Description
"Historical Sketches of Maysville Citizens - Life History of the Older of the Business Men of this City - Based Upon Length of Continuous Community Service" - - (excerpted from longer article) - - In 1843 there came to Missouri from Kentucky, Lemuel E. Hudson and wife (America Hudson). Lemuel was then 17 years of age and in love with a pretty Louisville schoolteacher aged 15. When his parents decided to come to Missouri, he married his youthful sweetheart and joined the caravan of 32 families seeking a new home.
The Hudson family had the only horse in the caravan, therefore, they led the long wagon train of 32 teams of oxen drawing prairie schooners and selected the camping places. The journey was a long and perilous one, beset by many dangers and finally the Mississippi river at St. Louis was reached. The caravan crossed the river on the rafts. The men folk would swim the oxen across the river and attach them with heavy hempen ropes to the raft which would then be dragged across with the rest of the train.
The Hudson family located at Weston in Platte County, at that time Weston and Iatan were larger towns than either St. Joseph or Kansas City.
In 1849 Lemuel Hudson joined the rush to the California gold field, but he returned to Weston in 1852, having in his possession many relics especially old firearms picked up along the trail from dead hands.
In the meantime, his mother died, leaving him 28 grown slaves together with their families, thus making him the largest and wealthiest slave owner in Platte County.
Near Weston he established the first grist and saw mill in Platte County and hauled all of his machinery and stone burrs by ox team from his former Kentucky home. Some of these old burrs are still in use in Platte County for doorsteps.
Lemuel Hudson was also a cabinet maker. Owing to numerous deaths from cholera and other sources, his business was exceptionally good. (remainder of article omitted)Date(s) of Creation
6/4/1931
