Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Hutchison, Martin B. 1860 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2013, 2:05 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher MARTIN B. HUTCHISON. The name of Martin B. Hutchison has been a familiar one in banking and lumber circles in Wapello county for many years. He is now, however, concentrating his energies upon the lumber trade and has a line of yards in this section of the state, making his headquarters, however, at Ottumwa. He was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, January 1860. His father, Joseph Hutchison, likewise a native of the Keystone state, was born in 1828 and there spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. He wedded Marv M. Scott, who was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in 1829 and is still living in that state. Their family numbered eight children, six of whom survive. All those surviving with the exception of our subject are still residents of Pennsylvania. It was in the common schools of his native state that Martin B. Hutchison pursued his early education, which was supplemented by two years' study in Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania. In November, 1882, he arrived at Ottumwa and entered at once upon active connection with the banking business in this city, becoming collector for the Ottumwa National Bank. A year later he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, in which capacity he continued for two years and was then advanced to cashier, occupying that position of responsibility for seven years. On leaving that position he went to Chicago, where he engaged in business for a year. At the end of that period, however, he returned to Ottumwa and accepted the cashiership of the First National Bank, remaining in that position for eleven years. In the meantime he had assisted in organizing the Union Trust & Savings Bank, of which he was made cashier and director. He was also a director during the entire eleven years of his connection with the First National Bank. In 1903, however, on account of failing health he resigned his position with the bank and turned his attention to the lumber business, which would enable him to spend more time out of doors, avoiding the close confinement incident to the banking business. He then organized the M. B. Hutchison Lumber Company, of which he has since been the head. This is today a large concern, having extended its activities from town to town until yards have now been established and are being successfully conducted at Ottumwa, Batavia, Libertyville, Stockport and Hillsboro. Since leaving the bank in 1903 Mr. Hutchison has devoted his entire time to the lumber business save for three years, from 1908 until 1911, when he was again with the First National as vice president, devoting a part of his time to the bank. He found, however, that his entire time was required by the lumber trade, and he then permanently severed his connections with the bank as an active factor in control and management. However, he is still the vice president and director of the Union Trust & Savings Bank and also a director of the First National. He is likewise a stockholder in the Ottumwa Automobile Company, but his energies are concentrated chiefly upon the lumber trade, in which he has already built up a business of gratifying proportions. The policy of the company is one which bears close investigation and scrutiny, and his enterprise has brought him into close touch with the more important trade interests of the state. On the 25th of April, 1888, Mr. Hutchison was united in marriage to Miss Inez B. Jordan, a daughter of W. A. Jordan, and they became parents of two children: Margaret, the wife of L. M. B. Morrissey of Minneapolis; and Elizabeth, a student in the high school. The family attend the Presbyterian church, in which the parents hold membership, and for almost a quarter of a century continuously he has been one of the church trustees. His political allegiance is given the Republican party and, while he has never sought nor desired office, he has always cooperated in measures of value to the community. He is president of the board of education, has been a director of the Commercial Association and for one year was its president. He also belongs to the Wapello and Country Clubs and is widely and favorably known as a factor for progress in the business, social, intellectual and moral interests of city and county. He has been connected almost continuously with Ottumwa since 1882 and is today accounted one of her most valued citizens. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb