Hutchinson, Alex. A. (1842-1923)

HUTCHINSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 23:52:42

Alexander A. Hutchinson
May 6, 1842 - Feb 2, 1923

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.665)
A.A. HUTCHINSON, a farmer and stock-raiser of Crescent Township, was born near Providence, Rhode Island, May 6, 1842, the son of Matthew and Jenette (ANDERSON) HUTCHINSON, natives of Scotland, who came to America in 1842. The father was a dealer in general merchandise and engaged in the fisheries. He died November 8, 1867, his wife having died four years after their emigration to America. On her death, Mr. HUTCHINSON abandoned housekeeping, while the subject of this sketch, the youngest of his seven children, was taken charge of by an older brother until he was eight years old, when his father married his second wife. At the age of sixteen years, he went to Providence and served two and a half years learning the trade of jeweler; then he came to Council Bluffs and thence went to St. John's, near the site of the Missouri Valley, and was engaged there on a farm until the next spring; next he was on a farm on Pigeon Creek one season; returning to Council Bluffs, he learned photography and afterward traveled extensively in the practice of this art until his health failed, and he resorted to hauling goods across the plains, which enabled him to recover his health. For four years of this time, he practiced photography in connection with his other business. Coming again to Council Bluffs, he bought a farm of 132 acres, sold it the next year and purchased seventy-two and a half acres and in three years sold that. Meanwhile he was married and afterward he bought eighty acres of land on section 23. Of this tract, he has made a comfortable home, with all the usual farm appurtenances, in good condition. Much may be said in his praise, as he started with nothing in pioneer times and by pluck and energy has stood all the expenses of travel, changes, and many little losses, and yet has the possessions he now enjoys. He has now an aggregate of 500 acres of good land. He deals also in livestock to a considerable extent. Politically, Mr. HUTCHINSON is a zealous Republican and locally independent. He is efficient in the promotion of education, Christianity and the scope of modern benevolent institutions. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Crescent City, of which class he is leader, and was virtually one of its founders. November 18, 1867, he married Martha GREEN, daughter of Rowland and Ruth (HASKINS) GREEN, natives of Vermont. Mr. GREEN, a carpenter by profession, still resides at Wallingsford, in his native state. His wife died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving four children: Edward, deceased; one died in infancy; Smith, also deceased; and Martha J. After the death of Mrs. GREEN, Mr. GREEN married Mrs. WHEELER, now deceased, and by that marriage there were five children. Mr. And Mrs. HUTCHINSON have six children: Arthur M., who was born May 3, 1869; Ada, September 9, 1871; Lillie, September 20, 1872; Louie A., September 5, 1876; Maud, June 7, 1881; and Ruth May, October 26, 1889. All these are still with their parents.