William Franklin Hudson Sr.

Advertisement

William Franklin Hudson Sr.

Birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
20 Aug 1958 (aged 82)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
William was born at Church St. On the 1880 census William lived with his grandparents. In 1911 William and Isabella lived at 3435 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA, with their family. William's family roots go to England. He had a fiery temper and was a self-taught inventor. He was self-conscious and had no close relationships with his children.
-----------------------------------
Philadelphia Inquirer-April 5, 1911-HOUSE OF DEATH HIT BY HUGE SMOKESTACK-Home Where Body of Child Killed in Accident Lay Unburied Nearly Demolished
Just eight years after his daughter had been burned to death in a fire which destroyed his dwellling, and three days after another child, whose body still lay in he parlor of his house, had been killed in a street accident, the home of William Hudson, 3435 Richmond street, was crushed yesterday beneath a huge iron smokestack, weighing more than ten tons, which crashed from the plant of the Quaker City Dye works, causing a panic in the factory and drawing a crowd of thousands of person to the spot.
The rear of the man's house was entirely wrecked and two occupants of the building were injured by the accident, the last of a series of misfortunes, expending over a period of several years. In the house at the time of the crash were Mrs. Hudson, Mrs. Annie Walker, a domestic; Hudson, his four children, and a number of mourners who had called at the house to look for the last time on the fact of 7-year-old Anna (sic) Theresa Hudson, who had been killed by a wagon while trying to save a playmate from a similar fate on Saturday last.
The great issue of iron and steel, loosened by the pulling of a rope by a workman, hurled itself through the air and landed on the roof of the house, crushing the rear of the structure like an eggshell. Panic-stricken, those on the first floor of the building rushed into the street, but from the front of the house nothing of the damage in the rear could be seen.
Dr. E. K. Boltz, who resides in the neighborhood, was passing the house at the time of the accident and followed Hudson when he returned into the dwelling. It was found that both Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Walker, the domestic, had received serious lacerations and contusions. The women were treated and persuaded to remain in bed.

-----------------------------------
William's Obituary: 1958
Wm. F. Hudson Dies; Founded Blind Group
William Franklin Hudson, inventor and retired manufacturer, who in 1949 founded the White Cane Society of America as the "badge of a blind man as well as an aid," died yesterday at his home, 982 N. 2d st. He was 82.
Mr. Hudson, who was left partly blind and deaf as a result of being beaten on the head in a holdup at his specialty manufacturing shop at the 2d st. address when he was 70, went on a nation-wide tour to solicit aid for his "white cane" campaign.

NAMED 'MAN OF YEAR'
He started his movement to educate the public to assist persons carrying a white cane on the streets and on trolleys and buses.
After the holdup, Mr. Hudson gave up his beauty products manufacturing business here and moved to Atlantic City. At the first convention of the White Cane Society in 1949 at the shore resort, he was chosen as "the man of the year."
Mr. Hudson began his career in the soft drink bottling business in 1900. In 1930, he started in the auto accessories business, and was credited with several inventions used by the industry. Later, he embarked in the roofing supply business.
5 DAUGHTERS SURVIVE
Mr. Hudson is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Earl Sneed, Mrs. David Williams, Mrs. Thomas Heller, Jr., Mrs. William Anderson, and Mrs. Robert Wood; a son, William Franklin, Jr.; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 P.M. Monday at the Fitz Patrick funeral home, 3309 N. Broad st.

Obituary-The Evening Bulletin-August 21, 1958
William Hudson, Inventor, Dies
William Franklin Hudson, retired businessman and inventor, died yesterday at his home, 982 N. 2d st. He was 82,
Between 1900 and 1949, when he retired, he was engaged in selling coal and coke, automobile accessories, roofing supplies and beauty products.
He invented a number of devices used in automobiles and automobile repairing, including a "Hudford unit" for Ford Model T cars.
He belonged to Oriental Lodge, F. & A.M.
Surviving are a son, William, Jr.; five daughters, Mrs. Robert Woods, Mrs. William Anderson, Mrs. Thomas Heller, Jr., Mrs. David Williams and Mrs. Earl Sneed; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday at 2 P.M. at the Fitzpatrick funeral home, 3309 N. Broad st. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

