Benjamin V. Hudson, a leading and well known druggist of Bolivar, was born October 11, 1859, in Hardeman County. He was the youngest son of Thomas W. and Elizabeth C. (Reaves) Hudson. When young, both parents came to the county, where they were married. Both were members of the Methodist Church. The father was a man of considerable means and an extensive planter; he owned about 1,100 acres of valuable land. For many years he held the position of county surveyor. In 1862, he died leaving a wife, two sons and four daughters. Mrs. Hudson is still living; is about sixty-two years of age. Previous to her union with Mr. Hudson she was married to Mr. McKinnie, by whom she had two children. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and received his early education in the common schools. He afterward spent some time at the University of Tennessee. He clerked in a drug store at Whitesville about two years, and the same length of time in Bolivar. He then attended two courses of lectures at Baltimore, Md., for the purpose of thoroughly understanding pharmacy, preparing himself for the business he was to embark in. In 1883, he purchased the drug stock of Coleman & Co., and enlarged it until it now ranks among the leading houses of the county. He is an energetic, enterprising young man, and has built up a large first-class trade. He is an active and earnest member of the Methodist Church, and a Democrat. His brother is teaching school in Arkansas.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”