Hutson Jordan was born October 8th, 1837, to Sampson and Nancy Jordan in the old Jordan homeplace at the head of Spring Run, a mile west of Palo Alto, Highland County, Virginia. He was the 1st of 15 children. Hutson worked on the family farm on Spring Run for most of his short life. In the 1860 census he is found in Gilmer County, West Virginia, working on the farm of Peter and Barbara Smith. Barbara was a first cousin to Hutson. The Smith's had written in a letter to Sampson and Nancy; "You have no excuse for you have boys to do your work and one to spare to me, so come out and bring me a boy and a girl." The result was that Hutson, Emily, and Delila and perhaps others would spend the summers at the Smith's.

After the deadly diphtheria epidemic of February and March of 1862, which claimed the lives of 7 of his siblings, Hutson enlisted in the Confederate Army on April 16, 1862, as part of the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, Company I, as a private at Mt. Jackson, Virginia. This regiment was one of the five infantry regiments that comprised the famous 1st Virginia Brigade or Stonewall Brigade. During the period of his active service, April 16 to August 27, the 2nd Virginia Infantry was involved in the battles of Front Royal, Winchester, Port Republic, Seven Days, and Cedar Run. On August 27, 1862, he was admitted to the Lovington Hospital in Winchester, Virginia, after being afflicted with typhoid fever. He was then sent to the General Hospital in Staunton, Virginia, with bronchitis. He died on October 19, 1862, at age 25, in Lynchburg and was buried in City Cemetery.

As a memorial to his fallen brother, James Jordan, the youngest survivor of the diphtheria epidemic, named his first born son Hutson. This tradition was carried on for two more generations.

Note: The spelling of the name Hutson is correct in that this is what his mother used when writing his name. You may find references to both Hutson and Hudson in the genealogical databases.

Thanks to Darrell Landrum for the headstone photograph.

Biography by Jeff Jordan (ID# 51427013)