HUTCHIN, James Tapscott - 1890 Bio (1835-1911)

HUTCHIN, TAPSCOTT, DE ROBINE, HENDRICKSON, LONGSTREET, DELEREAUX, STEVENS, PATTON, TERRILL, HADLEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/11/2007 at 18:51:18

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 195, 196, and 199

James T. HUTCHIN, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Jefferson County, resides on section 2, Black Hawk Township, and the story of his life is as follows: He was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 2, 1835, being a son of Joel G. and Rachel (TAPSCOTT) HUTCHIN. History says that the family was founded in America by John HUTCHIN, who, accompanied by his brother, left his English home and crossed the water to America, settling in New Jersey about the year 1730. William HUTCHIN, son of John, was born November 11, 1759, and served in Lee's Legion in the Revolutionary War, during which he killed a British officer at the battle of Cowpens. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy De ROBINE, was born February 2, 1758, and was of French descent. Her father narrowly escaped death during the Revolution. He was in a blockhouse in Paoli when it was sacked by the Indians and British, and was shot in the eye and left for dead, but afterward recovered. The children born to William and Mary HUTCHIN were: Thomas, born March 11, 1782; Moses, February 16, 1784; Henry W., March 22, 1786; Isaac, March 13, 1788; Moses, September 17, 1790; Charles, May 20, 1793; Joel Gibbs, May 22, 1795, and Maria, December 1, 1797.

Joel Gibbs HUTCHIN, the father of our subject, received the usual educational advantages afforded farmers' sons at that early day, and spent his boyhood in his native State, but on reaching manhood he removed with his parents to Ohio, where he lived the life of an industrious farmer. On the 21st of December, 1820, he married Rachel H. TAPSCOTT, a daughter of James and Mary TAPSCOTT, who were natives of New Jersey, the former born September 22, 1770, and the latter April 13, 1772. Her father was of Scottish descent, and was a merchant of Bordentown, N. J. His wife was a daughter of Geisbert and Elizabeth P. HENDRICKSON, who were married October 25, 1728. The parents of Mrs. HENDRICKSON were Stoffil LONGSTREET and Abigail DELEREAUX, who were born prior to the year 1690. Thus we see that on the maternal side our subject traces his ancestry back to the latter part of the seventeenth century, and on the paternal side to the early part of the eighteenth century.

Joel G. HUTCHIN, the father of our subject, made his home for some time in Butler County, Ohio, and then removed with his family to Preble County, where he developed a farm and spent the greater part of his life. He came to Iowa in 1855 and bought four hundred acres of land in Jefferson County, but his death occurred three years later, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife survived him until April 14, 1861, when her remains were laid by the side of her husband in Richland cemetery. No family in the community was more highly respected than that of Mr. HUTCHIN, and in every way he and his estimable wife were worthy of the love and confidence accorded them. They were both members of the Society of Friends, and in the councils of the church Mr. HUTCHIN's opinion was received with honor and deference. He labored for the interest of the cause and made his religion a part of his daily life. Generous and free-hearted, he was a benefactor to the poor and needy, a friend to the oppressed, and a companion to all in need of sympathy or aid. In common with those of his church he was a strong opposer to the institution of human slavery, and was among the first to espouse the cause of the Republican party, which was formed to prevent its introduction into Northern States. Although he always refused to accept public office himself, he took a deep interest in political affairs, and was well versed in the same. He was also a representative business man, progressive and enterprising, and in company with Marmaduke Green, in 1855, introduced into Iowa the first Poland-China hogs brought to the State, the breed being then known as the McGee hog.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. HUTCHIN were born a family of six children: Isaac, who was born December 8, 1823, and is living a retired life in Colorado Springs; Henry W., who was born November 1, 1825, and engaged in merchandising in Fountain, Iowa, met his death in an explosion which occurred May 30, 1888; Ann, born February 19, 1828, is the wife of Dr. A. H. STEVENS, of Ohio, who was one of the leading surgeons in the army during the late war; Caroline, born June 17, 1830, in Coffee County, Kan., married Peter S. PATTON, one of the early pioneers of Jefferson County; Mary T., born April 25, 1833, is the wife of Amos H. TERRILL, of Colorado Springs.

James T. HUTCHIN, whose name heads this sketch, completes the family. He spent his early life in the State of his nativity, and received a good English education in the common schools, which was supplemented by three terms attendance at Earlham College, of Richmond, Ind. His summers were spent at hard labor on the farm, but such trials are often the means of bringing out the materials in a person's character, and so it proved with Mr. HUTCHIN, for in his youth he developed a spirit of self-reliance and zeal which have been important factors in his success in after life. At the age of twenty years he accompanied his parents to Jefferson County,and remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when on the 17th of September, 1857, he wedded Miss Mary HADLEY and removed to a farm given him by his father. It was an eighty-acre tract, ten acres of which had been broken and upon which a small house had been built. He fenced and improved the land, and made his home thereon until 1869, when he purchased one hundred and fifty-one acres, on section 2, Black Hawk Township -- his present home. Twenty-one years have since passed, and in that time a wonderful transformation has been wrought. Fertile fields now yield abundant harvests as the reward for his labors; he has a comfortable residence, good buildings, and everything bespeaks care and attention. Just and fair in all his dealings, he has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, and by the exercise of correct business principles, combined with zealous labor, he has acquired a handsome competence.

Mrs. HUTCHIN was a daughter of Joshua HADLEY, who was born in North Carolina in 1816, is one of the pioneers of Keokuk County, Iowa, and a land owner in Jefferson County. He came to Jefferson County in 1841, at which time he purchased land. To Mr. and Mrs. HUTCHIN have been born six children, but only one of the number is now living. Emily Luella, born November 3, 1858, died on the 8th of January, 1860; Ernest Leon, born November 22, 1860, died March 12, 1883; he had been provided with excellent educational advantages, and possessed extraordinaty oratorical power; his character was such as to win him the respect of all with whom he came in contact, and the entire community assembled to pay the last tribute of love and esteem for the dead. Anna Susan, born March 16, 1864, died March 7, 1883; Lydia Eva, born December 2, 1866, died March 21, 1868; Joel Alfred, born august 10, 1870, was a student of the Pleasant Plain Academy, and is a young man of much promise; Corilla, the youngest, born September 3, 1878, died January 12, 1880.

Mr. HUTCHIN and his wife are members of the Society of Friends, although he leans toward the Unitarian doctrine. He gives liberally for the support of the work, however, and is always ready to do his part in any enterprise calculated to benefit the community. He is a man well informed on all general topics, is a great reader and an entertaining conversationalist, being able to express his ideas fluently and well. When he takes his stand for or against any measure he can always give an excellent reason for doing so, and when he believes himself to be in the right nothing can swerve him from his determination to pursue that course. In his earlier years he supported the Republican party, casting his first vote for Fremont, but when Grant and Greeley were opposing candidates he cast his ballot for the latter. His ideas on the tariff question being out of harmony with the Republican party, he then connected himself with the Democratic party, but has independence enough to vote for the men who represent the best interests of the country without regard to party associations. Mr. HUTCHIN ran on the Democratic ticket for County Supervisor. As is well known, Jefferson County is strongly Republican, yet his popularity is plainly shown by the fact that he carried his own township by the largest majority ever given when there was any opposition. He has been Township Clerk, and has served two terms as Assessor, but is no wise an office-seeker. No one stands higher in the esteem of their fellow-men than Mr. HUTCHIN, and it is with pleasure we record this sketch in this volume.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.