[p. 842] a venerated and
respected citizen of Little Beaver Township,
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has
been a resident of the county for more
than half a century. He was born in
County Derry, Ireland, May 30, 1817, and
is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Booth)
Hutchinson.
Thomas Hutchinson, father of John, was a stone mason in Ireland, in which country he lived all his life, dying at the age of forty years. His widow survived him, and died at the age of sixty years. They had the following children: Jane, who died in Ireland at the age of seventy-five years; John; Andrew, who died in Ireland at the age of four years; Adam, who followed his brother John to America, and located in Canada; Andrew, who lives in Canada; Robert, of Canada; and Thomas, who remained in his native land.
John Hutchinson was reared in County Derry, and was but thirteen years of age at his father's death. Being the oldest son of the family, it devolved upon him to support the others, an arduous task, but one which was willingly performed. He worked by the month on the farm until 1847, then emigrated to America, leaving Belfast in March, on Captain Watt's sailing vessel, and landing in New York City after a five weeks' voyage. He immediately located in Pittsburg, where for one year he drove a cart for James Mackerel, at the salary of $12 per month and board. He then drove a dray for John Parker & Co. some ten years, at better wage, and being economical as well as industrious, laid by a sufficient sum to purchase a small farm near what is the Workhouse, in Pittsburg. There he lived for eight years, then sold out, and on March 25, 1866, moved to his present farm in Little Beaver Township. He bought the John C. Wilson tract of 110 acres, which lies near the Ohio State line. The log cabin which was on the place at the time he settled there was crudely built, and in the winter snow drifted through the cracks to such an extent that when he walked across the floor, his footprints could be plainly seen in the snow. Mr. Hutchinson has followed general farming with success, and the condition of his body and mind has been such that he has been able to direct operations on the farm up to the present time, although his daughter, Miss Mary Ann, has been of great assistance to him in looking after business affairs.
Mr. Hutchinson was first married to Mary Ann Winton, who died leaving two children: Thomas, who died in December, 1907; and Lettie, wife of William Dickson, of Philadelphia, by whom she has five children: Robert, Samuel, John, Lydia and Jane. His second marriage was in 1843, to Miss Mary Johnson, who died in Pittsburg, leaving four children: Henry, who died in the army in 1862 and was a member of Company B, Seventy-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; Andrew, who married Maria Moore and had three children—Mary Jane, Oscar L. and Isa; Margaret, who died at the age of three years; and Mary Ann, who keeps house for her father and assists him in his business cares. Mr. Hutchinson's next marriage was with Mary Ann Werhan, who died on the home farm in Little Beaver, June 18, 1885. He is an unswerving Republican in politics, and has filled many of the township offices. His first vote was cast for General Scott, of the Whig party, in 1852, and he voted for Fremont in 1856, for Lincoln twice, and it is his expectation to vote for Taft in 1908. Religiously, he and his daughter are members of the United Presbyterian Church. On his ninety-first birthday anniversary, he was honored with a post-card shower by his many friends, and was the recipient of 206 cards, a silent testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by his friends and neighbors.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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