The Hutchison family of Amsterdam, New York, is of comparatively recent origin, but descend from a long line of Scotch ancestors that trace back to the very beginning of things in that land. They were generally tillers of the soil, but there are many distinguished professional and business men to be found in the family history.
(I) James Hutchison was born in Kingcarten, a village in the interior of Scotland. He married Annie ————, a native of the same village. They lived to be quite old and reared a large family, among whom were sons: James (2), see forward, Peter, and John. Peter was a sailor and sailed to the Arctic waters in a whaling ship that was never heard from after reaching the polar region. John grew up in his native town, married and died in early manhood from accidental injuries. His widow and a son Robert are living in Scotland.
(II) James (2), son of James (1) and Annie Hutchison, was born in Kingcarten, Scotland, about 1835. He was reared on the farm, but later settled at Stirlingshire, where he became a fisherman. He later became foreman for one of the large fishing companies, and was so engaged on the waters of the Firth of Forth until impaired health caused his retirement a few years ago. He was a man of splendid energy and successful in all his undertakings. He married Elizabeth Connell, born in Cumskenneth, Stirlingshire. They reside in her native town upon property inherited from her father. She comes of Scotch ancestry and had a brother Robert, now deceased. Children:
- Mary A., born about 1854; married Andrew Watson, a horticulturist and farmer of St. James Orchard; they have an adopted daughter, Anna.
- Elizabeth, born in 1857; married Malcolm Finlayson, of Larburt; children: Elizabeth, James and Robert Finlayson.
- James (3), born in 1860; came to the United States and settled in Amsterdam, New York, where he is engaged in one of the knitting mills; he married Charlotte Shearer, born in Scotland; children: James, Jennie and William, born in Scotland; George, Elizabeth, Marian, Lottie, Martha, Kate and Agnes, born in Amsterdam, New York.
- Robert, born in 1864, died in Scotland in 1907; he was a skilled stone cutter, and for many years in charge of a large stone quarry; he married Elizabeth Drayton, who survives him residing in Scotland with their daughter, Anna.
- John, see forward.
- An infant, died unnamed.
- Peter, born in 1871; a carpenter and joiner of Falkirk, Scotland; he married ————, and has a daughter Anna.
- Isabella, born in 1874; married ————, an iron worker of Falkirk, Scotland.
- Martha T., born in 1878; married Hugh Kemp, an iron worker of Larburt, Scotland.
(III) John, fifth child of James (2) and Elizabeth (Connell) Hutchison, was born in Cambuskenneth Abby, Scotland, October 24, 1866. He remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two. In 1888 he decided to join his brother James (3) in the United States. He took passage from Glasgow, on the steamship "Devonia," landing in New York ten days later, October 28. He at once joined James in Amsterdam, and spent the next four years learning the machinist's trade. In 1893 he returned to the business of his earlier years and began farming. He met with such success that in 1903 he was able to purchase one hundred and seventy-four acres of valuable farm land in Florida, the greater part of which he now has under a high state of cultivation. He is a most excellent farmer, and in connection with his farm conducts a dairy, a department that is showing good results. He married, in Amsterdam, August 10, 1892, Mary Anderson, born in Paisley, Scotland, 1867. Her parents dying, she with her brother John came to the United States in 1887, and settled in Amsterdam, New York. Children:
- James (4), born April 11, 1893.
- Isabella C., October 19, 1895.
- John, March 12, 1897.
- Robert, July 23, 1900.
- Mary E., January 31, 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison are members of the Presbyterian church. He supports with his vote the men and measures of the Republican party.