The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-27
DESCENDANT OF
. SAMUEL JOHNSON
AND ANCIENT HOME
Old Homestead Fitted With
Art Treasures
Especial to The Farmer.)

| Especial to The Farmer.)
Stratford, Oct 27-The death OF
i Mrs. Susan Edwards johnson Hudson
and the provision in her will which
POUNDS a scholarship in Columbia Col
| 1ege brings up reco1lections of one of
| the most interesting families in New
England. Mrs. Hudson was the direct
/ linea1 descendant of DR.. Samuel john
son, the first president of Column ia
| college and also of Thomas Hooker,
the author of the constitution of the
state of Connecticut. She was the
widow of William Hudson of New
York, a descendant of the English
| family from which Hudson bay was
| named.
Mrs Hudson lived the whole of her
| life in the Johnson homestead at the
| corner of West Broad and Main
streets.
Rev. Dr. Samuel johnson came to
Stratford in 1923. He married Char
ity Nicoll, widow of Benjamin NicoIl
came the johnson family which has
been honored many times by posi-
lions of trust in the history of the
country. William Samuel johnson,
great grandfather of Mrs. Hudson was
the second president of Columbia sue
ceeding his father. He inherited the
Johnson homestead from his father
and it has come down intact and will
still remain in the family. Mrs. Laura
E. johnson Carmalt of New Haven
and Mamaroneck inherits the home
stead with all the rich historical treas
ures it contains from her deceased sis
ter As the descendant of the first
rector of Christ church Mrs. Hudson
was always much interested in the
welfare of that organization and aided
both by her influence and her money
to maintain the church home of her
fathers. The church records are full
of the acts of the family from the time
of its institution in 1923 until the
present. The family residence which
passes to the sister of the deceased is
a wonder spot for those interested in
the past of this town. The original
library of DR.. Samuel Johnson is still
there with a profusion Of relics and
mementoes which would furnish great
delight for the eager antiquary.
The old house is in excellent repair
although it has been standing for over
century. It's appearance bespeaks
it's origin and it attracts the. inn1 edi-
ate attention of strangers on account
of it's colonial appearance Mrs. Hud-
son was retiring and reticent be-
fitted the grande dame of a by-goue
period. She was generous with her
income and a delightful companion to
her inttmates who were few. She
passed much of her time in New York
accomplished linguist and in every
way fitted to maintain the high stand
ard established by her illustrious an
cestors. She was one of the original
sneHEbersg Of the Ladiess Club Of New
York, one of the founders OF the
Daughters of Cincinnati, a Colonial
Dame and a member of the Ladies'
National Mount Vernon Association of
which she vas the secretary for sew
eral years.
Mrs. Hudson inherited a love of let
tiers from more. than the Johnsons.
She was proud of her lineage and
cherished the memory of Jonathan
Edwards, a portrait of whom, said to
have been painted by Van Dyke, is one
Of the treasures of the old homestead.
Another painting of Samuel johnson,
the English photographer was pre-
scented by that famous Englishman to
the first rector of Christ church on
the occasion of a visit to England.
John Visscher Wheeler in whose
memory Mrs. Hudson has founded n
scholarship in Columbia University,
was the son of Ezra Wheeler and the
half brother of Walter and Arthur
DeForest Wheeler of Academy Hill. |
He was resident of New York city
and died in 1895 at the age of SO. The
income of $4,000 is devised for this
purpose.