George Smith Hutchinson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1759-1760 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GEORGE SMITH HUTCHINSON, president of the James Valley Bank, at 
Huron, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Pike, 
Wyoming county, New York, on the 5th of December, 1853, and being a son 
of George and Angeline A. (Smith) Hutchinson, who removed to the state 
of Wisconsin when he was about nine years of age, locating in Manitowoc, 
where he secured his early educational training in the public schools, 
later continuing his studies in Milwaukee, Madison and Durand, that 
state, and receiving good advantages in the line. On the 1st of 
November, 1872, Mr. Hutchinson located in West Depere, Brown county, 
Wisconsin, where he secured a position as clerk in a general merchandise 
establishment, eventually securing an interest in the business, with 
which he continued to be identified until 1887, when he sold out his 
interest. In November of that year he entered the employ of the exten-
sive wholesale grocery house of Reid, Murdoch & Company, of Chicago, in 
the capacity of traveling salesman, and on the 16th of July, 1889, he 
came to South Dakota as representative of this concern in the state, 
with headquarters in Huron. He continued with the firm until May 1, 
1902, when he resigned his position and forthwith effected the 
organization of the James Valley Bank, which was incorporated under the 
laws of the state on the 15th of that month, with a capital stock of 
thirty thousand dollars. He has been president of the institution from 
the time of its organization and has directed its affairs with 
consummate judgment and ability.

	Mr. Hutchinson is a staunch Republican in his political proclivities 
and has been an active worker in its cause, in a local way. The hold 
which Mr. Hutchinson has upon the esteem and regard of the people of 
Huron has been given significant evidence, since in 1896 he was chosen 
mayor of the same, serving two years and giving a clean, capable and 
business-like administration of municipal affairs. He has been a member 
of the board of education since 1898 and in the connection his interest 
has been far removed from the apathetic and perfunctory. In 1902 still 
higher official preferment was conferred upon our subject, who was then 
elected to represent his district in the lower house of the state 
legislature, where he made an enviable record during the 1902-3 general 
assembly, while he is a candidate for state senatorial honors in the 
forthcoming election of November, 1904. He is a Knight-Templar Mason and 
is also affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the 
Mystic Shrine.

	On the 23d of July, 1884, Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage to 
Miss Agnes J. Persons, of Brodhead, Wisconsin, and they have three 
children, Harry T., Augusta Jean and George.