Person Page - 142

      Jesse J. Hudson was born on 7 March 1896 at Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana. He is assumed to be the son of Jesse J. Hudson and Mary Burchard Hudson based on the names and adjacent location of their gravestones. The Dale Fleener Family Tree on Ancestry.com (2/3/14) identifies his parents as Jesse Jene Hudson 1861- ) and Mary E. (1860- ). On his WW I draft card, he is identified as Jesse Hudson Jr.^1,2,3,4

Jesse appeared in the census of 1900 in the household of his father Jesse Jene Hudson at Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana. He was 4, born in Indiana.⁵

Jesse appeared in the census of 1910 in the household of his father Jesse Jene Hudson in Reno County. He was 14, born in Indiana.⁶

Jesse registered for the draft in World War I on 5 June 1917 at in the 6th Ward, Hutchinson, Reno Co., Kansas. He was single and working as a stenotyper at the Hutchinson News.³

Jesse married Mabel Helen Stanley on 10 November 1923 in Wichita, Sedgewick County, Kansas.^7,1

Jesse was listed as the head of household in the 1925 Kansas State Census in Hutchinson, Reno County. He was 29, born in Indiana. Incuded in the household was his wife, Mable (27).⁸

Jesse was a member of First United Methodist Church. He worked for 45 years as a stereotyper (plate maker) for Hutchinson News and retired 28 Mar 1961.¹

Jesse died of a heart attack on 20 February 1980 in Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, at age 83. Per Dad's notes, Jesse died after shovelling snow. He was survived by his widow; a daughter, Dorothy Fleener, Hutchinson; and a sister, Mary Simmons, Perth Australia..^1,2,4,9 He was buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery at Hutchinson.^1,2,9

     Mary Hudson was born in 1898.^1,2

Mary appeared in the census of 1900 in the household of her father Jesse Jene Hudson at Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana. She was 1, born in Indiana.³

Mary appeared in the census of 1910 in the household of her fatherJesse Jene Hudson at Ward 6, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kamsas. She was 11, born in Indiana.⁴

Mary apparently married a Mr. Simmons..²

Mary died in 1983.^5,2 She was buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery at Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.^5,2

      Charles Harold 'Penny' Eshom was born on 15 February 1896 at Nortonville, Jefferson County, Kansas. His parents were James R. and Annie Shirley Eshom. He was always known as Penny in the family.^1,2,3,4

Harold appeared in the census of 1900 in the household of his father, Janes R Eshom, at East Delaware, Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 4, born in Kansas..⁵

Charles appeared in the census of 1910 as a roomer in the household of Joe Newman at Oklahoma City, Ward 3, Oklahoma, Oklahoma. He was 14, born in Kansas.⁶

Penny registered for the draft in World War I on 15 June 1917 at Burrton, Harvey County, Kansas. He was single, working on his own farm near Burrton. He was a motorcycle courier during the war. This was before the days of radio communication so that this was an important job. In telling about it, Penny gave the impression that he liked it. But he enjoyed farming too. And roller skating. And teaching young folk's Sunday School class. And cards. And reading. And building his own crystal radio, then getting one of the first battery radios.¹

A Burrton resident since 1912, Penny was a farmer and taught high school Sunday school class for over 40 years. He was a member of the First Christian Church, the American Legion No. 196, the Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 1824, and the Lions Club, all at Buhler.³

Charles married Josephine Mae Stanley on 30 August 1921 in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, After their marriage, Jo was a hard-working helper to Penny in his farm work, especially during lambing season. Jo's sister, Eleanor, lived with them for a time and Jo sewed her school clothes..^7,8

Penny (Charles) was listed as the head of household in the 1925 Kansas State Census in Alta, Harvey County. He was 29, born in Kansas, and listed as a farmer. Included in the household was his wife, Josephine (24).⁹

Penny (Charles) was listed as the head of household in the 1930 Census in Alta Township, Harvey County, Kansas. He was 34, born in Kansas, and listed as a farmer. Included in the household was his wife, Josephine (29).¹⁰

Penny (Charles) was listed as the head of household in the 1940 Census in Alta Township, Harvey County, Kansas. He was 44, born in Kansas, and listed as a farmer. Included in the household were his wife, Josephine (39); his son Donald J (2); and a hired farmhand.¹¹

In 1953, Penny was a farmer, living about 1 mile east and 3-4 miles north of Burrton. His farming ventures included raising sheep, turkeys, grapes, popcorn, peanuts and watermelons in addition to the regular field crops and cattle.^12,13

Penny died on 17 July 1994 at Halsted Hospital at Halstead, Harvey Co., Kansas, at age 98. Funeral services were held on 20 July at the First Christian Church, Burrton with Pastor Darrel Hoffmaster officiating..^2,3,4 He was buried in the Burrton Cemetery near Burrton, Kansas. His casketbearers were Vern Baker, Ron Decker, J.D.Pearce, Judd Durner, E.S.Larsen, Bill Cornett with an honor guard from VFW Post 1824, Burrton.^2,14