Hutchinson - Josiah
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. H. W. Beckwith. Chicago: HH Hill, 1881) p 506
Josiah Hutchison, farmer and stock raiser, Boston Store, was born in Warren County, Ohio, May 15, 1812.
His parents, James and Catharine Johnson) Hutchison, emigrated from Kentucky to Ohio, where James Hutchison died, March 1812, of the cold plague, and his wife lived until her death, September 15, 1847.
Josiah was raised a farmer, and received very little education.
When about a year old he was bound out until of age, to Alex. Hamilton, of Warren County, Ohio, but the death of Hamilton released him when eleven years old.
Josiah then lived with his mother, who had married again.
For many years he teamed to Cincinnati.
January 5, 1832, Mr. Hutchison was married to Catharine Hixon, daughter of James and Abigail Hixon, of Warren County, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison lived awhile in Ohio, where he farmed and followed huckstering.
In 1835 they set out for Indiana, and February 18 arrived at their future abiding-place, which he had spied out a few months before.
They rented for a short time in Wayne township.
They brought two children, Abigail and James (twins), two small horses, an old wagon that cost him $5, and twenty-five cents in cash.
Upon such a capital the man without learning, but with muscle, grit and honesty, began business in the wilds of Montgomery County.
He borrowed a little money, without giving his note, and entered forty acres, and the following year he entered forty acres more with borrowed money.
During the first winter he made 7,650 rails for Joel Hixon, at twenty-five cents per 100, making $1 per day, and cleared his first six acres of land by laboring after night.
That six acres he sowed in buckwheat, raised 300 bushels, hauled it to Chicago and sold it.
Times began to brighten, and Mr. Hutchison added to his farm 200 acres more, in Coal Creek township, and 109 acres in Wayne township.
He also owned considerable land in Iroquois County, Illinois, and still has 105 acres there.
He has dealt largely in young cattle.
His credit has always been first-class at the bank, and he is a successful man.
He has been a life-long democrat, but not an office-seeker.
He and wife are members of the regular Baptist Church.
They have had ten children:
James and Abigail (twins), the latter Mrs. A. Swank Sarah, married to Jobe Holms (both deceased) Mary, (Mrs. J. McMullen), George, John and mate (the latter a babe deceased), Jasper, Melinda C. (in Illinois), Irvin (controlling home farm).
They are all farmers, and four of them live on farms adjoining their father's place.