Colonel Richard Hudson Luna County, New Mexico

Colonel Richard Hudson, now living- retired in Deming, is one of the most widely known of the pioneers of New Mexico, and his life has been of direct and immediate serviceableness in the substantial upbuilding and development of his part of the Territory. He was born in England, February 22. 1830, was early left an orphan and in his childhood came to the United States. He was educated in Brooklyn, New York, and, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, went to San Francisco in 1852, when but thirteen years of age. In 1856 he ran away from home and began mining in Oroville, California. In 1861 he helped organize the First California Regiment for duty in the Civil War, but this regiment was not sent into active service. Subsequently, therefore, he joined Company I of the Fifth California Infantry and was made sergeant, while in 1863, in southern California, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He came to New Mexico with his command in the same year and assisted in preserving order in the lower Rio Grande valley. In 1864 he was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant, and remained in the service until the end of the war. On the 17th of October, 1866, he was mustered out at Fort Union, New Mexico. He has since resided in the southwest, and in 1868 was appointed by Governor Mitchell captain of militia, while Governor Wallace made him major in the National Guard and Governor Sheldon promoted him to the rank of colonel of the First Regiment. He has ever been interested in military affairs, and yet possesses much of the old military spirit which prompted his active duty with the Union troops in the Civil war.

In the fall of 1866 Colonel Hudson located at Pinos Altos, where he engaged in the hotel business, also in mining, staging and freighting. The same year he was elected the first sheriff of Grant County and served in that capacity for two years. In 1870 he was elected probate judge and served four years. In 1871 he removed to Silver City, where he engaged in the livery and freighting business and subsequently purchased the hot springs, which then became known as the Hudson Hot Springs. Recognizing their value because of their medicinal properties, in 1876 he built a hotel and bath houses there and conducted the hotel for a number of years with good success. At the same time he was engaged in the cattle business.

In March, 1892, his hotel was destroyed by fire and he then returned to Silver City, where he conducted the Timmer Hotel. Soon afterward he was appointed by President Harrison as agent for the Mescalero Apaches and acted in that capacity for one year. Since then he has lived in honorable retirement from further official or business cares, and well does he merit the rest which has come to him, for his life has been one of activity, and in the control of his private business interests he has also contributed to the public welfare.

Fraternally, Colonel Hudson is a Knight Templar and Shriner Mason, and also belongs to the Odd Fellows society and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a man of many sterling qualities and characteristics, and wherever known is held in high esteem by reason of his genuine worth and what he has accomplished.

September 24, 1871, at Silver City, Mr. Hudson married Miss Mary E. Stevens, of Silver City. One daughter was born, Mamie, now Mrs. H. H. Williams, of Deming.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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