The Hutchison Families of Wapello County, Iowa

JOSEPH G. HUTCHISON.

Ottumwa was proud to number Joseph G. Hutchison among her citizens. Here he made his home from December, 1865, until his death and his life was one of increasing usefulness to the community. His name figures in connection with progressiveness along commercial and financial lines, and he had marked influence in shaping the policy of the state on a number of important occasions. None questioned his public spirit, and his devotion to the welfare of the state, for many tangible evidences may be cited of his deep and abiding interest in Iowa's welfare, an interest which at times reached the point of self-sacrifice.

Mr. Hutchison was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Northumberland county in 1840. He was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, the paternal strain being Scotch. His maternal grandparents, Caldwell by name, came from the north of Ireland in 1798, while his grandmother Hutchison, whose maiden name was Guilford, was of English descent. His grandfather HutchiscMi was a prominent figure in public life in Pennsylvania and at one time was a member of the general assembly, representing a district which comprised about one-third of the state.

Joseph G. Hutchison received the advantages of college training and was a highly educated and classical scholar. He was a student in the Williamsport Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, completing a four years' course by graduation in June, 1862. He had but entered upon the period of early manhood at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war and in 1862, when a young man of twenty-two years, he offered his services to the government, becoming first lieutenant of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to duty with the Army of the Potomac. He was a brave, loyal and fearless soldier and participated in many of the hotly contested engagements which led up to the final victory that crowned the Union arms, including the battles of Fredericksburg, Antietam and Chancellorsville. In the report of the commanding general he was given special mention for gallantry in the charge of Mary's Hill at the battle of Fredericksburg. He also took part in the sanguinary conflict at Gettysburg as Captain of Company I, Twenty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry.

With the close of his military service Mr. Hutchison took up the study of law and following his graduation from the Cleveland (Ohio) Law School he came to Iowa in the spring of 1865, settling first at Des Moines. In December of that year, however, he removed to Ottumwa, where he continued to make his home until his demise. He was led to take this step through the influence and offer of Senator Stiles, a member of the Ottumwa bar, who in that year had been elected to the upper house of the Iowa general assembly and wished to enter into partnership with a promising and reliable young man who could take charge of the law practice during the absence of the senior partner of the firm at the capitol. Writing of this Senator E. H. Stiles said:

"Captain A. A. Stuart, who was then seeing through the press his Towa Colonels and Regiments,' had, while in Des Moines for that purpose, become acquainted with Captain Hutchison, whom he strongly recommended to me. He said young Hutchison had served as a soldier and officer in the Civil war, that he had received a good education, legal and otherwise, and had entered upon the practice at Des Moines; that he was high-minded, honorable and altogether one of the most estimable young men he had ever met. Lpon this I wrote Mr. Hutchison, telling him of the high recommendation he had received at the hands of Captain Stuart and suggested that if he saw fit to come down to Ottumwa and hold an interview with me it might result in an association that would be mutually satisfactory. He accordingly came. I took him to my house and he remained with us until the next day. We were greatly pleased with him, for he was one of those men whose very presence indicates inborn high qualities. The result was that we formed a law partnership which continued for seven years and until he diverged into more profitable lines. At the outset he became a member of my family and so continued until his marriage with Miss Sarah L. Taylor in 1868. He was one of the purest and most lovable of men. During the whole period of our partnership there was not the slightest friction between us and I found that he possessed to the fullest extent all the fine qualities which Stuart had attributed to him. He was diligent and efficient as a lawyer and nothing was ever neglected either in the office or in the courts that came under his hands. He had a good legal equipment and his industry was untiring. Had he strictly adhered to the profession and turned his face against all allurements to enter other enterprises he would have made a careful, deliberate and able judge and would doubtless have attained and graced that position had he continued in his profession. He certainly would have been an incorruptible one, for I have never known a man with a higher sense of honor or more perfect integrity, and for these qualities he was distinguished to the end of his days."

At length, however, Mr. Hutchison abandoned professional activity to enter into other lines of business that promised quicker returns and from that time forward was a leading factor in industrial, commercial and financial circles in Ottumwa. In 1872 he aided in the organization of the Johnston Ruffler Company, which conducted business successfully for a number of years, when its shareholders organized the Ottumwa Iron Works. During his connection with the former company Mr. Hutchison and his wife went abroad and resided in England for a year, representing the interests of the company in that land. On the return voyage to the United States he formed an acquaintance with T. D. Foster, who was then on his way to America with a view of establishing a large packing house for the English firm of John Morrell & Company, and it was through Captain Hutchison's influence that Mr. Foster those Ottumwa as a favorable site for the new undertaking, and thus won for the city an industry that has been of incalculable benefit in the promotion of the material progress and welfare of this section.

