Family Histories of Coleman
County, Texas
THOMAS J. HUDSON, JR.
by Nellen Hudson
From
A History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985
edited
by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission
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Thomas Jefferson Hudson, Jr. (known as “Cowboy”) was born March 15,
1895, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Elizabeth (Brannon) Hudson.
He attended a little country school called Red Point near Whitney, later
finishing school at Aquilla. He ranched and farmed in Hill County
until World War I when he was called into the army. After training
in San Antonio and Fort Benning, Georgia he was sent to France for one
year, where he served in the Military Police. After his discharge,
he returned to Hill County for four years, but left in 1923 to manage a
ranch in Comanche County near Proctor. He lived alone on the ranch
until he met and married Nellen Kathryn Starling, a teacher in the Proctor
school, June 18, 1925, at the home of her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Starling
in Blanket. The couple lived on the Comanche County ranch until January
1929, when after the death of his mother, the Coleman County land was divided.
The couple, with their son, Jack Kenneth, born September 27, 1926, came
to live on their portion of land which was situated on the Jim Ned Creek.
They built a small three room house and moved into it on March 15.
On May 2 that year their second son was born, Willis Neil, who arrived
just in time to go through the Great Depression with his parents.
Their third son, Dwight Starling, was born September 21, 1938. In
1955 they moved close to the city of Coleman and commuted to the ranch
until ill health caused him to turn the farming over to the sons.
(1) Kenneth graduated from the Novice High School, attended
Tarleton College in Stephenville, and from there he went into the Air Force
during World War II. After his discharge, he came back to the county
and married Doris Kidd, September 28, 1947. Their children are: Kenneth
Michael, Larry Jack, Debbie Sue, Randall Dee, and Becky Leigh. They
live on a small ranch near Moran.
(2) Willis Neil graduated from Novice and attended Tarleton College
in Stephenville. He was called into the army during the Korean Conflict
and was sent overseas. He was in combat in Korea and Japan and arrived
back in Texas in December 1952. He and Marie Casey were married May
31, 1953 (see John Caleb Casey). Their children are: Linda Marie,
Daniel Neil, and David Charles. They live near Coleman.
(3) Dwight Starling attended Novice school until his parents moved to
Coleman; he graduated from Coleman High. He went one year to Texas
University, later transferring to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth
where he graduated in 1963. On August 19, 1967, he and Doloris Jewell
were married. They live near Coleman. Their children are: Kathryn
Elizabeth and Jefflyn Dawn. Thomas Jefferson Jr. “Cowboy” died July
28, 1981, buried in Coleman (see Frank Hudson,
Joe Hudson and Roy
Hudson).
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