Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


JOHN L. HUTCHINSON.� A native of La Salle County, Ill., John L. 
Hutchinson first saw the light of day on January 5, 1854, on a farm near 
Tonica. In his native state he received a good education, having attended 
both high school and college, the latter being located at Eureka. When he 
reached his majority, Mr. Hutchinson went to Chatsworth, Ill., where he 
taught school and engaged in farming for seven years. In 1882 he migrated 
westward, locating at York, Nebr. Here he bought a farm containing 169 
acres, and followed grain-farming for three years, after which he sold the 
place and moved to Indianola. Nebr., where he purchased a section of land. 
After remaining there three years, he removed to Edgemont, S. D. Mr. 
Hutchinson, being a very enterprising business man, soon realized that 
Edgemont needed a water supply, and at once installed pipes and a complete 
system, whereby he supplied the town with this indispensable necessity. 

During the great rush to the Alaska gold fields, in 1898, John L. 
Hutchinson joined the great host in quest of the precious yellow metal in 
the Klondike, where he was quite successful. In 1900 he came to San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. There he pursued a course in civil and mining engineering, 
in the Van Dernailen School of Engineering, after which he went to James- 
town, Tuolumne County, and for ten years was an engineer on the Sugar Pine 
Railroad from Oakdale to Stockton, the road being operated into the moun- 
tain lumber camps. In 1911 Mr. Hutchinson located at Fresno, where for one 
year he was engaged in the real estate business. He then left, in 1012, for 
Sangamon County, Ill., to settle an estate, and remained five years, until 
January 1, 1917, when he returned to Fresno County. Since that time he 
has made many important investments in ranch property, among others forty 
acres southeast of Clovis and forty acres northwest of Clovis. In the spring 
of 1918 he purchased forty acres at Orosi, Tulare County, and later twenty 
acres southeast of Orosi. All of these tracts were partially improved with 
vineyards and orchards, but with his characteristic enterprise Mr. Hutchinson 
started at once to further improve his properties and bring them all up to a 
high state of development, planting new vines and improving the buildings. 
His various ranches are devoted to peaches, figs, apricots and grapes. As 
an example of the high state of cultivation to which he has brought his 
peach orchards, mention is made of the 1918 crop from eight acres, for which 
he received a $2,500 check. He is intensely interested in the permanent 
development of scientific horticulture and viticulture, and is an influential 
member of the California Peach Growers' Association and the California 
Associated Raisin Company. 

In October, 1917, Mr. Hutchinson purchased his beautiful modern home 
in the City of Fresno, on the corner of Wishon Avenue and Peralta Way, 
and has since improved the grounds with flowers and shrubbery, making it 
a very attractive home place. Mrs. Hutchinson was in maidenhood Alma 
Trumbo, a native of Chatham, Sangamon County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchin- 
son have reared a boy, Stewart Hutchinson, who is now seventeen years of 
age. Mr. Hutchinson is a man of unquestioned integrity and high ideals. 
He was a charter member of Edgemont Lodge, No. 63, K. of P. Religiously, 
Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson are members of the Christian Church.