Dr. Theodore Hudson was born August 12, 1850 in Pennsylvania, the son of Dr. and Mrs. John Atchinson Hudson. He was the oldest of three children, his brother, Dr. George Hudson of Canton, Iowa having died at the home of Dr. Theodore Hudson of Marion, and his older brother, Joseph Hudson, a farmer who lived south of Marion, the father of Georgia and Ruth Hudson.
Dr. Hudson moved with his father and mother to Ashland City, Tennessee in 1857, where he lived until completing his education, although he was educated in a literary college in the state of Pennsylvania and his medical education was acquired in the University of Tennessee at Nashville.
After he had completed his medical course, he moved to Illinois in 1872, locating near Hudgens, on a farm.
About 1874, after his mother’s death, his father came to Illinois and lived with Dr. Hudson until his death about 1888.
In 1879, he was married to Emaranda Hudgens, daughter of Zachariah Hudgens. To this union was born Nannie B. Hudgens who died in 1900 at the age of 19, Dr. Zach Hudgens of Marion and Clara Hudgens who died in infancy.
In the 1880 census, the couple was occupying a farm in Hudgens, Southern Township. Theodore was then aged 29 and Emeranda was 20. Living with them was his brother Joseph, aged 21, and a farmer.
Emeranda L. Hudson, Zach’s mother, died of a hemorrhage on August 6, 1886, at the age of 26 years, just one day after the failed birth of an unnamed infant on August 5, 1886. She was the founder, with Dr. Hudson’s financial assistance, and the main pillar of the Fountain M.E. Church where she and the infant are buried.
Also in the year 1886, Dr. Hudson was serving as a director on the board for the Williamson County Agricultural Society.
In 1888, Dr. Hudson married Ella Norris, daughter of Benton Norris. To this union was born John Hudson, a druggist , who would later operate a business and live in St. Louis, Mo. and Mattie Lainson, wife of E.S. Lainson of Boone, Iowa. Mattie had one boy, Hudson Lainson, aged 13, Dr. Hudson’s only grandchild.
On January 30, 1899, Theodore was appointed Postmaster to the Sampson District post office near Hudgens. He remained in this position until June 20, 1899.
In the 1900 census, Dr. Theodore was then aged 40 and his second wife Ella was aged 40. They owned their farm in Hudgens free of mortgage. Children present were Nannie Hudson 18, from the previous marriage and children of the second marriage, John A. Hudson, aged 11 and Mattie Hudson, aged 9.
Dr. Hudson practiced his profession at Hudgens from 1872 until 1902, when he moved to Marion. He enjoyed a large practice all of his active professional life. After coming to Marion, he formed a partnership with Dr. Curtis Brown which lasted until 1907 when his son, Dr. Zach Hudson graduated from medical college and then Dr. Hudson and his son Zach formed a partnership as Doctors Hudson and Hudson, which partnership continued until his death.
In the 1903-05 term of the Williamson County Agricultural Society, Dr. Hudson served as Vice President.
A 1907 Marion directory listed Dr. Theo Hudson and son Dr. Zach Hudson as having an office located at 204 Public Square, both were listed separately, before they formed a partnership.
In the 1910 federal census, the Hudson family was living in a home at 302 W. College Street. Theodore had reached the age of 60 and his wife, Ella, had reached 50. Their son, Dr. Zach Hudson was 25 and still living with his parents. John A. Hudson was 21 and working as a salesman at a clothing store. Mattie Hudson was 18 and finishing school.
Theodore’s second wife, Ella (Norris) Hudson, died in 1918.
The 1920 census revealed that Dr. Hudson was widowed and 70 years old. He was living with his son Zach 36 and his wife, Nona 23 in their home at 911 N. Market Street.
A 1922 directory indicated that the offices of Dr’s Hudson and Hudson had offices located in Room 45 at the Marion State and Savings Bank building.
Dr. Hudson enjoyed good health all his life until recently, except an illness in 1927 that kept him confined about 10 months. Although not a man of large stature, he was vigorous and active and had occasion to complain but little of physical ailments or infirmities, except a minimum of such complaints as are due to advancing years.
The 1927 and 1928 directories indicate that Dr. Theodore Hudson occupied room 47 and Dr. Zach Hudson occupied rooms 43-45 of the Marion State and Savings Bank building.
The 1930 federal census located Dr. Hudson living in the Marion State and Saving Bank building at 600 Public Square alone at age 79. He paid $16 per month in rent.
On August 20, 1931 at 7:30 p.m. on West Main Street, in the second block west of the square, he was run down by an automobile, struck upon the pavement and among other things probably sustained concussion of the brain. He was removed to Room 47 in the Marion Trust and Savings Bank Building, the place he called “home”, just across the hall from the office of his son, Zach, where he had requested to be kept in case of accident or illness.
He did not evidence great suffering or pain until Sunday afternoon, August 21st, 1931, when his heart began to weaken and his temperature to rise and the doctors and friends realized he could not last long.
Dr. Zach Hudson and John Hudson were with their father continuously during his last illness and Mrs. Lainson and her son had visited with Dr. Hudson during the last few days. Dr. Hudson did more or less practice up until the date of his injury, doing dressings in the office and making occasional house calls. His last call was made just two days before his injury.
He was unconscious and remained more or less unconscious, with slight periods of consciousness until his death on September 1st at 10:53 p.m. He expired peacefully and died at the age of 81 years and 20 days.
Dr. Hudson was a charter and life member of B.F.O.E. Lodge #800, Marion, Illinois and a charter member of I.O.O.F. Lodge at Fountain, retaining his membership in both lodges until his death. While Dr. Hudson did not affiliate with any particular church, he was a charitable supporter of churches, especially those which members of his family belonged, and while he did not espouse any particular religion openly, he was in no sense an atheist nor was he sacrilegious.
He believed in doing a full measure of charity and justice to all and adopted and practiced a creed of doing no harm to any man. In all of his long, useful and practical life, be never sued any person tor professional services, although his ledgers contain thousands of dollars of unpaid accounts and he practiced in families for long periods of time without ever receiving one penny of compensation.
He did not go in much for polities for himself, although he did keep advised upon political questions. The only elective office he ever held was that of school director for one term many years ago. During that term he was successful in establishing for his school district a nine month term, whereas six months had been the rule.
He served for many years as a director of the Williamson County Fair Association and never missed attending a fair. He was a large land owner, raising livestock and farming his lands up until recent years. For years he was a stockholder in the First National Bank in Marion and in the old Williamson County Bank.
He had every attention that medical science knew and that loving and competent hands could render. And so, ended the long, useful practical and successful life of a good man. A man of strong, but intelligent and discreet convictions. A man with innumerable friends, and a man who was a friend to humanity.
His funeral was held at Fountain Church Thursday afternoon, September 3rd 1931 at 3 o’clock. His funeral orations were delivered by Rev. Warner Muir, the pastor of the Christian Church of Marion and the music furnished by the same church and internment at the Fountain Church Cemetery.
Additional Notes: Dr. Hudson’s stone is the tallest one in Fountain Cemetery. Dr. Theo Hudson was the son of James A. Hudson and Nannie B. Davis. His father died 21 Mar 1888 aged 71 years 8 months 4 days and is buried at Fountain Cemetery.
Mrs. Ella Hudson is visible in a photograph on page 38 of the 1905 Souvenir History entitled “an impromptu group.”
(Data extracted from the Nannie Gray Parks files at the WCHS, republished in “Footprints”, WCHS, Volume 2, #3,1999 by Helen Lind; Federal Census Records; Illinois Death Records; Marion City Directories; 1905 Souvenir History; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 11/24/2013)