Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/362

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334
HUTCHINSON
HUTCHISON

the Revolution as a physician and surgeon. He was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania from 1779 until his death, several years secretary of the philosophical society, and professor of ma- teria medica in the University of Pennsylvania from 1789 till his election in 1791 to the chair of chemistry. The. Philadelphia college presented him with a silver medal for his proficiency in this branch. For many years he was physician of the port of Philadelphia, and one of the physicians to the Pennsylvania hospital. See biography and por- trait in Henry Simpson's "Eminent Philadel- phians " (Philadelphia, 1859).


HUTCHINSON, Jesse, farmer, b. in Middle- ton, Mass., 3 Feb., 1778 ; d. in Milford, N. H., 16 Feb., 1851. His ancestor, Richard, came to this country from England in 1634. acquired much land in Salem, Mass., and was paid a premium by the state for " setting up " the first plough in Massa- chusetts. He married Mary Leavitt, of Mount Vernon, N. H., in 1800, and resided on a farm in Milford for several years. They occasionally sang in chorus, taking parts in the quartets of ballads and sacred music, and were the parents of the " Hutchinson family," who achieved a reputation as popular singers, and were identified with the anti-slavery and temperance movements. The re- ligious sentiment of New England was noticeable in their productions and repertory. The family became abolitionists when it required courage to face political prejudice, and some of them were excommunicated from the Baptist church on this account. The children numbered sixteen, three of whom died in infancy. All inherited musical tal- ent, and people came from far and near to hear them sing in chorus in prayer-meetings, or at home. They were often urged to appear in public, and in the summer of 1841 the four youngest chil- dren, Judson, John, Asa, and Abby, made a suc- cessful concert-tour in New England. In 1843 the family appeared in New York city, and achieved an immediate success. N. P. Willis spoke of them as a " nest of brothers with a sister in it." They ac- companied themselves with a violin and violoncello, and excelled in sacred and descriptive songs, and in ballads, both humorous and pathetic. Their own productions were received with most enthusiasm by the popular taste, although their melodies were simple and crudely harmonized. They were co- workers with Garrison, Greeley, Rogers, and other leaders of anti-slavery reform, often aiding in mass conventions, singing popular and original songs with their quartet chorus. In 1845 they travelled in Great Britain and Ireland, and met with popu- lar success. They travelled from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the political canvasses of 1856 and 1860, forming several bands from a third genera- tion in their family. During the civil war some of these bands visited recruiting-stations to en- courage volunteer enlistments, and after the battle of Bull Run they went to Virginia, where they were expelled from the National lines by Gen. McClellan because they sang Whittier's " Ein Feste Burg " as an anti-slavery song. Appeal was made to President Lincoln, who said, after Sec. Chase read the obnoxious song in a cabinet-meet- ing : " It is just the character of song that I desire the soldiers to hear." By the unanimous consent of the cabinet and the order of President Lincoln, they were re-admitted to the National camps. — The eldest son, Jesse, wrote many songs for popu- lar airs, which he sang with effect. The principal of these were the " Emancipation Song," " Family Song," " Old Granite State," " Good Old Days of Yore," "The Slave Mother," "The Slave's Appeal," " Good Time Coming," and " Uncle Sam's Farm." It was he that organized the company. — Judson was the humorist, excelling in burlesque and political songs, some of which were an Italian burlesque, " The Bachelor's Lament," " Away Down East," " The Modern Belle," " Anti-Calo- mel," "Jordan," and "The Humbugged Husband." — Asa was the basso, and the executive member of the troupe. — John, b. in Milford, N. H., 4 Jan., 1821, possessed the most vocal talent. Among his songs and those of his son Henry were " Will the New Year come To-Night, Mother?" "Bhigen on the Rhine," "The Newfoundland Dog," "The Bridge of Sighs," " The People's Advent." and Russell's " Ship on Fire." — Abby, the contralto, b. in Milford, N. H., 29 Aug., 1829, began at an early age to sing with her brothers. She was admired for her simplicity and archness, and sang " Over the Mountain and over the Moor," " The Slave's Appeal," " The Spider and the Fly," " Jamie's on the Stormy Sea," and " The May Queen." She married Ludlow Patton, of New York city, in 1849, and has since lived in retirement. Her

brothers continued

to appear in concerts, and from time to time have brought before the public their own families of young singers. They were followed by many bands of imitators.


HUTCHINSON, John Russell, educator, b. in Columbia county, Pa., 12 Feb., 1807 ; d. 24 Feb., 1878. He was graduated at Jefferson college in 1826, and, after studying two years in" Princeton esminary, preached in Rodney, Miss., and in Baton Rouge, La., and in 1834 became connected with the College of Louisiana in Jackson. He was pas- tor of a church in Vicksburg from 1837 till 1842, and was then professor of ancient languages in Oakland college, Miss., till 1854. On the death of Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain in 1851, he served as 8 resident of the college. In 1854 he removed to ew Orleans, where he established a classical school and supplied various churches. In 1860 he re- moved to Houston, Texas, and after the civil war was occupied in missionary work. He was the au- thor of " Reminiscences, Sketches, and Addresses " (Houston, 1874).


HUTCHISON, Joseph Chrisman, physician, b. in Old Franklin, Howard co., Mo.. 22 Feb., 1822 ; d. in Brooklyn, N. Y., 16 July, 1887. He studied at the University of Missouri, and was graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1848. He then practised four years in Missouri, and in 1852 settled in Brooklyn, where he re- mained until his death. He was surgeon to the Brooklyn city hospital from 1857 till his death, for several years was surgeon-in-chief to the Brook- lyn orthopaedic infirmary. In 1854-'6 he was lecturer on diseases of women in the New York university. During the cholera epidemic of 1854 he was surgeon to the Brooklyn cholera hospi- tal. From 1860 till 1867 he was professor of op- erative and clinical surgery in Long Island col- lege hospital, and from 1873 till 1875 he was health commissioner of Brooklyn. He was a delegate from the American medical association to the In-