After continuing actively in business for a few years Mr. Hutchison reentered the field of law, forming a partnership with L. N. Mast, but in three or four years he again diverged from the profession, entering the political arena and later becoming once more active in business. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, called him to serve the public by electing him to the state legislature in 1879. His term of service was one of great efficiency and was followed by his election to the state senate in 1881 and his reelection in 1884. For ten years, therefore, he continued a member of the general assembly, winning a most enviable reputation by reason of his connection with much important constructive legislation. He was able in argument upon the floor of the house and senate and was most careful and persistent in his advocacy of wise measures. Of his public career a contemporary biographer writes:

"During his senatorial terms he was a member of the ways and means and judiciary committees and, it is said, he had more to do in shaping the policy that paid oft the state debt than any other man in the legislature. He was the author of the registration system for elections, which is now giving the greatest satisfaction to men of all parties, although it was opposed at the beginning by those who did not understand its beneficent effect in securing an honest ballot. Mr. Hutchison also devoted a great share of his attention to railroad legislation and organized the committee which took the matter in charge, and at last brought about reforms that were advantageous to the people."

Touching this subject Governor Gue, in volume 4, page 141, of his History of Iowa, says:

"Senator Hutchison was the author of the law for the registration of voters which has become the settled policy of the state. As a member of the committees of judiciary, appropriations and chairman of the ways and means committee he became a leader of the senate and by wise measures relieved the state from a large indebtedness during his term of service."

The indebtedness referred to by Governor Gue was the large one owing to the school fund from the state and which was paid, through the efforts of and under an act drafted by Senator Hutchison, from the money refunded by the general government for the direct tax which it had received from the state. The payment of this obligation left the state entirely free from debt. William H. Fleming, who had been private secretary under five different governors and was thoroughly informed concerning the legislative history of Iowa, wrote concerning the extinction of that debt and how it was brought about through the act of Senator Hutchison:

"The final extinction of this debt came about in Governor Boies' administration, but it was because of the operation of an act drafted in 1888 by Senator Hutchison, whom Boies defeated for the governorship a year later. That act directed that the proceeds of the expected refund should be applied to the payment of the debt from the state to the school fund. The money came in 1891 and the school fund debt was paid from it, as directed by the act referred to. Thus, while it might be said that the debt was actually liquidated during Boies' administration, it was because of Hutchison's work that it was done."

The splendid record made by Senator Hutchison in legislative halls led to his nomination by the republican party for the office of governor in 1889. Writing of this his old law partner. Senator Stiles, said:

"For thirty-five years the republican party had been continually in power and no democrat had occupied the gubernatorial chair; but the immense republican majorities had been declining in the latter years because of popular dissatisfaction, especially in the larger cities, with the radical attitude of the party on the question of general and absolute prohibition. It was thought by many in the cities referred to it was a dead letter and furnished the pernicious example of constant law breaking. So strong had this feeling become on the one hand and so strong the radicalism of the republican party on the other that it made the political condition not only critical but threatened party defeat; and the party was defeated. Horace Boies, the democratic candidate, was elected. The same experience was repeated at the next gubernatorial election when Governor Boies was reelected over Hiram Wheeler, the republican candidate. And the same results would have continued had not the party leaders joined in enacting the local option or Mulct law; upon which the republican part was restored to power. It is thus clear that Mr. Hutchison's defeat was not attributable to any personal ground, but solely to the causes alluded to. If the election had rested alone on personal grounds he would undoubtedly have been triumphantly elected."

In the meantime Mr. Hutchison engaged in banking, becoming one of the promoters of the Ottumwa National Bank, of which he served as president for seven years, when he resigned to accept the nomination for governor. The policy which he had inaugurated and maintained was such as left the bank in excellent condition. In 1891 he entered the mercantile field as founder and proprietor of an extensive wholesale grocery house, conducted under the style of J. G. Hutchison & Company. He built up a large business and carefully and successfully guided its destinies until his life's labors were ended in death in April,

Mr. Hutchison was twice married. He first wedded Sarah L. Taylor, on the 4th of November, 1868. They traveled life's journey happily together until separated by death on the 2d of November, 1896. On the 23d of June, 1898, Mr. Hutchison wedded Miss Mabel Vernon Dixon, a daughter of Hon. J. W. Dixon, of whom more extended mention is made on following pages of these volumes.

