The Home & Family of Charles Frederick Hutchinson

The Family of Charles Frederick and Maria Elizabeth Alter Hutchinson (Photo taken in 1892)

Standing: Artie, Kate, Edith, Fred.
Seated: Guy, Maria, Eugene, Glen, Charles F.

Photos and text taken from The Music of Out Lives; The Hutchinsons of Smith County, Kansas, Their History and Descendants, compiled by Martha Wreath Streeter and Carl Romig Hutchinson, Ag Press, Manhattan, Kansas, 1989

Provided to Dave Carlsen by Lynn Downing, Chevy Chase, MD

From Charles Frederick's Obituary, "Smith County Pioneer", June 15, 1911:

"Charles Frederick Hutchinson, was born April 1, 1853 at Norwich, Vermont, and died June 15, 1911 at his home three miles northwest of Bellaire, Kans., at the age of 58 years, 2 months and 15 days. He moved with his parents to Clay, Ia., in the fall of 1855. December 17, 1874, he was married to Maria E. Alter of that place [most likely their wedding photo at far left], and two children, Fred and Edith, were born to them before they came west.

"In the year of 1878 the family moved onto the homestead near Bellaire [pictured at the left] and it has been their home ever since. The first grief came the next winter when they buried their infant son. Since then two daughters and one son have died. The deceased leaves a wife and ten children. Fred, Eugene, Ralph, Carl, Dewey and Willis remain at home; Mrs. O. T. Vinsonhaler and Guy live in Bellaire; Mrs. Kate Streeter lives in Wakefield, and Arthur in Chariton, Ia. Besides these he leaves a brother, Ed Hutchinson, of Cora; a father 83 years old and two sisters, Mesdames Vinal Hoskins and Kate Palmer of Claremont, Calif.

"Mr. Hutchinson was one of those men whom people instinctively like and respect. No one ever asked for a favor within his power to grant and was denied. He was a lifelong member of the Congregational church, but the last few years of his life he was unable to attend services owing to bad health. For a third of a century he labored on one farm that he might give his family every comfort and arm his children with that priceless possession, a good education. He was ill for a number of years before his death, but always bore his suffering with fortitude and grand courage. As the end approached his children were all called to his bedside and did all they could to make his last hours as comfortable as possible. A few days before his death he roused himself to speak and calling Rev. Martin to his side said, 'I want to go but they are trying to keep me here.'

"But it is in the raising of live stock that the people at large will most miss Mr. Hutchinson. He devoted the best years of his life to raising fine cattle, hogs and horses and constantly urged his neighbors and friends to do the same. At every fair in this country for the last twenty-five years he always had fine exhibits and was there in person to answer inquiries and encourage others in the work. His ambition seemed to be to raise the standard of live stock in Smith county and he lived to see that ambition gratified."

Go to Main Richard Hutchinson Page

This site is maintained by: Dave Carlsen

This page last updated: 21 April 2011