Joseph Lowthian Hudson (October 17, 1846 – July 5, 1912), a.k.a. J. L. Hudson, was the merchant who founded the Hudson'sdepartment store in Detroit, Michigan. Hudson also supplied the seed capital for the establishment, in 1909, of Roy D. Chapin's automotive venture, which Chapin named the Hudson Motor Car Company in honor of J.L. Hudson.
Hudson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and immigrated with his family to Hamilton, Canada West, when he was nine; by the age of fourteen he and members of his family were residing in Michigan. His brother William moved to Buffalo, New York, in 1896, to operate a branch of the Hudson's store until his death in 1928.[1]
While Hudson began his career in merchandising with family members and other outside partners, he founded what would provide the basis for Hudson's Department Stores in 1881 inside a shop at the Detroit Opera House. Hudson at first focused on men's and boy's wear. The retail operation succeeded by setting low prices and a return policy that favored the customer. As business volume grew, Hudson added sales professionals and additional lines of goods, including women's clothing and housewares. Hudson incorporated his venture in 1891 as the J.L. Hudson Company.
In addition to providing the seed capital for Hudson Motor Car Company, J.L. Hudson was also involved the American Vapor Stove Company, Dime Savings Bank of Detroit, American Exchange National Bank, the Detroit City Gas Company, and the Third National Bank of Detroit. When the Third National Bank collapsed in the financial panic of 1893, Hudson felt personally liable for the failure and paid from his personal accounts an amount equal to the balances of record held by each account holder. The move cost Hudson $265,000, however, the good will that it showed also paid Hudson dividends in the form of increasing market share for his businesses. Hudson was also active in civic causes in the greater Detroit area.
Hudson never married, but toward the end of his life, he was engaged to Eida Caroline Schmidt, though he died from a lung problem while on a business trip on July 5, 1912, before they could marry. Some sources list his place of death as Worthing, England, while some newspaper accounts list the place of death as Paris.[2] His remains were returned to New York City aboard the RMS Oceanic.[3] From New York, Hudson's casket was carried to Detroit by train accompanied by members of his family. Services were held July 19, 1912, at Central Methodist Church before interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.[4][5]
According to biographer Edward L. Lack Jr., Hudson left no personal papers, and the details outside of his public life are few and mostly unknown.
Hudson's niece Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896–1976) was the wife of Edsel Ford.
Referencesedit
^Rizzo, Michael F. (2007). Nine Nine Eight: The Glory Days of Buffalo Shopping. Morrisville, NC: Lulu. ISBN978-1-4303-1386-1.
^"J. L. Hudson-Detroit's Wealthiest Merchant Dead in England" (PDF). The New York Times. July 6, 1912. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
^"J. L. Hudson's Body on Oceanic" (PDF). The New York Times. July 9, 1912. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
^"Throngs of Citizens at Michigan Central Depot to Meet Body of Hudson". Detroit Times. July 19, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
Lach, Edward L. Jr. "Hudson, J. L."; American National Biography Online, January 2001 Update.
External linksedit
How J.L. Hudson changed the way we shop
Hudson's hundredth 1881-1981 (booklet)
January 01, 1970
joseph, lowthian, hudson, october, 1846, july, 1912, hudson, merchant, founded, hudson, department, store, detroit, michigan, hudson, also, supplied, seed, capital, establishment, 1909, chapin, automotive, venture, which, chapin, named, hudson, motor, company,. Joseph Lowthian Hudson October 17 1846 July 5 1912 a k a J L Hudson was the merchant who founded the Hudson s department store in Detroit Michigan Hudson also supplied the seed capital for the establishment in 1909 of Roy D Chapin s automotive venture which Chapin named the Hudson Motor Car Company in honor of J L Hudson Joseph Lowthian HudsonJ L Hudson c 1891BornJoseph Lowthian Hudson 1846 10 17 October 17 1846Newcastle EnglandDiedJuly 5 1912 1912 07 05 aged 65 Worthing EnglandOccupationMerchantKnown forThe J L Hudson Company Hudson Motor Car CompanyFamilyEleanor Lowthian Clay niece Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksBiography editHudson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne England and immigrated with his family to Hamilton Canada West when he was nine by the age of fourteen he and members of his family were residing in Michigan His brother William moved to Buffalo New York in 1896 to operate a branch of the Hudson s store until his death in 1928 1 While Hudson began his career in merchandising with family members and other outside partners he founded what would provide the basis for Hudson s Department Stores in 1881 inside a shop at the Detroit Opera House Hudson at first focused on men s and boy s wear The retail operation succeeded by setting low prices and a return policy that favored the customer As business volume grew Hudson added sales professionals and additional lines of goods including women s clothing and housewares Hudson incorporated his venture in 1891 as the J L Hudson Company In addition to providing the seed capital for Hudson Motor Car Company J L Hudson was also involved the American Vapor Stove Company Dime Savings Bank of Detroit American Exchange National Bank the Detroit City Gas Company and the Third National Bank of Detroit When the Third National Bank collapsed in the financial panic of 1893 Hudson felt personally liable for the failure and paid from his personal accounts an amount equal to the balances of record held by each account holder The move cost Hudson 265 000 however the good will that it showed also paid Hudson dividends in the form of increasing market share for his businesses Hudson was also active in civic causes in the greater Detroit area Hudson never married but toward the end of his life he was engaged to Eida Caroline Schmidt though he died from a lung problem while on a business trip on July 5 1912 before they could marry Some sources list his place of death as Worthing England while some newspaper accounts list the place of death as Paris 2 His remains were returned to New York City aboard the RMS Oceanic 3 From New York Hudson s casket was carried to Detroit by train accompanied by members of his family Services were held July 19 1912 at Central Methodist Church before interment at Woodlawn Cemetery 4 5 According to biographer Edward L Lack Jr Hudson left no personal papers and the details outside of his public life are few and mostly unknown Hudson s niece Eleanor Lowthian Clay 1896 1976 was the wife of Edsel Ford References edit Rizzo Michael F 2007 Nine Nine Eight The Glory Days of Buffalo Shopping Morrisville NC Lulu ISBN 978 1 4303 1386 1 J L Hudson Detroit s Wealthiest Merchant Dead in England PDF The New York Times July 6 1912 Retrieved 2011 05 26 J L Hudson s Body on Oceanic PDF The New York Times July 9 1912 Retrieved 2011 05 26 Throngs of Citizens at Michigan Central Depot to Meet Body of Hudson Detroit Times July 19 1912 p 1 Retrieved June 7 2022 Throngs of Citizens cont p 10 Further reading edit Wealthy Merchant Dead Daily Herald Chicago July 12 1912 p 12 Retrieved June 7 2022 Betz Paul and Carnes Mark C editors American National Biography First supplement New York Oxford University Press 2002 Lach Edward L Jr Hudson J L American National Biography Online January 2001 Update External links editHow J L Hudson changed the way we shop Hudson s hundredth 1881 1981 booklet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Lowthian Hudson amp oldid 1215414509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
