Hudson Family

                                             [File created years abo by RKW]
                                                           Robert Hudson.

Robert Hudson, early day optometrist in Winfield, camped with his parents at Island park on Christmas 1869, al­though he did not claim to have settled in Winfield until early in 1870.
His grandfather, also named Robert Hudson, owned a home on the present site of the Salvation Army citadel and operated the Lindell Hotel, one of the first hotels of Winfield. He brought the first bath tub to Winfield, a metal lined box, which at that time was quite a curiosity.
The grandson, Robert Hudson, operated a jewelry store and optometrist’s shop at 915 Main street. He was educated in the Winfield high school and subsequently graduated from an optical college. His son, Robert Ellis Hudson, was associated with him in the shop.
Robert Ellis Hudson graduated from the Winfield high school and the Gem City business College at Quincy, Illinois. Subsequently he became a licensed optometrist. He also served in the First World War.
Between Jan 1, 1878 and Jan 1, 1879 W. Hudson built a residence for a cost of $450.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
HUDSON BROS., are young men, born mechanics. They are in the jewelry, silverware, watch, and clock trade, and they know how to make and mend in the best of style. Their strict attention to business and pleasing manners are winning over an excellent trade.
Winfield Courier, January 16, 1879.
Will Hudson was elected to an office in the I. O. O. F.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.
W. H. Hudson has opened a wagon making shop in the rear of Dan Miller’s blacksmith shop. Mr. Hudson is a good workman.
Annie Hudson took the teachers examination.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1879.
Capt. Sanford has fitted up the Hudson building, corner of Eight avenue and Main street, and intends moving his billiard hall into it.
Winfield Courier, March 28, 1879.
Mr. Will Hudson and Miss Emma Green were married on last Sunday evening.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1879.
George Hudson’s blacksmith sign was wrecked by the gentle zephyrs that played around so lively last Monday.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
A law suit was to be heard. It was Robert Hudson vs. Frances R. Hudson.
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
The city authorities are sinking a public well in front of Hudson Bros. jewelry store.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1879.

Mr. Robert Hudson moved the Jochem building with all the shelf hardware intact and never disturbed a thing. When Mr. Hudson goes to work on a building, he is sure to make it go.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1879.
Mr. Robert Hudson, the boss mover of Winfield, accom­plished a feat in the moving line last week which is worthy of mention. He moved Harry Bahntge’s old building from one lot over on another without jarring the plastering or moving a thing out of the house. The building was filled with furniture which was neither moved nor jarred.
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.
Last Saturday Mr. Robert Hudson fin­ished taking out the Timber Creek bridge which was thrown down last week. The bridge is very little damaged, there being only one rod and a wooden cross-beam broken. The opinion of the persons who took the bridge out is that it did not go down in the center as at first supposed, but was thrown off of the abutment by the springing and crowding of the ponies. The irons and belts have all been taken out and are now at the foundry, and will only need to be straightened before they can be put back. It is estimated that three hundred dollars will put the bridge back on the old abut­ments in as good shape as it was before.
Winfield Courier, August 21, 1879.
We have been instructed to say that the person who feloni­ously and with malice aforethought, took three of Robert Hudson’s jack screws from his residence recently, had better return the same without further notice and save trouble.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1879.
Hudson Bros. received last Monday a large and handsome safe, which will be placed in their jewelry store. It the largest safe, outside of the banks in the city.
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1880.
The elements seem to have a particular spite against Robert Hudson. His barn was destroyed by the cyclone of Wednesday night and Friday night the wind took the awning from the front of his building on Main street.
Robert Hudson’s granary and the shed attached to the stage stable were completely wrecked.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
Will Hudson, Shelly Hyde, and others started overland for Colorado last Friday. Their trip is one of pleasure, and they intend to spend several weeks camping among the mountains angling for the festive trout.
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.

