B. Hudson, an attorney of Fort Scott, was born in Delaware county, Indiana. He attended the village school until he was fourteen years old. The Civil war being then in progress he ran away from home and enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana infantry. His whereabouts being discovered before the regiment left Indianapolis his guardian sued out a writ of habeas corpus before the supreme court and had him discharged on account of his age. He stayed at home about two weeks and again ran away. This time he enlisted in Company D, Second Indiana cavalry, and was sent at once to the front. This regiment was commanded by Col. E. M. McCook of the celebrated fighting McCook family, and was in the battles in and around Knoxville and all the engagements in the Georgia campaign, including the capture of Atlanta. In this campaign Mr. Hudson was severely wounded and was in the hospital three months before returning to duty. On his return he was appointed second duty sergeant, being the youngest soldier and youngest noncommissioned officer in his regiment. In the McCook raid Mr. Hudson had his horse drowned in the Chattahoochee river and was left dismounted 100 miles inside of the Confederate lines. He took to the woods and finding four comrades similarly situated they made their way out by traveling principally at night by the stars and keeping off of all roads. After ten days' and nights' travel they reached the Union lines at Marietta, Ga. Just after the battles around Nashville the Second Indiana was placed in General Wilson's command, and took part in the capture of Selma and Montgomery, Ala., and West Point and Macon, Ga. After the capture of Macon the Second Indiana pushed on south into Florida and occupied Tallahassee. The war then coming to a close Mr. Hudson was placed in command of the guard which guarded the Confederate Gen. Samuel Jones, who had been in command of the Confederate forces at Tallahassee. After being discharged from the army he entered the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis as a student and from there went to the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, to prepare to become a teacher. After leaving the normal school he taught school for several years and took up the study of law and attended the law school at the Indiana University. Then he went to Kansas and was for seven years superintendent of the Fort Scott schools. He was then elected clerk of the district court, which position he held for four years and then commenced the practice of law. He was appointed president of the board of police commissioners of Fort Scott by Governor Humphrey. He was afterward elected judge of the probate court of Bourbon county, which position he held six years.

In 1886 he was married to Miss Virginia Thompson, who was a teacher in the Fort Scott schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have six children: Harold, Helen, Douglas, Stanton, Bannus and Virginia. Mr. Hudson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Modern Woodmen, and Knights and Ladies of Security.