The history of Hudson began in 1795 when David Hudson and five business
partners anted up $12,900 for Township 4 Range 10 of the Connecticut
Western Reserve, in what is now Northeast Ohio. On June 26, 1799, after
traveling two months through the wilderness, he and his small party
landed in the Western Reserve.
The story moves to establishing churches, schools, businesses, and the
Western Reserve College, known as the Yale of the West. The fiery John
Brown and the Underground Railroad figure prominently in the history of
Hudson. Hudson flourished until a series of misfortunes took their toll.
Plans for the Clinton Air Line Railroad collapsed, the college relocated
to Cleveland, the Fire of 1892 destroyed an entire block of businesses
along Main Street, and the only bank in town suddenly closed its doors
with people's life savings. Saddened by the deterioration of his
hometown, wealthy coal magnate James W. Ellsworth outlined a plan to
restore Hudson as a model town and put his vast financial resources to
work. Hudson rebounded with a new spirit and has since thrived.