Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Hutchison, Joseph M. April 29, 1824 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

JOSEPH M. HUTCHISON,
third in the lineal descent from Hon. Joseph Hutchison, the founder of the
Hutchison family in Blair county, and an upright and substantial citizen of
Juniata and Logan township, is a son of John and Sarah (Kelley) Hutchison,
and was born on the farm on which he now resides in Logan township, Blair
county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1824.  His paternal grandfather, Hon. Joseph
Hutchison, was a native of Ireland, and in early life came to Pennsylvania,
where he settled in Northumberland county, which he represented for two terms
in the legislature.  He was a democrat and Presbyterian, and on his maternal
side was relative of President James Buchanan. He married Jane Gilford, who
was born on the Biddle farm near the site of the present county home, and
whose father took up the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch.  She
was captured by Indians and held captive for two weeks.  Mr. and Mrs.
Hutchison were the parents of eight children, of whom one was John Hutchison
(father), who was born in Northumberland county and died March 13, 1865, aged
sixty nine years, nine months and ten days. In 1823 he came to the farm on
which he resided until his death.  He was a democrat, had held several
township offices and was familiarly known as Judge Hutchison on account of
generally serving as judge of the election board of his voting precinct.  At
an early age he united with the Presbyterian church, of Warriors Run, in
Northumberland county, and afterward was a member of Frankstown church until
1852, when he and several others organized the First Presbyterian church of
Altoona, with which he worshipped until his death.  The Presbytery of his
church printed a beautiful tribute of his life in memoriam, wherein they
said: "He died in the full hope and assurance of a blissful and glorious
immortality in Heaven.  Mr. Hutchison, throughout his life, possessed and
manifested an equable and amiable disposition, combined with great firmness
of purpose, a sound and discriminating judgment and remarkable freedom from
captiousness or censoriousness.  He was no fault-finder, but ever disposed to
exercise the judgment of charity toward those from whom he differed.  He
seemed to dislike and avoid publicity, and delighted in the pleasures and
duties of home.  He was cheerful and hospitable at home, kind and considerate
toward his neighbors, of unquestioned integrity, and an excellent citizen.  He
greatly loved his church and her ordinances, and was a regular attendant upon
them. As a member of Session he was always calm, considerate, and disposed to
study and practice those things that make for peace, yet firm and immovable
when satisfied that discipline should be exercised. When it had been
determined to erect the first church edifice in Altoona, Mr. Hutchison was
selected as one of the building committee, and was faithful and active in the
performance of his duties on that committee; and when the present church was
built, he was among the most liberal in his contributions to it.  He was an
uncompromising Union man, and took a lively interest in the efforts of the
Federal government to suppress the great rebellion and maintain the Union. 
Few men die to whom so few faults could be attributed, or of whom so little
evil could be spoken.  John Hutchison was highly esteemed and respected by
all who knew him while living, and, being dead, his memory is precious".  He
married Sarah Kelley, a member of the Presbyterian church, who died in 1888,
aged eighty-eight years.  She was a daughter of James Kelley (maternal
grandfather), a native of Buffalo valley, Centre county, and a resident of
Perrysburg, Ohio, whose father, Col. Andrew Kelley, was born at Buffalo Cross
roads, in Centre county, where he owned five or six farms.  John and Sarah
(Kelley) Hutchison reared a family of five children, of whom three are yet
living, two sons and one daughter: Robert, of Juniata; Joseph M.; and
Caroline, wife of Oliver Hagerty, of Logan township. 
      Joseph M. Hutchison was reared on the farm, received his education in
the schools of his neighborhood and has followed farming successfully ever
since.  He owns a part of the home farm through which the Pennsylvania
railroad runs, and on which a portion of the village of Juniata is built. He
also runs another farm which is part of the old Bell tract in Antis township,
besides some valuable property at Juniata and in Altoona.  In connection with
farming Mr. Hutchison operates a saw mill during a part of the year.
      In November, 1865, Mr. Hutchison married Sarah J. Lafferty, daughter of
Joseph Lafferty, of Logan township. They have five children, four sons and one
daughter: Amanda W., wife of John K. Hamilton; James K., R. Bruce, J.
Mortimer, and William Fay.
      Joseph M. Hutchison is a democrat in politics, and a member of the
First Presbyterian church, of Altoona, and Juniata Grange, No. 889, Patrons
of Husbandry.  Within the last few years Mr. Hutchison has retired from all
active business except the supervision of his farms and saw mill.  He is
thoroughgoing, straightforward, and honest in his business transactions, has
always been active and industrious, and is a gentleman of excellent standing
in his community.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Christy Stiles

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