My Genealogy Hound

BELL HUTCHINSON, who is one of the most successful farmers and business men of Sedalia, now resides in this city, though he travels for the Sedalia Woolen Mills, of which he is one of the proprietors. He was born in Bowling Green Township, Pettis County, on the 12th of April, 1851, and is a son of W. T. Hutchinson, a native of Lafayette County, Ky. The father came to Pettis County in 1849, and located upon a farm in Bowling Green Township. He continued the cultivation of his land until 1885, when he removed to Sedalia, where he is now serving as President of the Citizens’ National Bank. He was united in marriage with Martha G. Porter, a native of Virginia, and daughter of Bellfield Porter, who was a farmer of Bowling Green Township, where his death occurred.

Bell Hutchinson is the eldest in a family of nine children, of whom seven are still living. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and his primary education was obtained in the district schools, but he later attended the Forest Grove Institute. At the age of twenty-two he started out in life for himself, buying a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Elk Fork Township, and there engaged in general farming. He later purchased five hundred and forty-eight acres in one body, and still oversees its cultivation, though he has placed a foreman in charge. He deals quite extensively in cattle and hogs, shipping from ten to fifteen carloads annually. He has one of the best stock farms in the county, and the cattle and hogs which he raises are of the best grades. He also owns a good farm of seventy acres in Johnson County, which he rents.

In 1876, in Johnson County, Mr. Hutchinson married Miss Lizzie Owsley, a native of that county, and a daughter of John Owsley, who there engages extensively in farming and stock-raising. By this union four children were born, but only one is now living, Linnie, who is now attending the Central Female College at Lexington, Mo. The mother was called to her final rest in 1885.

After the death of his wife, Mr. Hutchinson located in Sedalia, where he purchased a third interest in the Cain Bros, manufacturing establishment, the firm becoming Cain Bros. & Hutchinson, and he now travels for the same. In 1870 a woolen factory was established by Mr. Hancock in the northeast part of the city, and was known as the Sedalia Woolen Mill, but it was later purchased by Cain Bros. It is now one of the leading industries of the city, and employment is furnished to twenty-eight hands. The plant is run by steam power, and they manufacture all kinds of woolen goods, together with trousers and shirts. They are meeting with most excellent success, and do both a wholesale and retail business, selling all over this state and Kansas. Their store building, which is situated at the corner of Osage and Second Streets, is two stories in height, with a basement.

In April, 1891, Mr. Hutchinson was elected on the Democratic ticket as Alderman from the First Ward, and served for two years, being President of the City Council the last year. He was on several important committees, and was chairman of the one on waterworks. He always discharged his duties faithfully, and during his term most of the paving was done. He is one of the leaders of the Democracy in Pettis County, has served on the Central Committee, and has been a delegate to both county and state conventions. Socially he is a member of several civic organizations, including the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, the Elks, and the Commercial Travelers’ Association of America, at Sedalia, and has been Treasurer of the local branch. As a citizen he stands high, and justly deserves the esteem in which he is held.