Biographical Sketch of James E. Hutchinson, Johnson County, Missouri, Jackson township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** James E. Hutchinson, a former postmaster and successful merchant of Elm, Missouri and now a retired farmer and stockman, is a Union veteran and one of the best known pioneers of Johnson county. Honored and re- spected by all, no man in Jackson township occupies a higher standing in agricultural and financial circles than Mr. Hutchinson, not solely because of the splendid success he has achieved in life but on account of the honest, straightforward policy he has pursued. J. E. Hutchinson was born in Kentucky in 1842, a son of James and Catherine (Rouse) Hutchinson. James Hutchinson was a son of Joseph Hutchinson, a promi- nent and patriotic citizen of Kentucky, who laid down his life for his country in the War of 1812. Catherine (Rouse) Hutchinson was a daugh- ter of Aaron Rouse, who was also a native of Kentucky and one of the leading citizens of his community in that state. To James and Catherine Hutchinson were born eleven children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Mary J. Lale, Odessa, Missouri; J. E., the subject of this review; and Mrs. Sallie Lale, Odessa, Missouri. The Hutchinsons came to Miss- ouri from Kentucky in 1858 and settled on a farm of 260 acres of land located near Odessa, which tract the father purchased at that time. At the outbreak of the Civil War, both father and son, James and J. E. Hutchinson, enlisted with the Federal army in the 5th Missouri Cavalry, their division being known as the 5th Provisional command. They saw active service in several states, took prominent parts in countless battles and skirmishes, and experienced many narrow, hairbreath escapes. J. E. Hutchinson was serving at the time of Price's raid. After the Civil War had ended and Mr. Hutchinson had received his honorable dis- charge, he returned to his home in Johnson county and later was employ- ed in a sawmill at Lexington, Missouri. While he was thus occupied, he was appointed deputy-sheriff of Lafayette county by Thomas Adamson, the acting sheriff of that county. Mr. Hutchinson faithfully performed his duty while an incumbent in office and the future awaited him with much that was encouraging and full of promise politically, when he resigned his position after one year of service. In 1866, the marriage of J. E. Hutchinson and Mary Newman, daughter of Jonathan Newman, who settled in Johnson county in 1858, was solemnized. Their marriage was the outcome of a war time romance. Mr. Hutchinson was introduced to Miss Mary by her brother, who had been a comrade in the Civil War and had fought by the side of Mr. Hutchinson in many hard won battles. To this union were born four children, three of whom were reared to maturity and are now living: Mrs. Nellie Davidson, Savannah, Missouri; Wilhelmina J., who is familiarly known as "Willie," the companion of her father; and J. M., Kingsville, Missouri. The mother died in 1902 and Mr. Hutchin- son and "Willie" are residing alone at the old homestead in Jackson township. Mrs. Hutchinson was, and Mr. Hutchinson is a worthy and valued member of the Baptist church, of which she was one of its most earnest and beloved workers. Since Mr. Hutchinson erected his present home in 1882, he has always had a special room called the "preacher's room" and intended for the use of the local ministers. Mr. Hutchinson, at his advanced age, has bought a Ford and is now learning to run it. During Grover Cleveland's administrations J. E. Hutchinson was post- master at Elm, Missouri. Later, he entered the mercantile business there and for several years was one of the leading and most prosperous merchants of this county. At one time, Mr. Hutchinson was owner of 610 acres of valuable land, but he has divided the greater portion of his holdings among his children and now has 254 acres of his original farm in his name. He has been one of the extensive stockmen of Johnson county and in former years dealt largely in Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. In recent years, he has rented his land and is now living in quiet retirement. In 1874, Mr. Hutchinson was elected tax collector of Jackson township, under the township organization, and he received every vote but one cast in the township. He has never had a law suit, never sued a man nor has he ever been sued. J. E. Hutchinson's life has been a busy and useful one, an exemplification of honorable deal- ings, steadfastness of purpose, and invincible moral courage. Now, at the age of 75 years, he is still alert and his mental faculties un- dimmed, sufficient evidence of a "good fight." Mr. Hutchinson has wit- nessed a multitude of changes in Missouri during his lifetime. When he was a boy, vast acres of the state were unfenced and roads were few, the travel being along trails and by direction. He has driven six yoke of oxen in breaking sod and to Lexington to obtain supplies. J. E. Hutchinson has been a man of marked initiative. He was the first man to own and operate a threshing machine in this section of the state, and he often had all the work he could do operating his machine until Christmas times, and he owned the first telephone, the first farm trac- tor, and the first automobile in his neighborhood. He recalls vividly the days when he was want to stand in the doorway of his home and kill wild turkeys and prairie chickens. It was no difficult task to keep the family provisioned in meat in the good, old days of the long ago. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================