Death Notices-The Evening Bulletin-August 23, 1958
August 20, 1958, WILLIAM F., of 982 N. 2d st., husband of the late Isabella Hudson (nee Clemens). Relatives and friends, Oriental Lodge #385, F. & A.M. Invited to FitzPatrick Funeral Home, 3309 N. Broad st., Sun. eve. Services Mon., 2 P.M. Interment Mt. Vernon Cemetery.
William was born at Church St. On the 1880 census William lived with his grandparents. In 1911 William and Isabella lived at 3435 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA, with their family. William's family roots go to England. He had a fiery temper and was a self-taught inventor. He was self-conscious and had no close relationships with his children.
-----------------------------------
Philadelphia Inquirer-April 5, 1911-HOUSE OF DEATH HIT BY HUGE SMOKESTACK-Home Where Body of Child Killed in Accident Lay Unburied Nearly Demolished
Just eight years after his daughter had been burned to death in a fire which destroyed his dwellling, and three days after another child, whose body still lay in he parlor of his house, had been killed in a street accident, the home of William Hudson, 3435 Richmond street, was crushed yesterday beneath a huge iron smokestack, weighing more than ten tons, which crashed from the plant of the Quaker City Dye works, causing a panic in the factory and drawing a crowd of thousands of person to the spot.
The rear of the man's house was entirely wrecked and two occupants of the building were injured by the accident, the last of a series of misfortunes, expending over a period of several years. In the house at the time of the crash were Mrs. Hudson, Mrs. Annie Walker, a domestic; Hudson, his four children, and a number of mourners who had called at the house to look for the last time on the fact of 7-year-old Anna (sic) Theresa Hudson, who had been killed by a wagon while trying to save a playmate from a similar fate on Saturday last.
The great issue of iron and steel, loosened by the pulling of a rope by a workman, hurled itself through the air and landed on the roof of the house, crushing the rear of the structure like an eggshell. Panic-stricken, those on the first floor of the building rushed into the street, but from the front of the house nothing of the damage in the rear could be seen.
Dr. E. K. Boltz, who resides in the neighborhood, was passing the house at the time of the accident and followed Hudson when he returned into the dwelling. It was found that both Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Walker, the domestic, had received serious lacerations and contusions. The women were treated and persuaded to remain in bed.

-----------------------------------
William's Obituary: 1958
Wm. F. Hudson Dies; Founded Blind Group
William Franklin Hudson, inventor and retired manufacturer, who in 1949 founded the White Cane Society of America as the "badge of a blind man as well as an aid," died yesterday at his home, 982 N. 2d st. He was 82.
Mr. Hudson, who was left partly blind and deaf as a result of being beaten on the head in a holdup at his specialty manufacturing shop at the 2d st. address when he was 70, went on a nation-wide tour to solicit aid for his "white cane" campaign.

NAMED 'MAN OF YEAR'
He started his movement to educate the public to assist persons carrying a white cane on the streets and on trolleys and buses.
After the holdup, Mr. Hudson gave up his beauty products manufacturing business here and moved to Atlantic City. At the first convention of the White Cane Society in 1949 at the shore resort, he was chosen as "the man of the year."
Mr. Hudson began his career in the soft drink bottling business in 1900. In 1930, he started in the auto accessories business, and was credited with several inventions used by the industry. Later, he embarked in the roofing supply business.
5 DAUGHTERS SURVIVE
Mr. Hudson is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Earl Sneed, Mrs. David Williams, Mrs. Thomas Heller, Jr., Mrs. William Anderson, and Mrs. Robert Wood; a son, William Franklin, Jr.; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 P.M. Monday at the Fitz Patrick funeral home, 3309 N. Broad st.

Obituary-The Evening Bulletin-August 21, 1958
William Hudson, Inventor, Dies
William Franklin Hudson, retired businessman and inventor, died yesterday at his home, 982 N. 2d st. He was 82,
Between 1900 and 1949, when he retired, he was engaged in selling coal and coke, automobile accessories, roofing supplies and beauty products.
He invented a number of devices used in automobiles and automobile repairing, including a "Hudford unit" for Ford Model T cars.
He belonged to Oriental Lodge, F. & A.M.
Surviving are a son, William, Jr.; five daughters, Mrs. Robert Woods, Mrs. William Anderson, Mrs. Thomas Heller, Jr., Mrs. David Williams and Mrs. Earl Sneed; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday at 2 P.M. at the Fitzpatrick funeral home, 3309 N. Broad st. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

Death Notices-The Evening Bulletin-August 23, 1958
August 20, 1958, WILLIAM F., of 982 N. 2d st., husband of the late Isabella Hudson (nee Clemens). Relatives and friends, Oriental Lodge #385, F. & A.M. Invited to FitzPatrick Funeral Home, 3309 N. Broad st., Sun. eve. Services Mon., 2 P.M. Interment Mt. Vernon Cemetery.