y. G. Hutchison & Company, wholesale grocers, is one of the visible evidences of the marked ability of Mr. Hutchison, who was ever a man of action rather than of theory, and when he saw opportunities — which by the way he readily recognized — he utilized them to the full. He was a distinguished lawyer, an able business man and a gifted statesman, and most of all he was a public-spirited citizen and a high-minded Christian gentleman. In all of his public career he ever placed the general welfare before partisanship and the public good before personal aggrandizement. He did not hesitate to sacrifice his own interests if the welfare of the community could be advanced. Life was to him purposeful and no duty was ever neglected. When he came to the parting of the ways between right and wrong he never hesitated as to his course, and his path was ever one of ascent to the higher planes of citizenship, morality, duty and integrity.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

"" There have been exhibited in the life of Mrs. Mabel Vernon Dixon Hutchison many phases which perhaps might be more apply termed many lines of capability. Thoroughly womanly in all those qualities which have made her a leader in social circles and placed her at the head of the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, she is now proving equally successful as the head of an extensive wholesale business house, taking up the work, of management and control following the demise of her husband.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MARTIN B. HUTCHISON.

The name of Martin B. Hutchison has been a familiar one in banking and lumber circles in Wapello county for many years. He is now, however, concentrating his energies upon the lumber trade and has a line of yards in this section of the state, making his headquarters, however, at Ottumwa. He was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1860. His father, Joseph Hutchison, likewise a native of the Keystone state, was born in 1828 and there spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. He wedded Mary M. Scott, who was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in 1829 and is still living in that state. Their family numbered eight children, six of whom survive. All those surviving with the exception of our subject are still residents of Pennsylvania.

It was in the common schools of his native state that Martin B. Hutchison pursued his early education, which was supplemented by two years' study in Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania. In November, 1882, he arrived at Ottumwa and

I entered at once upon active connection with the banking business in this city, becoming collector for the Ottumwa National Bank. A year later he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, in which capacity he continued for two years and was then advanced to cashier, occupying that position of responsibility for seven years. On leaving that position he went to Chicago, where he engaged in business for a year. At the end of that period, however, he returned to Ottumwa and accepted the cashiership of the First National Bank, remaining in that position for eleven years. In the meantime he had assisted in organizing the Union Trust & Savings Bank, of which he was made cashier and director. He was also a director during the entire eleven years of his connection with the First National Bank.

In 1903, however, on account of failing health he resigned his position with the bank and turned his attention to the lumber business, which would enable him to spend more time out of doors, avoiding the close confinement incident to the banking business. He then organized the M. B. Hutchison Lumber Company, of which he has since been the head. This is today a large concern, having extended its activities from town to town until yards have now been established and are being successfully conducted at Ottumwa, Batavia, Libertyville, Stockport and Hillsboro. Since leaving the bank in 1903 Mr. Hutchison has devoted his entire time to the lumber business save for three years, from 1908 until 1911, when he was again with the First National as vice president, devoting a part of his time to the bank. He found, however, that his entire time was required by the lumber trade, and he then permanently severed his connections with the bank as an active factor in control and management. However, he is still the vice president and director of the Union Trust & Savings Bank and also a director of the First National. He is likewise a stockholder in the Ottumwa Automobile Company, but his energies are concentrated chiefly upon the lumber trade, in which he has already built up a business of gratifying proportions. The policy of the company is one which bears close investigation and scrutiny, and his enterprise has brought him into close touch with the more important trade interests of the state.

On the 25th of April, 1888, Mr. Hutchison was united in marriage to Miss Inez B. Jordan, a daughter of W. A. Jordan, and they became parents of two children: Margaret, the wife of L. M. B. Morrissey of Minneapolis; and Elizabeth, a student in the high school. The family attend the Presbyterian church, in which the parents hold membership, and for almost a quarter of a century continuously he has been one of the church trustees. His political allegiance is given the Republican party and, while he has never sought nor desired office, he has always cooperated in measures of value to the community- He is president of the board of education, has been a director of the Commercial Association and for one year was its president. He also belongs to the Wapello and Country Clubs and is widely and favorably known as a factor for progress in the business, social, intellectual and moral interests of city and county. He has been connected almost continuously with Ottumwa since 1882 and is today accounted one of her most valued citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.