Betsy (Hall) Hutchens (1844 - 1927)

Born 24 Sep 1844 in Grant County, Indiana

Ancestors

Wife of Samuel Jackson Hutchens — married 16 Nov 1862 in Woodland Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin

Died 19 Feb 1927 at age 82 in Hallowell, Cherokee County, Kansas

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Biography

The 1880 Federal Census reveals that Betsy lived in Shell Rock Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota with her husband and son. The household included Samuel J. Hutchens, age 40, farmer, white male, born in Indiana, Betsy Hutchens, his wife, age 35, white female, keeping house, born in Indiana, and David E. Hutchens, his son, age 9, white male, single, born in Wisconsin. He attended school during the year. (Samuel J. Hutchens household, 1880 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Freeborn County, Minnesota, Shellrock Twp., p. 64, National Archives Micropublication T9, Reel 620.)

Samuel's father born in South Carolina and his mother, in Indiana. Betsy's father was born in North Carolina and her mother, in Indiana. David's father and mother were both born in Indiana. Betsy's brother and sister-in-law, William and Matilda Hall lived in the same township.

On June 23, 1883, in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, Samuel and Betsy Hutchens signed the deed for the sale of her mother's property in Valton, Wisconsin.

The family does not appear on the 1885 Minnesota census in Freeborn or any of the surrounding counties. There is no statewide index of the 1885 census.

By 1900, the family including son David, had moved to Date Township, Texas County, Missouri. (Sam. B. Hutchens household, 1900 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Texas County, Missouri, Date Twp., E. D. 136, sheet 11, line 1.) The 1900 census additionally provides the months and years of their births and reports that Betsy was the mother of two children, one living. The second child, who does not appear on any federal census schedule, apparently was born and died between census years.

Sometime before the 1910 census, the family removed to Cherokee County, Kansas, where they were enumerated in Lola Township. (Samuel J. Hutchins household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cherokee Co., KS, E.D. 27, sheet 5A, Lola Twp., .) Their son David, married by then, was living in the same township. Each census is consistent with the information provided on the 1880 census.

After Samuel died, Betsy remained in Lola Township where she headed her own household when the 1920 census was taken. Age 74 at the time, she reported that she was born in Indiana, her father in North Carolina and mother in Indiana, further corroborating her parentage. (Betsy Hutchens household, 1920 U. S. Census, Lola Twp., Cherokee County, Kansas, E.D. 26, sheet 6B, National Archives Micropublication T625, Reel 526.)

Her obituary provided very little information other than date of her death and the time of her funeral. It mentioned no surviving relatives except for a son, V. E. Hutchens, who lived "just west of Hollowell." His name may have been in error since her only known son living at the time was David Hutchens. Her funeral was held at the Methodist Church the day after her death. (The Modern Light, Feb. 24, 1927, p.C8)

Sources

• Thomas Moorman, guardian of minor heirs of James Hall, dec., Guardian Bond, Oath & Letters, Common Pleas 1, page 108, Grant County Court House, Marion, Indiana: "Enos Hall, age 21 yrs. the 2d of July 57, Jesse Hall, age 19 yrs.; David Hall, age 17; Betsy Hall, age 13 years, and Wm. Hall, age 10 yrs., minor heirs of James Hall, deceased."

The Modern Light (Hollowell, Kansas), Obituary for Betsy Hutchens, Feb. 24, 1927, p. C8.