Henry D. Hudson was born on May 21, 1832 in Chantanqua County, New York. He attended school in New York City and served as an apprentice in the shipyard of Smith & Diamond. On February 3, 1849 he and his brother and father set sail from New York for California aboard the ship "Daniel Webster". They arrived in San Francisco on July 21, 1849 after a brief stop at Valparaiso and immediately started work as building contractors. In 1868, Mr. Hudson was appointed an officer of the regular police force of San Francisco and served in that capacity for three years. After which point he maintained the office of Sexton for the First Congregational Church of San Francisco. He was also a member of the Vigilant Engine Company, number 9 of the Volunteer Fire Company, and President and Vice-President of the Exempts.
From the description of Autobiography and Reminiscence of Henry D. Hudson : "Autobiographical Sketch of Henry D. Hudson. Written from notes furnished by him, Nov., 1904", San Francisco, 1904. (The Society of California Pioneers). WorldCat record id: 55979402
