Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-27
Misesllansoas Rsading.
JOSHUA HILARY HUDSON.
Autobiography A Of tho WelI.knawn
Jurist Who Died In Greenville.

| Jurlst VINO Dled IN 1roonvlHes
In 1897 Judge Hudson wrote his au.
photography for THE Bench and Bal
Of South Carolina" by Col. Brooks, ir
which he graphically but modestly por.
trayed the struggles Of his early life
The following Is an abridged copy Of
lhis autobiography:
Il was born In the present town o.
Chester on. the 2sth day Of January
1882. My father, Dabney Hudson, wa,
born in Amherst county, Virginia, De.
cember II, 1901, and came to Soutt
fond of my books and learned rapidly
as much as any Of my fellow pupils
Under Mr.. Bansimer, German, be.
gan and made progress In the study
Of Latin and Greek, algebra and ge-
lometry For short time VISA a prin-
ter's devil" but ! soon discovered
that my employer was intellectually g
very weak man and one from whom
would probably learn little. SO left
him.
|
the Baptist church, my mind wandered
from the sermon and brooded over my
sad lot in not being able to go to COL
lege. I fixed my mind on Richard Ken
nedy, Esq, as a kind man and one
able to help II willing. Luckily found
him alone, and in five minutes had his
promise to lend me money. When
left for college I had with me $100
which was half Of what had borrow
ed. I entered the sophomore class OF
South Carolina college with many 9TH
ers, making a class of over sixty. In
my junior year the whole class rebell-
ed, because of a misunderstanding
with one Of the professors. was able
to take the place Of one Of the expelled
boys in the home Of Mr.. Preston. La
ter obtained q scholarship which paid
me the annual interest on $1,000 at 2
per cent. graduated in December
1852, with the first honor in a class OF
nearly fifty laborious students.
1.-TWO weeks after graduation re-
ceived notice Of my election as princi-
pal Of the Academy at Bennettsville.
On the 4th Of May, 1854, I married
Mary, the eldest daughter Of my land
lord, Mr.. Philip Miller, being twenty
two years old. Having taught school
for four years, on the 1st Of January,
1857, 1 opened for the first time in my
life a law book and began the study Of
law in earnest. In four months I had
read the entire course Of study. In
1858 ran for the legislature, and had
perhaps the misfortune to be elected.
/ declined to serve second term. In
1860 my income had increased to $500,
and then came the Confederate war,
finding me largely in debt.
II entered the army as private SOL
dier in the company commanded by
Capt. ]. A. w. Thomas. At the reor-
ganization Of the 9th battalion in 1852
was elected major. In April, 1853, we
were ordered to Mississippi and incor-
pcrated into the brigade OF Gen. N. q.
Evans. We were in the Jackson cara-
paign, including the nine days siege Of
that city. We were d,rc. oack to
South Carolina and participated in tie
defense Of Charleston until March,
1864. We were then sent to North
Carolina and later to Petersburg, and
on the Goth Of May fought Gen. B. F.
Butler between the Appomattox and
James rivers, at Clay's Farm, or Ware
bottom Creek. We suffered severely
at the battle Of the Crater" many Of
our brigade being killed by the spring
ing Of the mine beneath US.
"On April 1, 1865, at Five Forks,
received my only serious wound, be-
ing shot through the body just below
the left lung at close quarters by
mimic ball. fell, a wounded prisoner,
into the hands Of the enemy on April
2, and after being without medical
attention for six weeks I was suffl-
ciently recovered to be paroled and be-
gin my journey homeward. My wife,
believing me to be dead, had left our
humble home and taken shelter with
ucE WluO"SQ AL oCCiuCu Adihb
desolation and despair.
"On the 1st Of January, 1866, FORM
ed a co-partnership with Samuel j.
Townsend, Esq, and the courts being
now open, business began to flow in
steadily and good fees to be paid. BY
the time Of my partners death, in
May, 1870, had paid Off an ante-bel-
lum debt Of $4,000 and otherwise i'm
proved myself pecuniarily.
"On the 14th Of February, 1878, I
was elected to the office Of Judge Of
the 4th judicial circuit as successor
to the Hon. C. P. Townsend. To the
duties of this office I devoted myself
most laboriously, until, after sixteen
years service, I was succeeded by tie
Hon. Richard Watts Of Laurens, ow-
ing to the tide in politics by which
Tillman and his faction came into
power The manner in which dis
charged my duties in this exalted and
responsible office Is known to all the
people, but especially to the bar Of the
state. It does not become me to speak
Of 1t. 1 will say, however, that dur
ing this long period I never missed a
court, no- was / ever behind the hour
appointed for its opening. 1t is the
duty Of a judge to decide cases and
render judgments promptly. Justice
delayed is justice denied. A fully ar
gued case I never pocketed, but de-
cided all during term time.
IN my domestic relations earnest
ly endeavored to discharge the duties
Of husband and father. Our Affections
have been great, in having lost ten Of
our fourteen children-six sons and
four daughters-so that we have no
surviving son, but four living daugh-
ters, three married and one single. Our
worldly possessions are small, consist |
ing Of a comfortable house and small
piece Of land near the town, with some
insignificant improvements on it, but
yielding almost no income. OF sur
plus money, We have none, and I am
forced to resume my practice Of law
with what success the future can de-