Having spent his entire life, with the exception of one year, in Iowa township, Cedar county, G. B. Hutcheson is therefore well known to the citizens of that locality, who recognize in him a man of good business ability, and his well directed efforts in former years now make it possible for him to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil without further recourse to active labor.
Born in Iowa township on the 29th of August, 1853, he is a son of Joseph L. and Sarah Ann (Polk) Hutcheson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They were married in Ohio, after which they came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1841, the father here entering a tract of eighty acres of land on section 5, Iowa township, upon which he spent his remaining days. He became a successful farmer, devoting his entire life to that occupation, and at the time of his death was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich farming land. He passed away on the 26th of August, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven years and four months, his death occurring on the farm which he had entered upon arriving in this county. His wife passed away on the 3d of December, 1873, at the age of fifty-three years, eight months and twenty-one days. In their family were eight children, namely: Mary, the deceased wife of Cornelius Swinehart; Margaret, who married G. M. Scott, of West Liberty; Jane, the deceased wife of J. S. LaRue; Rebecca, who married W. H. Maxon and has also passed away; Robert B., who died when but one year old; G. B., of this review; Moses, who passed away when an infant of six months; and Sarah, who married Jacob Kaufman and has also passed away.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for G. B. Hutcheson during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on the old homestead in Iowa township, and his time was passed in the usual manner of country lads of that day, being divided between acquiring an education in the country schools and assisting in the work of the farm. He early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the farm bred lad, and thus, amid the busy environment of country life he laid the foundation for a successful future. Upon attaining man’s estate he wisely chose as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared, and with the exception of one year spent in merchandising in Atalissa, Muscatine county, he devoted his entire attention during his active business career to that occupation. In 1883 he removed to his present farm, a well improved tract of two hundred and fifty acres located on sections 5 and 8, Iowa township, which has been brought to its present high state of cultivation through his wise direction and careful management. As the years have passed and he has prospered in his undertaking he has added many improvements to his farm, the place being now equipped with two sets of good buildings, all in excellent repair—the result of his energy and thrift. In the conduct of his farm he introduced all of the modern accessories for facilitating labor, employed the most progressive and up-to-date methods, and that his labors have been crowned with merited success is indicated by the fact that it is now possible for him to live retired, leaving the management of his interests to others, while he enjoys the rest that comes as a result of well directed effort and labor intelligently applied.
It was in September, 1879, that Mr. Hutcheson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Roberts, who was born in Iowa township, Cedar county, on the 22d of September, 1854, a daughter of William Preston and Martha (McManus) Roberts, both natives of Ohio. Her parents, who were married in their native state, came to Iowa in the early ‘40s, being numbered among the pioneer settlers of this state, and here the mother passed away at the comparatively early age of forty-four years, four months and twelve days. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheson was blessed with five children, as follows: Claudie, the wife of George Linn, of South Dakota; L. C., superintending the operation of his father’s farm, who married Edith Kester; May, the wife of Peter Wingert, living in Center township, near Tipton; Charles R., a student of the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa; and Everett L., a student at Springdale high school, who still resides at home.
Mr. Hutcheson has given his support to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction to him, as he preferred that his duty as a citizen should be done in a private manner rather than in public office. His interests, however, are thoroughly identified with those of Cedar county, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit his section of the county or advance its wonderful development. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of the county.
