Sacramento Valley Biographies

LYMAN ELIAS HUTCHINGS

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, June 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

          The history of the Hutchings family in America antedates the
Revolutionary War, in which the great-grandfather of L. E. Hutchings fought,
among other engagements taking part in the battle of Bunker Hill. The name
of his grandfather, Elias Hutchings, is well-known all over the country as
the discoverer of the famous Mammoth Cave in Edmonson county, Ky., which he
accidentally found while engaged in hunting and trapping in that state by
following wounded game into the cave. His father, Lyman Smith Hutchings, was
born in Carthage county, Ohio, July 3, 1828, spending his childhood and
young manhood in his native state. Immediately after the discovery of gold
in California in 1849 he started across the plains with ox teams for the
west. Arriving in Utah he decided to remain there for the winter but in 1850
he came on to this state, and located for a time in Placer county, where he
engaged in mining with more than average success. Thinking he had obtained
all the money he could ever spend, he determined to return east. Entering
into a contract to ride a pony-express as far as Utah, after several very
narrow escapes from Indians he gave this up, and remained in Utah until
1856. January 22, 1854, he married Mary Rigby and again started west,
finally arriving in Stockton. After remaining there a short time, he went to
Gilroy, thence to the Pajaro valley, and after residing in this state twelve
years again determined to go east with his family. Driving to San Bernardino
he remained there some time, then took up his eastward journey overland,
going by the old Mormon trail to Utah. There he was elected captain of a
train going further east and after several engagements with the Indians,
besides other delays, he arrived in Iowa and settled at Plumb Hollow, in
Fremont county, where he purchased a farm. Not desiring to spend another
winter in Iowa, he sold his farm and started back west, using the same teams
he had used in the eastward journey the year before. Arriving in this state
he purchased a farm in the Pajaro valley, and when he died, September 21,
1889, he owned three hundred and fifty acres of land, sixty of which
consisted of a fine fruit orchard, which his wife still owns. There were
eleven children, four daughters and seven sons, all of whom are still living
(1905).

           Lyman Elias Hutchings is the eldest of the children, and the only
representative of the family now in the Sacramento valley. He was born in
Utah April 16, 1855, and was brought by his parents to this state when an
infant. He received his education in the public schools of Watsonville and
vicinity, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one
years of age, after which he worked for wages for about three and a half
years. Coming to Yolo county August 16, 1885, he rented land and engaged in
raising grain, to which he devoted from five to seven hundred acres each
season. For cutting his grain, he uses a combined harvester, which makes a
fourteen foot cut. In 1891 he located on the old Vanzee place, three miles
southeast of Woodland, which consists of three hundred and twenty acres, and
aside from this he rents another three hundred and twenty acres in the same
vicinity. He also owns one hundred and forty-seven acres of land three miles
northeast of Woodland, which is in grain. Though he makes a specialty of
general farming, he raises fine draft horses and cattle to some extent and
has met with gratifying success in both departments of agriculture. 

          October 8, 1882, Mr. Hutchings was married in Oakland to Margaret
E. Dimsdale, who was born in Ogden, Utah, December 26, 1854, and died in
Woodland January 19, 1901, beloved by all who knew her. Six children were
born to them, viz: Owen Lyman, deceased; Grace May, Ernest Le Roy, Alvin
William, Mabel Irene, and Mark Vernon, all at home. Mr. Hutchings supports
the Republican platform, and is very active in politics, having been a
member of the Republican central committee as a member of the executive
board. He has been trustee of the Spring-Lake school district for the past
twelve years, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
Rebekahs, and Woodmen of the World.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Page 528.