David Hudson was born in Belfast in 1836, he had a brother
William also born in Belfast on the 25th Feburary 1837 and at
least one sister. Their parents were Isaac and Catherine.
In 1849 they moved to the United States and for a
time settled in Clinton County, New York State where their
sister married later moving to Moriah Centre Essex County New
York State.
In 1856 David, William and their parents joined
another wave of emigrants into Iowa State, where they settled
in the hamlet of Forest Home. There David engaged in
carpentry and William in wagon making.
Their father at the age of 75 years in 1858 due to
increasing illness became totally dependant upon his children
who contributed what they could to support the family. At
this time David was earning $1.50 per day. When the war of
1861 erupted David joined up and was posted to "I" company,
13th Iowa Infantry where he made provision for some of his
money to be sent home to his mother. William remained at
home with his parents.
David mustered in at Davenport Iowa on the 8th
November 1861 for 3 years, he was 25 years old, 5'6 1/2", had
a fair complexion, gray eyes and sandy hair. On the 11th
December he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, but in June
he was sent to Corinth for 60 days where he was busted back
to private. Remaining there until August when he was
transferred to Bolivia. On the 22nd September 1862 he was
promoted from private to 5th Sergent possibly due to
casualties and the fact that he had survived so long. Again
on the 4th of February 1863 he was given a field commission
to 1st Lieutenant and received his appointment on the 20th
Feburary. When his company were in Vicksburgh on the 20th
Auguast 1863 he mustered in as 1st Lieuntenant.
On 21st Sept. 1863 he asked for and received leave of
absence for twenty days and went home, while at home his
father may have again taken ill as a result of which he went
AWOL for eight days. Upon his return to his unit he was
required to appear before a military commission to justify
his going AWOL he was able to do so and was permitted to
retain his rank. By 14th November 1863 he had been given
command of company "I" which he retained when the Regiment
joined Sherman's march through Georgia.
He was wounded in the right leg while leading his
men in a charge on defences near Atlanta on the 21st July
1864. The regiment lost 99 men in half an hour in this
action and was later sent with the other wounded to the
hospital at Nashville Tenn [Tennessee?] where he died as
result of his wounds on the 16th August 1864. He was
#PAGE 2
buried in the National Cemetery in Nashville, section grave
258.
In the spring of 1864 William left home and went to
work for the United States Government in Nashville
Tenn [Tennessee?] making wagons. After Davids death he
returned home to be with his parents and on the 12th Sept.
1865 married Miss Sarah Totton of New Jersey moving to the
new township of Union where he took out a section (section
19). He continued to contribute towards the upkeep of his
parents until the approach of his first child (Anne Mary Born
29th June 1866.).
In the new situation in which Isaac and Catherine now
found themselves they applied to the United States army for a
pension, as Isaac was now 83 years and totally unable to work
and Catherine was 75 years, their possessions did not exceed
$50 in value. By the 27th August 1866 Catherine, in whose
name the pension had been requested received confirmation
that she would receive a pension of $17 per month back dated
to the 17th August 1864.
Isaac died between 27th August 1866 and the 7th
August 1867 by which time Catherine had moved to her
daughter's home in Moriah Centre, Essex County, New York
State.
Williams family grew on the 22nd Jan. 1868 Minnie E
was born, she died in infancy, on the 27th May David Edwin
was born, on the 26th Jan. 1871 Fanny Louise was born and
finally on the 13th Jan. 1881 Clara Noble was born.
Anne Mary's married name was Burbank.
Fanny Louise's married name was McCoy.
Clara Nobel's married name was Sheeley.
David Edwin married Elizabeth Doyle on the 13th March 1898
and had three children William Benjamin 9th Jan. 1899,
Charles Edwin (1900-1972), Grace Elizabeth whose married name
was Teter (1903-1983).
On the 10th Sept. 1904 Sarah (Totton) Hudson died, when
William having predeceased her on the 26th December 1886 at
the age of 49 years when he was kicked by a horse.
