The history, biographical record or memoir of Clay county or of Southern
Illinois, would be singularly incomplete without mention of William H.
Hudelson, deceased. Therefore the following article has been compiled from
facts available and quotations from the utterances and writings of those who
knew him intimately throughout his long career as a citizen of Clay county.
In every community there is to be found a man, or a few men, whose names
are preeminently and unmistakably identified with the community's material
growth and development, and who are always to be found associated with every
movement that seems to promise an addition to that community's wealth,
resources and enterprise, and to enhance the importance of its location and
surroundings. Such men are seldom obtrusive, though always on the alert, and
always to be found when called upon. The masses feel their presence, though
it is not thrust upon them, and almost insensibly, but no less surely, do
they leave their impress upon the character, institutions and developments
of that community. Such a man was William H. Hudelson.
He was born on
a farm three miles south of Princeton, Gibson county, a son of Samuel
Hudelson, a pioneer of that community. He was not exactly a child of the
wilderness, but wilderness features surrounded the rude cradle in which he
was rocked. The trail of the wolf was yet to be seen in the snow and the
alarm of the rattlesnake at the base of the hill. It was the period of the
legendary cabin and fireplace, the old family Bible and alphabet, and the
schoolhouse with its floors of puncheon, its unhewn logs and roof of boards.
It was the day of the hasty primitive education, when the subjects taught
were reading and writing, spelling and arithmetic, when grammar was
catalogued with the natural sciences, and geography among the classics. It
was the time of day of the pious mother, who had her pleasant legends and
fairy tales, with which she suppressed the rising sighs and kept open the
leaden eyelids of the little ones, as she plied her spinning wheel and
waited for the return of her husband from his labors, when perchance,
driving snowstorm delayed him far into the hours of thickest night.
Amid such scenes our subject spent his boyhood and the revolving years on to
his manhood, until, in April of 1852, he located in Louisville, Clay county,
Illinois. With a limited financial capital, he established in the grocery
and "general store" business with John McGriffin as a partner. This was some
years before the advent of Railroads, and their stock of goods was brought
by wagon from Evansville, Indiana. By industry and fair dealing the firm was
successful and endured for a period of five years, when in 1857, Mr.
Hudelson exchanged his interest for the farm of Harrison Rayburn. Here from
dawn far into the night he labored and toiled. His tremendous industry, his
splendid physical strength and endurance made him known throughout the
countryside and many are the tales related of his wonderful powers. In 1866
he sold his then titled farm and he again became a resident of Louisville
village. At about this time the building of the courthouse was agitated, and
bonds providing for same were issued by the county. Clay county was even
then much in the "back woods" and the financial men of the East to whom the
then young West looked for its cast supply, did not take kindly to the
courthouse bond issue. In consequence they were not greatly sought and were
offered at a most liberal discount. With a farseeing wisdom and an abiding
faith in the community and its citizens, Mr. Hudelson invested his capital
and savings in these bonds and the subsequent years fully warranted his
faith and trust in the county's future. His first venture in the whirlpool
of finance proving successful, he for some years, devoted himself to
investments and private banking. In about 1870, with Henry Watson as a
partner, a savings bank was established, known as the Bank of Louisville,
and this he conducted until in about 1879, the business was closed, after
which he continued as a private banker and an investor in lands and real
estate. At one time his land holdings were estimated at between thirty-five
hundred and four thousand acres, and his wealth, a portion of which he
inherited from deceased relatives, was said to have been about two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars.
He was one of the organizers of the
Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Louisville, in 1892, and served as its
president for a number of years. Some years previous to his death he
launched a series of philanthropical movements, which it was his aim should
result in advancing the cause of Christianity, education and the betterment
of mankind. He gave lavishly of his wealth to Ewing College of Ewing,
Illinois, and erected a handsome building and grounds in Clay county, known
as Hudelson Academy, which flourished during his life largely through his
contributions for its maintenance.
He was a Democrat in his political
faith though in no respect a politician. He held the office of Justice of
the Peace for some time and in 1868, he was a candidate against Hon. L. S.
Hopkins for County Judge, which contest resulted in a vote whereupon Mr.
Hudelson magnanimously relinquished his claim and Mr. Hopkins was seated. He
was of deeply religious temperament, and joined the Baptist church at
Louisville in 1868, continuing his membership there for many years, though a
few years before his death he withdrew from that congregation and became a
member of the Wabash Baptist church. He contributed much to the church and
was largely responsible for the erection of the church edifice at
Louisville, a building which would do credit to a much larger city.
Mr. Hudelson was twice married, his first wife being Frances C. McCawley, of
near Clay City. They were married October 26, 1854, and her death occurred
August 12, 1856. One child, Cornelius, who died in infancy, was born to
them. On October 12, 1858, he married Mrs. Pennina Bentley (nee Bundy), who
died May 13, 1903. Mr. Hudelson died March 9, 1905.
"Uncle Bill" and
"Aunt Piney" Hudelson will live long in the memories of the citizens of Clay
and adjoining counties where one or both of them were known almost
universally. "Aunt Piney" was an affectionately comforting and devoted
woman, deeply attached to her husband and wholly consecrated to his well
being. His circle of home was cheerful, tranquil, and in that charmed spot
he ever seemed as happy as a child, and when after forty-five years she was
taken from him, he felt an irreparable loss, for his devotion to her was the
echo of hers for him.
"Uncle Bill" and "Aunt Piney" found great
pleasure in the association of friends and deeply enjoyed their society. To
those in whom the former had confidence and with whom he became most
intimate; to those who merited and won his friendship, he was indeed a
friend, tried, trusted and true. In his dealings with his fellow men he was
honorable, fair, punctual, his word as good as his bond. If he was your
debtor he would repay to the last farthing and he exacted the same
treatment, the same sterling integrity from those who were in his debt. He
possessed a genius for execution and management and of that quality of
personality which accompanied by deed determination is bound to rise no
matter what the environment or circumstances.
Extracted 27 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay & Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 369-372
| Fayette | Effingham | Jasper |
| Marion |
 |
Richland |
| Wayne |
Clay County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by 