San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 618
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/16/2010
JOHN HUTCHINS
Not many among the highly honored pioneers of San Joaquin County could boast a more enviable record, or a more interesting history than John Hutchins, who breathed his last nearly one-quarter of a century ago, and went to his long rest secure in the annals of the town as one of its honored founders. He was born in Canada, and in 1853 for six months braved the danger of a trip across the great plains to California, and upon his arrival here set out for the mines in Placer County. With four associates, he bought the site of the present town of Lodi, and these five men in association founded the place. He also induced the Southern Pacific Railroad to build its line through the town, and then he laid out the town and sold lots. He himself bought seventy-seven acres running west from Sacramento Street up Lodi Avenue; and he also bought, for $11,500, 190 acres extending west for half a mile, and then north, between Lodi Avenue and Pine Street. He cleared the land of scrub and live-oak, and cutting up the wood of the trees, hauled it to Stockton for sale. As a farmer, he raised grain for many years; and later he planted one of the first commercial vineyards in the district. He also planted almonds and fruit. After a while John Hutchins found that he had more land than could be held by law, and so he disposed of a part of it, trading it off for a span of horses and a wagon.
At Stockton, Mr. Hutchins was married to Miss Anna Nevin, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who had crossed the plains ten years later than he, and had then been able to make the journey in three months. Five children were born to them: Nellie M.; John, of Ripon; Edward; Mary, now Mrs. Jahant, and Catherine, now Mrs. Larson, of Lodi.
Edward Hutchins was born on his father's ranch, a part of which is now within the city limits of Lodi, on October 30, 1872. He attended the Lodi public schools, Woodbridge College, and St. Mary's College, at Oakland. As a young man, he worked on his father's ranch; and later he was in charge of the home farm. He has since divided a part of the property, some seventy-five acres, now within the city limits, and he has laid out the Hutchins Oak Street Addition, and Hutchins High School Addition, with such building restrictions as will insure the establishment and maintenance of a very select residential district, it being the largest and most important real estate project of its kind ever undertaken in the city of Lodi. A part of the home ranch is still in possession of the family, and there they have a vineyard of 110 acres.
At San Francisco in 1894, Edward Hutchins was married to Miss Ada L. Corbin, an attractive lady from West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins neglected no opportunity to further the interests of their community.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
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
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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