My Genealogy Hound

ISRAEL P. HUTTON, a successful agriculturist, who has held with distinguished ability many important positions of public trust in Berrien Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a native of Napier Township, Bedford County, Pa., and was born July 10, 1831. His father, Benjamin Wright Hutton, born in Adams County, Pa., October 23, 1800, combined the occupations of a farmer and teacher until he came to Michigan. The paternal grandfather, Levi Hutton, was also a native of the Quaker State, but the family were of direct English descent. The mother, Beulah (Harris) Hutton, born November 22, 1795, in Chester County, Pa., was a daughter of Benjamin Harris, likewise a Pennsylvanian, and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The parents of our subject were wedded in their native State October 25, 1820, and settled first near their early home, but later emigrated to Miami County, Ohio. In a brief time, however, they returned to the Quaker State and located in Bedford County. In September, 1846, the father and mother started for Michigan and landed at White Pigeon October 28. Settling at Three Rivers, the father ran a sawmill a few years, and also farmed upon rented land for a time, but soon gave up the tilling of the soil.

Later the parents with their family made their home in Van Buren County, where the mother died November 22, 1864. The father passed away June 20, 1885, on the old homestead where our subject resides. Benjamin and Beulah Hutton had welcomed to their humble home nine children, seven of whom are yet living: Caroline M., William Wesley, Hiram W., Israel P., John H., David F. and Ruth A. In early life the parents were Quakers, but the father became a Methodist and was active in church work. He was, when young, a Whig and afterward a strong Republican. He was a local leader, frequently a delegate to conventions, and was Sheriff of St. Joseph County, serving with ability and discharging his duties with unvarying fidelity. He was an ardent advocate of temperance and, a public-spirited citizen, encouraged the cause of the Union during the Civil War. Generous to a fault, and a sincere friend, kind and obliging, he was, if wronged, a bitter enemy, and, a man of strong character, was beloved and respected. Our subject was sixteen years of age when he came to Michigan, and had received his education in the little subscription schools of his native State. He worked out by the day and month two years and then was, at eighteen years of age, bound out to learn the milling business with Bowman & Hoffman, of Three Rivers. Remaining two years as an apprentice, he afterwards worked a twelvemonth as a journeyman and then, the mill having been burned, was obliged to seek employment elsewhere, locating on October 21, 1851, in Summerville, Cass County, where he was engaged in the mill of Burris Moore.

December 6, 1855, our subject bought the mill, and in 1857, prospering, erected a new sawmill, and in 1858 built a gristmill with three run of stone, at a cost of $12,000. Mr. Hutton operated the mill until 1873, when he sold out and moved to his present farm, and the next year built his handsome residence, costing $4,000. The farm which he had previously purchased in 1864 had sixty acres of cleared land. In 1876, Mr. Hutton bought back his old mill and operated it until it was burned, in 1884. He now owns three hundred and thirteen finely cultivated acres, one of the most valuable pieces of farming property in this part of Berrien County. On January 13, 1853, Israel P. Hutton and Mrs. Anna M. (Moore) Millard were united in marriage. Mrs. Hutton is a daughter of Burrowes and Elizabeth (Reed) Moore, both natives of Pennsylvania, the father having been born in 1796, and the mother in 1800. They were married in Pennsylvania and moved to White Pigeon, Mich., in 1832, afterward living in Kalamazoo County and finally locating in Three Rivers, where they kept a hotel before there was a house in the place. In 1848 they made their home in Cass County, settling in Summerville, where Mr. Moore ran a gristmill until our subject bought him out. Unto the union of Anna M. Moore and her first husband were born three children: Joseph B.; Edward F.; and Nancy M., a graduate of St. Mary, and a successful teacher. The eldest son, Joseph B., is a farmer and dairyman in Pleasant Hill, Mo. Edward F. is a patentee of wood-pulp. The daughter is the wife of Freeman Bell, and lives in Colorado. The mother of Mrs. Hutton was born April 21, 1820, in Pennsy1vania. The father, Burrowes Moore, died in June, 1872. The mother survived until October, 1888. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are now living: Mrs. Hutton, Alfred B., Ambrose Y., Edward M. and Robert F. Mrs. Moore was in religious belief a Presbyterian; the father was a Free-Will Baptist. Mr. Moore was an anti-slavery man, honest and conscientious. The home of our subject and his estimable wife was blessed by the birth of six children. Arthur D., born June 19, 1854, died September 29, 1856. Robert F., born September 15, 1855, married Ella Mendenhall and has, two children, L. Arthur and Nina. Robert F. travels for the Davis & Rankin Manufacturing and Building Company, of Chicago. He is liked by the firm and is succeeding in this line of work. Wilfred M., the next son of our subject, is the Assistant Cashier of the Citizens’ National Bank of Niles. He was born June 26, 1857, and married Miss Sarah Reedy, and resides in Niles. He is the father of two children, Gertie and Leona. Elizabeth L., born March 30, 1858, is the wife of Adelbert D. Connine, and makes her home in Dowagiac; she has one child, Beulah H. Beulah A., born August 29, 1859, is the wife of Fred G. Lewis, and with her two children, Anna Mary and Marguerite, is at home on the farm. Parthenia, born July 19, 1861, is the youngest and completes the family list. Mr. and Mrs. Hutton are valued members of the Free-Will Baptist church at Summerville, and both take an active part in religious work. Mr. Hutton was urged to accept the Deaconship, but refused. He is Trustee of the church and Treasurer and has been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for nine years. The daughters have also been teachers in the Sabbath-school. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons at Pokagon, having united with this lodge thirty years ago. He was Treasurer of the lodge for a number of terms. For twelve years he has also been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Niles. The children enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and most of them attended school at Niles. Robert, Elizabeth and Beulah have been teachers. For years our subject was a School Director at Summerville and, a friend to educational advancement, aided in the progress of the schools of the home district. In early times a Whig, later a Republican, he cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. W. Scott in 1852, and has been prominent all the years since his majority in the local councils of his party, representing his constituents at various State and county conventions. He was Justice of the Peace in Pokagon Township for sixteen years and served ably in the same judicial capacity for three years in Berrien Township, and was also, in 1875, elected Supervisor of Berrien Township. A man of executive ability, our subject stimulated and encouraged enterprise, and in 1872 was one of the organizers of the Citizens’ National Bank of Niles, established with a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $15,000. For twenty years he has been a Director of that well-known financial institution, and is at present its valued Vice-President. He is also a Director of the First State Savings Bank of Niles, which was organized in 1891, with a capital of $25,000. Financially prospered and occupying a high social position, Mr. Hutton and the various members of his family are leading lives of busy industry, and command the high regard of a numerous acquaintance and old-time friends, the associates of many years.