Judge Sanford A. Hudson. When after years of long and honorable labor in some field of business, a man puts aside all cares to spend his remaining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, it is certainly a well-deserved reward of his industry.
"How blest is he who crowns in shades like these
A youth of labor with an age of ease."
wrote the poet, and the world everywhere recognizes the justice of a season of rest following an active period of business life. Judge Hudson is now living retired at his home in Fargo, North Dakota, and his history is one that shows the accomplishment of well-directed labor. A portrait of Judge Hudson is presented in connection with this sketch.
The Judge was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, May 16, 1817, and is a son of Amos and Mary (Fisk) Hudson, also natives of that state, where the father was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and in merchandising in early life. In 1828 he removed to Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York, where he died ten years later. He had a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, but only three sons are now living. The grandfather, William Hudson, was born in Massachusetts, in 1751, and as a lieutenant in the Colonial army took an active part in some of the most important battles of the Revolutionary war.
Judge Hudson's early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course at Union Academy, Belleville, Jefferson county, New York, and in 1846 he commenced the study of law in that county, being admitted to the bar at Utica, New York, in 1848. The same year he removed to Janesville, Wisconsin, in company with John R. Bennett, later a circuit judge of that state, and there he successfully engaged in practice for thirty-two years, acting as city attorney for some time. In 1881 he came to Fargo, North Dakota, as judge of the third judicial district, having United States jurisdiction, comprising the entire territory now composing North Dakota. He was appointed to that position by President Garfield, and most creditably filled the office for four years. He then engaged in private practice until 1892, since which time he has lived retired. He was a distinguished lawyer and jurist and enjoyed an excellent practice.
In October, 1847, Judge Hudson married Miss Sarah D. Campfield, a native of New York and daughter of John M. and Fanny (Harvey) Campfield, by whom he had five children, who are still living, namely Francis L.; Theodore C., a clergyman in the Episcopal church; Harriet J.; Sanford H., an attorney in Benson, Minnesota, and Sarah C. The wife and mother died in Wisconsin in 1877. Her father, John M. Campfield, was a prominent lawyer of Jefferson County, New York. In his political affiliations the Judge was first a Whig and later a Republican. He assisted in organizing the latter party, and has taken an active and prominent part in promoting its interests. He stands deservedly high in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 174