Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

HARRISON HUTCHINS

Harrison Hutchins, 7th child of David and Sally Burnell Hutchins, was born at Brandon, Rutland County, Vt., September 3, 1815, died June 18, 1893, at his home in Ganges, Mich.

Laura Caroline Hudson was born at Hudson. Ohio, June 22, 1828, died at the Hutchins home in Ganges Sept. 13, 1907.

They were married near Allegan, Mich., June 8, 1847.

She was in the 7th generation down from Henry Hudson, the Navigator, who discovered the Hudson river in 1609. and Hudson Bay in 1610, the last of which proved both his monument and his grave. During the winter of 1847 she taught the first school in what is now the Fennville district.

In 1836 Harrison Hutchins, with his father, came from Rochester, N. Y., by canal boat on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, by schooner to Detroit and followed Indian trails through the woods to Allegan, Mich., carrying on their backs their provisions and blankets and sleeping under the friendly forest trees during the night, and arrived here in middle July.

The following year Harrison went back to Rochester and brought his eldest sister, Mrs. Sophis Stillson and her son Samuel back to make her home with them. He walked the distance from Allegan to Detroit and back, making the third time he had thus covered it, but was able to get passage for her with emigrants coming this way. Leander Prouty came to Allegan in 1834 and was the first settler there so the place was but two years old when the Hutchins' arrived.

Harrison selected his location in 1837, but as Michigan had not yet been admitted as a state, (It was admitted in that year) he waited until the following year before building and moving in. He being' the first settler in Ganges township.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins were Samuel, deceased; Edward, deceased; Henry H.; David M.; Emily S. Hafford; Ira and Sarah, (deceased).

The house in Ohio which was Mrs. Hutchin's birthplace afterward became the property of the noted John Brown, and the house has since been carried away in pieces by visiting tourists.

Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins lived hard working, worthy lives and earned the fine home and farm which they were spared to enjoy seventy years before she was called to her heavenly home. Some record.