Washington B. Hudson was born in Garrard County, Ky., on July 3, 1813; and died in Neely's Bend, Davidson county, Tenn., on Dec. 17, 1896, aged eighty-three years, five months, and fourteen days. He married at quite a youthful age Miss Louisa Marksberry, with whom he lived almost sixty years. His wife died about three years ago. Nine children, seven sons and two daughters, were born to them, all of whom grew to maturity. All of these, except the second son (Aratia), are still living. He died about eighteen years ago, a true and faithful servant of the Master. Brother and Sister Hudson began their married life in very humble, straitened circumstances; but, both being very industrious and economical, they soon began to prosper in worldly affairs. Brother Hudson soon became a leading trader and farmer in his section of Kentucky; he likewise took quite an active part in the political affairs of the country. About the year 1848 he moved to Tennessee, and settled in Neely's Bend, in Davidson County. This continued to be his home until his death, though his winters, for the past fourteen years, were spent in Florida. In Tennessee Brother Hudson soon took position as a leading citizen of the community, and was widely known as one of the first farmers and stock-growers of his adopted State. In early life, in Kentucky, Brother Hudson had the privilege of hearing the ancient gospel, as proclaimed by the Creaths, Smiths, Kendrick, John T. Johnson, and others. He knew the right way, and was ready to contend for it from his earliest manhood; but the busy activities of life and participation in the affairs of the country left him little time to give personal attention to the great matter of life. Even after his removal to Tennessee, it was many years before he brought himself to put on Christ in baptism. This delay and the results of the rough associations of earlier days made it more difficult for him to cut himself loose from the world and its ways. He could not give up the idea that great benefit was to come to man through human legislation. All his sympathies were with the toiling masses, and his desire was for the enactment of laws for them. Brother Hudson was a man of positive convictions on every subject to which he directed his attention. I have never known any man more ready on every occasion to declare his confidence in the great scheme of redemption offered to man in the word of God. No array of learning or assumption of clerical pomp could deter him in any and every sort of assembly from declaring boldly the plan of salvation taught in the New Testament. Not only was he ready to talk for Christ and his simple appointments, but he was ready with his means to help forward and strengthen the good cause. Whatever may have been the deficiencies in the entire make-up of his religious life, cowardice and a lack of faith in God's word were not of them. Against the innovations that have been of late years striving to enter into the church he was unalterably fixed, and with them he was for no compromise. His body rests in Spring Hill Cemetery, beside that of his lifelong companion, to await the summons of that Judge who knows all our hearts, and who will in all things do that which is infallibly right.

W. L.
Gospel Advocate, March 25, 1897, page 188.
Provided by K Sparkman