Senator Joseph G. Hutchison View All Years

Mr. President: Your committee appointed to prepare and submit resolutions in memory of Joseph G. Hutchison of Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following report.

Whereas, The Honorable Joseph G. Hutchison, a member of this body in the regular sessions of the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies, departed this life at his home in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, on the 9th day of April, 1910. Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Senate has learned with sorrow and regret of the death of Senator Hutchison and that in his death the state has lost an able and high minded citizen and legislator who has ever a staunch advocate of the best interest of his fellow citizens. Senator Hutchison was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1840, of Scotch-Irish descent. His ancestors were prominent in public affairs in Pennsylvania and his great grandfather Hutchison at an early day represented a district constituting about one-twelfth of the State of Pennsylvania in the General Assembly. Senator Hutchison was graduated from Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in June, 1862. In August 1862 he entered the army as first lieutenant in the One Hundred Thirty-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the army of the Potomac, and participated in the historical battles of Fredericksburg, Antietam and Chancellorsville. He also took part in the Gettysburg campaign as captain of Company I, Twenty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was mustered into service under the special call of President Lincoln. Senator Hutchison was graduated from the Cleveland, Ohio, law school in 1865, and came to Ottumwa, Wapello County, in December, 1865, where he practiced his profession until 1872 when he retired from the legal profession and entered upon his successful business and political career. Senator Hutchison received the nomination for governor from the republican party in 1889 at a time when reaction against prohibition was strongest and was defeated by Horace Boies in the election. Senator Hutchison was twice married, his first wife being Sarah L. Taylor to whom he was married November 4, 1868. She died on November 2, 1896, and he married Mabel Vernan Dixon, daughter of the Hon. J. W. Dixon, of Ottumwa, June 23, 1898.

Senator Hutchison was one of the promoters of the Ottumwa National Bank and its president for seven years. In May, 1891, he entered upon the wholesale grocery business in Ottumwa in which business he prospered.

Senator Hutchison was a man of action and took his share of the burden of citizenship and won the honors due those who are faithful in their convictions, and who devotedly love their country and its institutions. During all the years he lived in Iowa he led a life of an upright Christian gentleman and attracted warm friends because of his integrity ad his unswerving adherence to a high standard of honor.

Resolved, That the Senate join with his neighbors and friends in sorrow at his loss and hereby extend to his family its sincere sympathy in this their hour of sorrow and bereavement. Be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the records of the Senate and that a properly engrossed copy signed by the President and Secretary be sent to the members of the family.

J. F. WEBBER,

H. W. SPAULDING,

J. D. BROWN,

Committee.