My Genealogy Hound

John W. Hutchens, a wealthy farmer of Crawford Township, Washington County, Ark., was born in Morgan County, Ill., July 14, 1834, and is a son of Ellis and Mary (Shores) Hutchens, who were born in Surry County, N. C., in 1805 and 1812, respectively. They were married in their native State, and in 1829 immigrated with a colony to Illinois, being among the pioneer settlers of Morgan County. After residing there seven years they sold the land which they had entered and located in Naples, Ill., and three years later came to Arkansas in 1839, and located on a farm near Brentwood. Here the father resided until his death, May 5, 1869. He served in the Black Hawk War while a resident of Illinois, and throughout life followed the occupation of farming and merchandising. His father, John Hutchins, was married twice, and was the father of twenty children who lived to maturity and reared families of their own, and his father came from Wales and raised four sons, he (John) being one of the four. The family settled in Virginia, from which State some of them served in the Revolutionary War. He, John Hutchens, and his brothers became Quakers, and were extensive planters and slave owners. Ellis Hutchens and wife became the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living: John W., Alfred, Ellis W., Caroline, Adaline, Talitha and Eliza. John W. Hutchens was five years old when he was brought to Arkansas, and Washington County has since been his home, with the exception of one year spent in Texas in 1864. In 1862 he enlisted In Brook’s regiment, and served until June, 1865, when he surrendered at Fayetteville. He was with Price when he made his raid through Northwestern Arkansas, and was taken prisoner by the First Arkansas Regiment, but after being retained one month was exchanged. In 1862 he made his first purchase of land, which consisted of eighty acres, and has since increased his acreage until he now owns 363. His farm is valuable for its position and is rich in soil and production. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held the offices of constable and deputy sheriff, being the present incumbent of the latter office. February 8, 1857, he was united in the bonds of matrimony, to Miss Mary J. Shumate, who was born in Crawford County, Mo., in 1836, and is a daughter of Nimrod Shumate, a native of Kentucky. She grew to maturity in her native State, and came to Arkansas in 1854. She and Mr. Hutchens became the parents of ten children: Mary, (wife of Alfred Ingram), Balas A., Sterling C., Shelby, Ellis, Jeanette, (wife of William Phillips), John C., Kasey, Clementine, and one deceased. Mrs. Hutchens is a member of the Christian Church, and is a lady of exceptionally good mind and amiability of character.