Most successful companies started as hostile divorces or shotgun marriages (LBOs). In autos, all the big names but Ford and Packard started as splits or buyouts**.
Hudson’s origin was unusual. It was founded by salesman Roy Chapin and engineer Howard Coffin. Both originally worked at Oldsmobile. When Oldsmobile was bought by Wall Street types who kicked out Ransom Olds, Chapin and Coffin along with Hugh Chalmers departed and founded Chalmers. Typical so far, the same story as Dodge, Nash and Chrysler.
In 1909 Chapin and Coffin had bigger plans. They started their own company, naming it Hudson after their first investor. Hugh Chalmers helped them and continued as a partner while running his own company. Soon they bought out his interest, but the split was friendly and cooperative all the way.
Chalmers continued running his own company with considerable success, finally failing in 1923. Walter Chrysler, divorced from GM, bought Chalmers cheaply and turned it into his own name.
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** Irrelevant footnote. Both founders were in the electrical world when they started messing around with gasoline buggies. Henry was head steam engineer at Detroit Edison, and the Packard brothers manufactured light bulbs and transformers. “Logically” both should have started with electric cars, but neither company ever made an electric or steam vehicle.
Polistra's Mill 