Orange

HUTCHINSON, James

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 217 
(portrait p 217)

James HUTCHINSON, of West Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], was born 01 
January 1826 in Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], son of James and Sophia 
(BROWN) HUTCHINSON. The grandfather, John HUTCHINSON, was one of the 
earliest settlers of Braintree [Orange County, Vermont]. Noted for his 
industry and honesty, he was much in public life and represented the town in 
the Legislature for seventeen years, while his father, James [HUTCHINSON], 
was an enterprising and prosperous farmer, enjoying the confidence and 
respect of the neighboring community. The education of the subject of this 
sketch was obtained first in the district and then in a private school in 
West Randolph, and after this course of instruction he was engaged in 
teaching for three consecutive winters.

He settled upon the old homestead in Braintree, where he lived until 1869, 
when he moved to West Randolph. While in the former place he filled many 
town offices and was elected delegate to the state Constitutional Convention 
in 1856. For two years, 1864 to 1866, he was associate judge of the county. 
Judge HUTCHINSON was elected state senator in 1868, and also in the following 
year, while in 1870 he received the appointment of county commissioner, and 
was in 1872 chosen a delegate to the national Republican convention in 
Philadelphia. He was appointed postmaster at West Randolph in 1872, which 
office he held until 1887. With a few others, Judge HUTCHINSON petitioned 
the Legislature of 1889 for a charter for a savings bank in West Randolph, 
and on the organization of the institution, he was elected its president, a 
position in which he continues to the present time.

Among the early founders of the Republican party, he was always an active 
worker in its behalf, and even previous to its existence, in the days of 
anti-slavery agitation, he was an enthusiastic disciple of GARRISON and 
PHILLIPS, ever extending a hearty welcome to all who were interested in the 
cause of abolition. For five year he filled the office of vice president for 
Vermont of the New England Anti-Slavery Society. During the troubles in 
Kansas, Judge HUTCHINSON was connected with the Emigrant Aid Society, and in 
the company of the state agent visited several places in the state to raise 
men and money to aid in freeing Kansas from the trammels of the slaveholders, 
and at one time he himself accompanied an expedition for this purpose. He 
has held leading positions in the temperance societies of Vermont and has 
always been a devoted adherent of the cause, strongly advocating the law of 
prohibition. On 02 November 1847 Mr. [James] HUTCHINSON was married to Miss 
Abby B., daughter of Elijah and Patience (NEFF) FLINT, of Braintree [Orange 
County, Vermont], who died 04 May 1879.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly