BIOGRAPHY - WILLIAM HUTCHISON
William A. Hutchison is the present coroner of Ford county and in all of his citizenship, as manifest either in office or out of it, has been found loyal to those interests which promote the welfare of the community and uphold its political and legal status. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, December 16, 1850, his parents being Samuel I. and Mary (Rodgers) Hutchison. His family comes of Scotch ancestry, but the first representatives of the name in America located here at an early period in the development of the new world. William Hutchison, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and traveled by keelboat to Ohio, becoming a resident of Wayne county, that state, in 1811. He had journeyed several hundred miles in a boat of that character over rivers whose banks were destitute of any settlement for miles and miles. He took up his abode in Holmes county, later removing to Wayne county, and in the new state proved a prominent and helpful citizen, whose efforts in behalf of public progress were far-reaching and beneficial. He served as probate judge of Holmes county and left the impress of his individuality upon its public interests. There he remained for some years, when he removed to Wayne county, where he died. He served as an adjutant in the Ohio Militia.
Samuel Hutchison, father of our subject, was reared in Wayne county, Ohio, and also became a representative of his district in the military service of his country, enlisting in 1864 as a member of Company I of the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, serving until the 1st of September of that year. He continued his residence in Ohio until 1868, when he came to Ford county, Illinois, settling in Butler township, where he made his home until his death. He passed away in 1892, at the age of sixty-nine years. He is still survived by his wife, who by her marriage became the mother of four children: Elizabeth, the wife of R. W. Gorsuch, of Pekin, Illinois; William A.; John R., who is living in Butler township; and Samuel I., whose home is in Logansport, Indiana.
William A. Hutchison pursued his education in the public schools of his native state and came with his father to Ford county when a young man of about eighteen years. He devoted his attention to farming until 1876, when he removed to the village of Clarence, where he has since resided. He was the first postmaster of the town and served continuously and efficiently in that position for twelve years. He has since been connected with various business enterprises and in 1897 he was again called to public office by appointment to the position of coroner. In 1898 he was reelected and has been continued in the office by reelection to the present time, so that his service covers ten years. He has also filled the office of drainage commissioner for four years and in this connection has been active in promoting what is justly regarded as the greatest public improvement in Ford county.
In 1876 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hutchison and Miss Margaret Gormley, a daughter of Thomas Gormley, of Logan county, Illinois. Their children are: Dr. O. G. Hutchison, who is married and is engaged in the practice of his profession in Wichita, Kansas; Mary, the wife of Rev. E. A. Culter, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Effie, who is attending college at Milwaukee.
For forty years William A. Hutchison has resided in Ford county and is thoroughly identified with its interests. He has watched much of its growth and progress as the years have gone by, nor has he been alone an interested witness, for he has aided in the work of development and has made a creditable record in every official position to which he has been called.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 818-820.
