born near jamestown, indiana, hudson attended lebanon (indiana) academy and wabash college, crawfordsville, indiana. he moved to nodaway, missouri, in 1854. he spent much of the civil war on an unexplained mission in nevada. he moved to coyville, kansas, in 1866 and taught in the first county school. he studied law. he was admitted to the bar in iola, kansas, in june 1869. he moved to fredonia, kansas, in 1869 and commenced practice. aided in the adoption of the fifteenth amendment. treasurer and member of the first fredonia school board in the early seventies. he served as a member of the state house of representatives in 1870. he served as mayor of fredonia in 1871. organized the wilson county bank in fredonia in 1871. he was graduated from the law department of the university of cincinnati, ohio, in 1874. he served as prosecuting attorney for wilson county 1884-1886. he served as a delegate to the democratic national conventions in 1884, 1888, 1896.