ANDREW J. HUDSON, who has spent his entire life on the farm where he was born, on Section 8, Maxwell township, Sangamon County, Ill., January 23, 1839, is a son of John and Margaret (McCreary) Hudson, both natives of West Virginia, where they were married. The parents came to Sangamon County in 1826, before it was organized as a county, and the Indians had only just left the vicinity, John Hudson erected a log cabin in Maxwell Township and had to go several miles in different directions to find enough men to help him raise his house. He secured land for $1.25 per acre, and located his house in the edge of the timber, though most of his land was prairie. He was a Democrat in politics, though he never took a very active part in public affairs. His birth occurred in 1794 and he died in Sangamon County, July 12, 1878, his wife having been called to her last rest in 1854. They were parents of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy, while the others reached maturity, but Andrew J. is now the only survivor of the family.

The nine children of John Hudson and wife who grew to manhood and womanhood were: Young M., who accompanied his parents to Illinois and died about 1897, leaving a wife and one daughter, the latter the wife of Daniel Staley; Jane, who married William Hodgson, both now being deceased, having had a family of eight children, one of whom married John Matthews, a farmer of Maxwell Township; William, died about 1885, had married (first) a Miss Nepper, by whom he had no children, and (second) a Mrs. Lacy, by whom he had three children; Rachel, married Willis Meacham and both are deceased, having had two daughters, Mrs. Ada Cora, of Waverly, and Mrs. Margaret Boyer, of Virden; John M., died in 1876, leaving a wife and one child, the former now Mrs. John Carson, of Loami; George W., married Nancy H. Park, and died in 1861, his widow having married J. L. Short, and living in Kansas; Andrew J., of this sketch; Frank N., died in Waverly, in 1907, leaving a wife and two children; Sarah E., who married Thomas Parke and died in 1870, her husband dying in 1910, they had one child, Lavinia, wife of D. C. Franklin, a farmer of Maxwell Township.

Andrew J. Hudson spent his boyhood on a farm, rece9iving most of his education in the subscription schools, as he was able to attend the public schools for only a short time after it was established. He worked for his father as soon as he was old enough and remained with him until he was twenty-three years old. He was obliged to work the full six days each week, with no time off, and was not allowed a horse and buggy to use for pleasure. In his early days corn was dropped by hand and he used the scythe and cradle, as well as the sickle. He at one time dropped seed for eleven acres of corn, for which he was to receive twenty-five cents, but failed to get his pay for the work. He plowed with the old wooden mold board plow. He has witnessed many notable changes in Sangamon County, where his entire life has been spent, and has always taken an active interest in the progress and development of his community. He is well known and highly respected and has many warm personal friends.

Mr. Hudson was married, February 20, 1862, to Mary M. Smetters, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 28, 1840, a daughter of Daniel and Maria (Couch) Smetters, who came with her parents to Sangamon County in 1842. The father died about 1862 and the mother about 1870. After marriage Mr. Hudson and his wife began housekeeping in a small frame house on the farm where he was born, and this home burned eleven months after they moved into it. He erected another small frame building, which was their home until 1882, when he erected a comfortable seven room two story dwelling. He has built many barns and other outbuildings and has made many other improvements on his farm. He has set out beautiful shade and ornamental trees, as well as fruit trees, and has attractive grounds surrounding his home. His excellent farm of 135 acres is in a fine state of cultivation. He and his wife have one daughter, Maria M., born February 11, 1876, is the wife of Oscar Vincent, and she and her husband have two children, Floyd Hudson and Florence, the former born August 17, 1904, and the latter August 16, 1907. Mr. Vincent has charge of Mrs. Hudson's farm.

Mr. Hudson has taken an active interest in raising a superior breed of stock, and during the past fourteen years has paid considerable attention to Duroc Jersey hogs. His hogs are all eligible for registry and he sells from forty to fifty each year. He has always been in favor of good schools and the providing of good church and school edifices. He has been Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner, and has held other township offices. In politics he is a Democrat and in religious views a Primitive Baptist.