Hudson traveled through the state of New York, west along Lake Erie and south along the Cuyahoga River to reach his land.

[3] According to a family legend, Hudson served as a drummer boy during the American Revolutionary War (which began in 1775, when he was 14).

[9] In his writings, Hudson cited the principles of "morality, religion, law observance and education" which may have influenced his later actions, including the settlement of land in the west.

[11] Hudson bought a plot of land in the Reserve (township 4, range 10) in 1798 in partnership with a group including Birdsey and Nathaniel Norton, who provided three-fourths of the money for the purchase.

The others then traveled across New York along the Mohawk River valley, passing through Fort Schuyler in Utica (where Jonah Meechum was hired on April 29).

[18] On May 16, 1799, the group, consisting of Hudson, Darrow, Blin, McKinley and Tappan, traveled north to Lake Ontario.

[16][21] Although ice on Lake Erie and the Buffalo River near Niagara Falls destroyed one boat, the group reached Cleaveland (present-day Cleveland, Ohio) on June 9, 1799.

[22] Although Hudson believed that the river could carry their boats as far south as required,[16] they only reached present-day Northfield on June 20.

"The weather was exceeding wet and very cold, and I experienced the most uncomfortable night I ever felt", he wrote in his journal.

[23] He continued east on Lake Erie to the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek,[23] a stream in Western New York.

[23][24] By autumn, its population had grown to thirteen; the group built a 16-by-18-foot (4.9 m × 5.5 m) log house and planted a small turnip garden and a 9-acre (3.6 ha) wheat field.

[26] The following day Hudson, his son Ira and two other men returned to Goshen, Connecticut,[26] to sell land on the Western Reserve.

[23][27] Hudson's boat was leaky and the trip was difficult due to cold, inclement weather,[26] but in Goshen he found his family in good health.

[30] On October 28, Anna Hudson gave birth to Anne Maria, the first person born in the settlement.

[32] On this land Hudson grew hay, potatoes, corn and wheat, and managed hogs, oxen, cows, sheep and horses.

The courtroom was used for trials heard by justice of the peace Arthur St. Clair, whom Hudson appointed in 1800 in one of his first actions after founding the town.

[35] Hudson served as the township's first postmaster, holding the office until he was removed from the position in 1829 after opposing Andrew Jackson in the 1828 presidential election.

[36] The house was also a frequent source of food and shelter for travelers, including fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad, due to the township's central location in the Western Reserve.