss 
Dale, by whom he had three children: Hannah, widow of Serines Howe, who 
served as sheriff of Clearfield county, Penn.; Mary A., deceased wife 
of William Henfield, who is now living at the Soldiers' Home in Erie, 
Penn.; and Lloyd, who died when young. By his marriage with the mother 
of our subject he had three sons and one daughter, namely: John, who is 
living retire in Philipsburg; Robert; William, ex-street commissioner 
of Philipsburg; and Emma, who married Thomas Freeman, and after his 
death wedded a Mr. Clark, of Madison, Maine.
  Since the tender age of ten years, Robert Hudson has been dependent 
upon his own resources for a livelihood, first being employed by 

508  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

Rev. Lord, an Episcopal clergyman, with whom he remained for one year. 
During the following two years he was engaged in farming, and then 
spent nine months in teaming. Subsequently he made his home with Dr. 
Hill for three years, during which time he was allowed to attend 
school. On leaving the Doctor, he served an apprenticeship of three 
years to the saddlery business with James Alexander, but later was in 
the employ of Dr. Foster, of Philipsburg, Penn., he returned to his 
native city, where he worked five years for Jesse L. Test, a saddler 
and harness maker, when he purchased the business, becoming proprietor 
in 1859. After successfully conducting the establishment for two years, 
the Civil war broke out, and prompted by a spirit of patriotism he laid 
aside personal interests and enlisted in Company H, 148th P.V.I., under 
Capt. Furland, a physician of Bellefonte. He was never wounded, and 
when the war was over was honorably discharged, June 1, 1865.
  Returning to his home in Philipsburg, Mr. Hudson resumed business, 
and soon built up a large and profitable trade. Owing to ill health he 
was obliged to lay aside active labor on June 9, 1896, but after six 
weeks spent in Anson, Maine, he has so far regained his usual health as 
to be able to again open his store in Philipsburg. He is widely known 
in business circles as a man of undoubted integrity, conducting his 
interests with ability and a strict regard to details. He is a stalwart 
Republican in politics, and fraternally is a member of the I.O.O.F. 
Lodge No. 206, of Philipsburg, of the G.A.R., and of the R.O.V.L. As a 
citizen he deserves the high regard in which he is universally held, 
and in social circles he and his estimable wife hold an enviable 
position.
  On the 24th of December, 1868, at Philipsburg, Mr. Hudson was married 
by Rev. Foster, to Miss Susan Harpster, and seven children came to 
bless their union: Margaret M. (wife of N. N. Davis, a jeweler of 
Philipsburg), Laura, Charles R., Thornly B. and Stanley J., all at 
home; Lewis, deceased; and Jesse L. T., at home.