My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM HUTCHINGS, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneer citizens of Michigan, and located in the West at a very early day. He was born in the year 1809, and was a native of Ulster County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood and was trained in the daily routine of agricultural duties. He received his education in the schools of Ulster County, and in 1835 married, soon after with his wife journeying to Cass County, Mich. Locating upon the banks of Lilly Lake, our subject entered land from the Government, and, energetic and industrious, improved almost one hundred acres, bringing a large portion of the farm up to a high state of cultivation. In 1845 Mr. Hutchings with his family removed to another location, settling in the woods three miles north of his former home. The one hundred and sixty acres of land was yet in a wild state, but soon yielded to the patient tilling of the soil and became a valuable homestead and an excellent piece of farming property. When Abraham Hutchings first settled in Michigan neighbors were few and far between. Game was abundant, but gradually disappeared before the advancing tide of emigration.

Our subject was twice married. By his first wife he had two children, both daughters, Mary and Susan. Entering the bonds of matrimony a second time, he married Miss Candace Graham, who resided near Toledo, Ohio. After the arrival of Mr. Hutchings and his second wife in Michigan two sons were born unto them, Newton and Wallace, the latter of whom died in Washington City, while in the service of his country. Politically, our subject was a Republican and always took an active interest in both local and national affairs. He was a liberal and public-spirited citizen, ever ready to aid in matters of progress and reform, and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him. His eldest and only surviving son, Newton Hutchings, was born in Cass County in 1836, and, reared upon the homestead, assisted his father in the work of the farm and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. Arriving at manhood, Newton Hutchings began life for himself, and in 1861 was married to Miss Mary Perkins. The husband and wife settled at once upon a farm, entering with energy into the pursuit of agriculture.

As the years passed Mr. Hutchings was prospered, and, adding to his possessions from time to time, was enabled to purchase the old homestead of his father, which was endeared to the son by the associations of boyhood. Under his fostering care the acres have increased in value, and the farm, finely improved, is among the best in Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Newton Hutchings reared one son, Wallace, now in the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company. Like his father, Newton Hutchings, is a member of the Republican party, and a stanch advocate of its principles and platform. He has never been desirous for political preferment, but has held with ability various school offices and given earnest effort in behalf of educational advancement. In 1864 Mr. Hutchings entered the service of the Government and enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry. With his regiment he went to the scene of conflict and remained in the South actively engaged in military duty until the close of the war. With the exception of the period of his enlistment, Mr. Hutchings has spent his life in and adjacent to his birthplace, and has long been accounted one of the most substantial citizens and prosperous agriculturists of Cass County.