Last Thursday night, between 11 and 3 o’clock, Winfield was visited by the most disastrous conflagra­tion yet happening within her borders. The fire started in the old log store, one of the landmarks of the town, and for years occupied by the COURIER, but was now being used by F. Leuschen as a cabinet shop. The fire is supposed to have originated from the old rags, oil, and varnish in the shop. The alarm was given before the fire was thoroughly underway, and had those first on the ground been furnished with decent appliances, it might have been controlled, saving thou­sands of dollars worth of property. The old log building was like a tinder box and made a very hot fire. Next to it on the east were two buildings, one belonging to C. L. Harter and occupied by the moulder at the foundry, the other owned and occupied by Robert Hudson. These buildings were both destroyed, but the contents were saved.
Immediately west of the log building, across the alley, was an old livery barn belonging to Hackney & McDonald, which was the next to go.
From this the fire was communicated to the Central and Lindell hotels. As soon as it was evident that the hotels must go, the work of getting out the furniture began. Carpets, bedding, crockery ware, and furniture of all descriptions were tumbled promiscuously out of windows and doors into the street, much of it being broken and smashed. The hotels being dry, pine buildings, burned rapidly, sending up large cinders which fell in different parts of the city, making the utmost vigilance neces­sary to keep them from igniting buildings three blocks from the fire.
When the two hotels caught, everyone turned their attention toward saving the buildings on either side of the street. They were covered with men who handled buckets of water and barrels of salt, and by their exertions prevented the fire from spreading and destroying the larger part of the business portion of our city.
The old part of the Central Hotel was owned by Jas. Jenkins, of Wisconsin. The new part of the Central Hotel was owned by Majors & Harter. They had sold out to A. H. Doane, and were to have given possession Saturday morning.
The Lindell Hotel was owned by J. M. Spencer, and was leased by Jas. Allen one month ago.
Our citizens generously opened their homes to the homeless people, and accommodations were offered for more than was needed.
The following is a list of the losses and insurance.
Captain Stevens, store, loss $1,000; no insurance.
Fred Leuschen, furniture store and dwelling, loss $1,200. Insurance on stock, in Home, of New York, $300.
C. L. Harter, tenant dwelling, loss $300; no insurance. Tenant had no loss except damage.
Robert Hudson, dwelling, loss $800. Mrs. Hudson removed most of her furniture. No loss except damage. No insurance on either house or contents.
Hackney & McDonald, livery stable occupied by Buckhart, loss $800; no insurance.
Central Hotel, main building:  James Jenkins, loss $3,500; insurance, $1,500 in the Atlas.
Central Hotel, Majors & Harter portion:  loss to building, $2,500; insurance, $2,100, as follows:  Weschester, Springfield Fire & Marine and Hartford, $700 each. [Their insur­ance was on building and furniture.]  The loss of Majors & Harter in excess of their insurance will be upwards of $3,000.
PUZZLING!  $2,100-INSURANCE...AND YET $700 EACH ($1,400)...DOES
           NOT COMPUTE WITH $2,100 INSURANCE...COULD BE THE
           DIFFERENCE BETWEEN $2100 AND $1400 WAS INSURANCE
           ON CONTENTS!
J. M. Spencer, Lindell Hotel, loss $2,500; insurance $1,000, as follows:  Fire Associa­tion, $500; Phenix, of Brooklyn, $500; James Allen, loss $1,000; insurance, $800.
Policies are in the agencies of Gilbert, Jarvis & Co.; Curns & Manser; and Pryor & Kinne. The companies are all first class, and the losses will be promptly adjusted and paid.
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.

Robert Hudson’s new bath house is about finished. It is complete throughout, furnished with bath tubs and bathing appara­tus, and will be one of the most convenient houses in the south­west. Mr. Chas. Steuven has rented it and will open up in about a week.
Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.
Will Hudson has returned from his Colorado trip much im­proved in health.
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1880.
Dr. Fleming has removed his drug store to the Hudson build­ing on Main street. The Doctor has a neat way of arranging his store which makes it very attractive.
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
Hudson Brothers are running the Arkansas City jewelry business in the Palace store, as well as their Winfield store.
Winfield Courier, August 19, 1880.
Hudson’s bath house will be in trim and open anew. On Thursdays he will give free baths to gentlemen and on Fridays, free baths to ladies, when female attendants will be in charge. Call and try it.
Winfield Courier, October 7, 1880.
Married at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Dillingham, Sept. 29th, 1880, by Rev. Cairns, Mr. William H. Hudson and Miss Leonora P. Dillingham, both of Winfield.
Winfield Courier, January 6, 1881.
Mr. and Mrs. Friend have rented the Hudson building, former­ly the Flag drug store, and will occupy it during the next year for their combined stores.
Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.
Robert Hudson is putting in an addi­tion to his bath house, and will soon have two more tubs in running order. With his new improvements, he will be able to give as good a “Turkey” bath as you can get in Chicago.
Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.
HUDSON BROTHERS, JEWELERS. We are doing twice the amount of business we did a year ago, probably because we are carrying twice as many goods and are better known. Do not know as the short crops of last year has any effect on our trade. Have not noticed any particular effect of the prohibitory laws on our trade.