John HUTCHISON, an active and enterprising farmer of Rice Township, living on Section 18, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born March 14, 1836, a son of George and Fanny (LUKE) HUTCHISON, both of whom died in Ireland.

John HUTCHISON lived in his native country until 19 years of age when he sailed from Liverpool, England, for America, landing at New York City, July 8, 1855.

He spent the first two years of his residence in this country in the state of New Jersey, where he was employed as a farmhand. He then went to McHenry County, Illinois, where he was married in 1859 to Miss Helen D. CROSS, a native of Stuben County, New York, and a daughter of James CROSS.

In the first year after their marriage, John HUTCHISON was in the employ of the government in the Quartermaster Department, and the following year he started to farm rented land.

In November, 1866, John HUTCHISON came to Ringgold County where he bought 120 acres, and at once began to improve his land. The homestead was increased to 200 acres of goodland under fine cultivation.

Mrs. HUTCHISON died January 6, 1882, at the age of 45 years, leaving a family of eight children: Sarah Jane, Fanny, George E., Mary, Cora, William, Susan, and Maude. Another daughter, Isabelle, the sixth child, died at two years of age.

In December, 1883, John HUTCHISON married Mrs. Martha (BATES) DAY, and to this union were born two children, Edith and Adam Clark HUTCHISON.

John HUTCHISON came to America a poor boy, but by his industry, frugality, and good management, he prospered and his honorable and upright dealings gained him the confidence of the entire community.

John HUTCHISON was in faith a Presbyterian, in politics he was a Republican and held several offices, serving as assessor, three years as trustee, two years as clerk, and thirteen years as school director, holding all those offices acceptably and efficiently.

Note: Helen D. (CROSS) HUTCHISON died at the age of 44 years on January 6, 1882, and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr. Martha A. (BATES) DAY HUTCHISON was born in 1845 and died in 1915.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. Pp. 141-42. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

Return to Ringgold County Home Page

To submit your Ringgold County materials, contact The County Coordinator.
Please include the word "Ringgold" in the subject line. Thank you.