The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30
HUDSON, N. Y.
A City Which Is to all Iutents and Pur-
poses a Rhode Island Colony.

poses a hnOue lel1uo toAoHNs
1t is not generally known that the city
of Hudson. New York. was founded by
a colony consisting of several respected
residents of Providence, belonging to
families still deservedly prominent in
our local history. The two most active
in the work of settlement, about 100 years
ago, were Thomas and Seth Jenkins,
and the object of the voluntary exile. as
We learn from an interesting cOntribu-
ton in the Hudson Register, was to seek
a site for commercial purposes on the
North, or Hudson River. A grand
daughter of Seth jenkins. now dead.
has left letter. in which she states:
while visiting Nantucket some years
ago, found an old paper among the
| archives of that city, giving this account
OF the pioneer enterprise to Hudson:
Seth and Thomas jenkins, of Nan
tucket. sailed from Providence to New
York to find a place of settlement on
the Hudson River On their arrival at
the City of New York they called upon
Colonel Rutgers, an old friend of my
grandfather, to whom they unfolded
their plans, whereupon Colonel Rutgers
proposed that they should buy his farm.
They talked over the matter. and finally
concluded to make him an offer, which
they did. After some days negotiation
they came within $500 of striking bar
Gain, but at this point, no concessions
being made on either side (both were
obstinate), and as neither would yield
further, the trade fell through. and they
started up the Hudson, accommodating
all the way up until they came to Claw
crack Landing. where they finally
purchased and settled"
The two merchants appear to have
scanned the ground carefully and taken
note as to where on the river they could
find the most advantageous site for
commerce. They foresaw, with a sa-
gacity not frequent in that day and
generation, that in the vicinity of New
York would center The traffic of the
continent, and that the wharves of the
East would in time be deserted for the
superior facilities offered by the great
river which made Manhattan an island.
Ii was not by any chance that they set
tied upon the site of Hudson. Accord
ing to Winterbotham' history, they
found the stream up to that spot navi-
gable for vessels of any size. and per-
haps they dreamed that they were found
ing a city that would attract the com
nnrce of Europe and of the Indies.
Their dream, if such it was, has not
b.en realized; but Providence has no
reason to be ashamed of her thrifty and
fourishing colony which constituted one
Of the most substantial communities in
The Empire State of New York.
Tine mayoralty of the new city, which
vas incorporated in 1885. was held for
many wears in the Jenkins family. Seth
held the Office until his death, in 1898,
aa1 was succeeded by his brother,
Thomas. who also held the position
DAHL his death consecutively for fifteen
Years. Robert jenkins, son OF Seth,
succeeded Thomas, and, with lapse of
two wears, was Mayor until his death in
1919. Like their kinsmen in Rhode
Leland, they embarked early in do
nestle manufactures, Robert, and bis
brother Seth and John +. Jenkins
establishing the first mandatory of
cotton fabrics in the State of New York.
at COlumbiaville. They also owned
vessels which carried their goods to the
principal markets. Under the enter
priSing direction of the jenkins family,
Hudson rapidly grew in prosperity.
until it became the third city in the
State. While it has since been out
stripped by some other municipalities.
it has never lost the sound and solid
character impressed by its founders
PrOrIlence Or. IL Journal.