Silas Hudson House 501 N. 5th (1845)

Born in Mason county, Kentucky, Dec. 13, 1815. He was descended from one of the old families of England established in Virginia in colonial days. In 1857 Silas A. Hudson sent him to Denver, Colo., where he opened a supply store, being one of the first settlers in that place. He was among the discoverers and aided in the early development of the mines at Breckenridge. During the first year of the war of the rebellion he was driven away by the Indians, and he returned to Burlington to join General Grant's staff. The first national election in which he took part was in the presidential campaign of 1836, when he gave his support to General Harrison. He was clerk of the Territorial Legislature. He was from early life an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln who recognized his great qualities, and ask him to become a champion of his cause in connection with the presidency when the subject of the choice of a candidate was being discussed by the people in 1860.