BIOGRAPHY - William A. Hutchison
WILLIAM A. HUTCHISON, engineer, of Clarence, Ford County, Ill., is a
native of Ohio, born in Holmes County, December 16, 1850. His grandfather,
Col. William Hutchison, was a native of Pennsylvania but of Scotch
parentage. After attaining his majority, he moved, in about 1800, to Holmes
County, Ohio, where he became a prominent and influential citizen, being the
first Judge of Holmes County, and a Colonel of the militia. His father,
Samuel I. Hutchison, grew to manhood in Holmes County and there married Mary
Rodgers, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Rodgers, who
was one of the pioneer settlers of that county. After their marriage, he was
engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native county for a number of years.
He enlisted in the one-hundred-day service for the late war and served
during the term of his enlistment. In 1868, he moved to Illinois and settled
in Button Township, Ford County, where he opened up a farm on which he
resided for a number of years. He died in Clarence, March 4, 1892. His wife
survives him and resides with her son. They had a family of three sons and
one daughter, all of whom are living and are heads of families. William A.
is the eldest; John, a farmer in Button Township, is the next in order of
birth; Irvin is an engineer residing in Rochester, Ind.; and Eiizabeth is
the wife of R. M. Garsuch, a prosperous farmer of Button Township.
William A. Hutchison came with his parents to Ford County when a young man
of eighteen years. His youth was spent on a farm and in attending the common
schools of his native State. He also attended school a short time after
locating in Illinois. He continued in agricultural pursuits until 1876, when
he gave up farming and engaged in merchandising in the village of Clarence.
He was appointed Postmaster of the place and served in that capacity for
twelve years. When he sold out his mercantile business, he engaged in
running a stationary engine in Clarence, in which business he is yet
engaged. He is the owner of a good farm adjoining the village and has also
good residence property both in Clarence and Paxton.
Mr. Hutchison was united in marriage, in Logan County, Ohio, in November,
1876, to Miss Margaret Ghormaley, a native of Ohio. By this marriage there
are four children: Owen, Mary, Elsie and an infant. There are eight years'
difference in the ages of the last two children, and both were born on the
same day of the same month, the first, February 29, 1884, and the latter,
February 29, 1892.
Mv. Hutchison is identified with the Republican party, of which he has been
an earnest supporter since his majority. He has served in several local
positions, having been Collector of Button Township, also Clerk and
Assessor. He is a man of good business habits and is one of the most
enterprising men of the village, in which he has resided for fifteen years.
He was the first to locate at the place and weighed the first load of grain
marketed in the village. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. A most
worthy citizen, a good friend and neighbor, he well deserves representation
in this volume.
Extracted 22 Aug 2019 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 238-241.
