Mrs. Betsey Judd was born in Washington, Connecticut, August 28, 1786. She was the daughter of Dr. Seth Hastings, one of the old Puritan stock, whose family settled at Boston in 1652, and among whom were the curious names of Hopestill, Waitstill, and Standstill

About the year 1796, Dr. Seth Hastings, with his wife and seven children, emigrated to Clinton, Oneida county. New York. One of the brothers, Eurotas P. Hastings, of Detroit, was a man well known by most of the early pioneers of Michigan, on account of having been both cashier and president of the old Bank of Michigan, once a great power in the land. Another brother was Thomas Hastings, the eminent musical composer, and there were two others who rose to distinction in the legal profession : Orlando Hastings, of Rochester, New York, and Truman Hastings, of Cleveland, Ohio. These last three members of the family were what are known as Albinos, and remarkable for two peculiarities, near sightedness and wonderful memories. Dr. Seth Hastings was a practicing physician in the village of Clinton, New York, and was father of the wife of Rev. A. S. Wells, who will be remembered by the pioneer settlers of Michigan as a Presbyterian minister, and agent for several societies of that organization.

Mr. Charles Hastings settled near Troy Corners, in this county, in the township of Avon, and died on the farm where he first settled March 15, 1849. He was a teacher of music, and an enthusiast in his profession. His youngest living son is a Presbyterian clergyman of the Brockway mission church of Detroit.

Each of the above named brothers, and also the father of Mrs. Judd, and her husband. Dr. Elnathan Judd, to whom she was married, in the village of Clinton, New York, in 18U2, were fully imbued with the harsh Calvinistic doctrines of which Jonathan Edwards and Dr. Hopkins were the chief exponents ; and all of them used the best efforts of their powerful minds to convince themselves of the correctness of their conclusions, which, happily for the future human race, the world is partially outgrowing.

Mrs. Betsey Judd, the principal subject of this sketch, was a person of no ordinary mind and attainments. She was thoroughly educated in all the accomplishments of that day, and tradition insists that she was a woman of great personal charms. She became acquainted with her future husband, Dr. Elnathan Judd. of Paris. Oneida county. New York, when he was a young practitioner. He had prepared himself for and entered Williamstown college, Massachusetts, but never graduated, owing to the ill health of his mother.

Dr. and Mrs. Judd lived in Paris after their marriage for about forty years, where the doctor rose to eminence in his profession.

They raised a family of five children, one of whom became celebrated in after years. Dr. G. P. Judd, of Honolulu, Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. This gentleman married Laura Fish, a teacher in the Clinton (New York) female seminary, and a lady of rare accomplishments, in 1827. The same year Dr. Judd was appointed physician to the missionaries, and he and his wife set sail in a whalingvessel for the islands, in company with several others.

After a long and tedious voyage, in which, in addition to the usual hardships, they were obliged to submit to the tyranny of the brutal captain, named Blinn, they reached the end of their journey.

The inhabitants of the islands were but partially civilized at that date, and their primitive style of dress somewhat shocked the delicacy of the females of the party ; but Dr. Judd and other prominent gentlemen, together with the assistance of the ladies, succeeded in bringing about a more refined condition of affairs, and eventually society became greatly improved. After several years in the service of the mission, Dr. Judd was called into the service of the government, which was weak and nearly powerless to sustain itself against domestic violence and the insolence of certain foreign powers.

The seizure of the islands by Great Britain, under the direction of Lord George Paulet, and the complications with France, are matters of history. The representatives of the United States, also, pursued a very unwise course ; but through the influence of Dr. Judd, and the mutual forbearance of the various powers, the difficulties were amicably settled.

Dr. Judd filled with great credit both the positions of secretary of state and minister of finance, and during the occupation by Lord George Paulet he was concealed for some time in the tombs of the deceased sovereigns, with the valuable archives of the government in his possession, for safe keeping from the hands of one whose predecessor did not scruple, on a former occasion, to lay in ashes the public buildings and archives of our government at Washington.

At the earnest request of the king, Dr. Judd accepted the appointment of minister plenipotentiary to the respective governments of the United States, France, and England. He was accompanied by the two princes of the royal family.

Dr. Judd was eminently successful in his mission. He was cordially received by the different governments to which he was accredited, and had a personal interview with Louis Napoleon, then president of the French republic, in whom he recognized more distinguished abilities as a ruler and statesman than Americans, and particularly American newspapers, were willing to accord. The two princes. Lot and Alexander, were educated and accomplished gentlemen, and were everywhere well received. Together with Dr. Judd they dined with Lord Palmerston, then premier of England, and were treated with distinguished consideration both in Europe and the United States. Their experience abroad was well calculated to give them enlarged views, and to be of great benefit to them when called to the helm of state in their diminutive and isolated island kingdom.

Upon Dr. Judd's return from Europe he came to Michigan to visit his mother, brothers, and sister, and remained a week or more in Troy. The princes accompanied him, and, in company with Mr. Henry A. Judd, visited Orchard Lake, Pontiac, Rochester, and other places of interest in the vicinity. Many of those who participated in the pleasures of that reunion are still alive, and remember well the incidents herein narrated.

Before leaving for his adopted home in the broad Pacific, Dr. Judd made arrangements for his mother and sister to follow him to Honolulu, which they did the following year, making the voyage around Cape Horn, which occupied one hundred and forty-four days.

Mrs. Betsey Judd made her home at the islands for the remainder of her life, which terminated in May, 1876, in the ninety-third year of her age, after a residence of about twenty-three years at Honolulu. She outlived both her husband, her son, and her son's wife, and passed away in the full possession of her faculties. She had lived to witness the reign and death of four kings of the Hawaiian Islands, and the beginning of the reign of a fifth.

Mrs. Dr. G. P. Judd exercised great influence over the upper and better classes of the people of the islands, and always presided with dignity when called to entertain persons of high degree. Mrs. Betsey Judd left one daughter, Harriet B., yet living at Honolulu, and one, Mrs. Asher B. Bates, of San Francisco. Mr. Bates was formerly a lawyer of good standing in the city of Detroit, and subsequently of Jackson, Michigan. In later years he became attorney general of the Sandwich Islands monarchy, and after his removal to San Francisco filled the position of register in bankruptcy.

He died while residing in the last named city, a few years since. Another son, William P. Judd, died some years since. His remaining family are mostly in California. His oldest daughter, a most estimable lady, and beloved by all who knew her, died within the past year. She was the wife of L. C. Risdon, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a son of Orange Bisdon, whom many will recollect as a pioneer and surveyor in this part of the State.

Henry A, Judd has resided on the farm now occupied by him for nearly forty years. He and his wife, formerly Mary Ackley, are the parents of two sons and three daughters, now living. One of the daughters is married, and has one child. Mr. Judd is a thorough and accomplished farmer, a man of good practical sense, and respected by the community who know him best.