Eli Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 8 Feb 1844 in Shepton Beaucham, Somerset, Eng.. He died on 16 Jun 1928. He married Mary Morgan. Eli was counted in a census in 1901 in OTTAWA (City/Cité), ON, Ca.
Other marriages:Douglas, Mary
Mary Morgan 1.Mary married Eli Hutchings.
They had the following children:
F i Lois Hutchings M ii Jack R Hutchings
Eli Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 8 Feb 1844 in Shepton Beaucham, Somerset, Eng.. He died on 16 Jun 1928. He married Mary Douglas. Eli was counted in a census in 1901 in OTTAWA (City/Cité), ON, Ca.
Other marriages:Morgan, Mary
Mary Douglas 1 was born in 1847. She married Eli Hutchings.
They had the following children:
F i Addie Winnifred Hutchings
Elisha Frederick Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 13 Jun 1855 in Newboro, Leeds, Ontario, Ca.. He died on 14 Apr 1930. He married Sarah Ann Denby on 3 Oct 1882. Elisha was counted in a census 2, 3 in 1901 in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Ca..
Other marriages:Unknown
HUTCHINGS, ELISHA FREDERICK, harness maker, businessman, and politician; b. 13 June 1855 in Newboro, Upper Canada, son of Elijah Hutchings and Harriet Gifford; m. 3 Oct. 1882 Sarah Ann Denby of Newboro, and they had three daughters and two sons; d. 14 April 1930 in Winnipeg.
The son of a farmer, Elisha Hutchings attended the country schools of Leeds County, Upper Canada, until age 15 when he was apprenticed to a harness maker. After completing his training in 1873, he plied his trade as a journeyman for three years before seeking his fortune in western Canada. Unimpressed with Winnipeg and short of cash, he was attracted to Edmonton by rumours of gold strikes. There he found occasional work at his trade and supplemented it with hunting and trapping. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Winnipeg.
Hutchings had planned to go into business, but the theft of his money and clothing forced him to take wage labour once again. He studied briefly at night at Alexander Begg*?s short-lived Manitoba Commercial College. He worked on his own account as a harness maker for a short time in 1878, but in 1879 he bought a junior partnership in Richard Stalker?s harness-making business. By 1881 the firm had a retail and wholesale operation in Winnipeg under Hutchings?s direction and a retail branch in Portage la Prairie under Stalker. It possessed capital of between $10,000 and $20,000. When Stalker died three years later, Hutchings purchased his interest.
Hutchings made brief incursions into municipal politics. He served two two-year terms as alderman, 1887?88 and 1894?95. As well, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1900. Meanwhile, his business flourished with the settlement and growth of western Canada. In 1891 Dun, Wiman and Company reported its worth at between $75,000 and $125,000. By 1899 the extent of his investment had persuaded Hutchings to incorporate as the Great West Saddlery Company. The firm manufactured harnesses, saddles, trunks, and bags in Winnipeg and Calgary and ran a wholesale business in harness, saddlery, and hardware. As well, the company operated ten retail stores throughout the west and developed a significant export trade to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. By 1911 its assets were estimated at $750,000 to $1,000,000 and Hutchings himself was reputed to be worth $2,000,000, including his investments in several insurance and loan companies and building materials firms.
A major employer in Winnipeg, Hutchings had about 150 men by 1911. He actively recruited skilled workers in England. Disgruntled former employees disputed his claims of job opportunities and wrote home that his real goal was to depress wages and weaken organization among his workers. Hutchings routinely fired union men. In October 1911 he locked out ten employees who refused to sign a contract pledging not to start a union and not to belong to any association that supported strikes or promoted organization in his or any other business. When another 14 were fired for attending a protest meeting, the dismissed workers formed the Leather Workers? Union and declared a strike against Great West Saddlery. Early in December the company laid off workers in Calgary who refused to sign its employment contract. The labour disputes attracted attention in Winnipeg, where class lines were beginning to harden. The Voice (Winnipeg) condemned Hutchings for duping uninformed ?foreign-speaking? workers into signing the contract. The Trades and Labor Council supported the strike, as did several local unions, which contributed strike funds.
The most controversial reaction came from Winnipeg?s Ministerial Association. At the request of several employees, the association appointed a committee in October 1911 to investigate the dispute. Its report, issued the following month, emphasized that wages and factory conditions were not issues, but that the right of organization was. In response to the report, the reverends Charles William Gordon*, Salem Goldworth Bland*, and Fred Cook moved that the association condemn Hutchings for discriminating against union men. Although the Reverend James Shaver Woodsworth*, a member of the committee, argued for the adoption of a stronger resolution against the open shop, the majority favoured moderate censure. Even this resolution created a breach, since the Reverend David Christie of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Hutchings was an office holder, resigned from the association. Pressure from the clergy did not move Hutchings and both the strike and the union collapsed.
In 1917 Hutchings again achieved national notoriety, this time for his attempts to seek an exemption from military service for his son Harold Gifford. His son, he argued before the appeal judge, was crucial to his plant?s operations. Besides, he said, ?I helped to build up this country not like some of these little one-horse men,? and having established a successful business, ?I want to hand it over to my son to keep.? Hutchings claimed to be planning a shipbuilding operation in Vancouver and to be intending to leave the saddlery business under his son?s management. It was charged that he had attempted to use his wealth in his son?s cause and had declined to contribute to the Victory Loan unless exemption was granted. Hutchings denied these stories and won an apology, though witnesses testified to the Victory Loan incident before the appeal judge. Former employees, now in the military, denied that Harold played a significant role in the plant?s operation. The exemption was rejected.
The Great West Saddlery continued as a family business. Hutchings sold his interest in 1928, but remained active as president of the Equitable Trust Company and the Canada Loan and Mortgage Corporation. In the summer of 1929 he experienced heart difficulties, which caused his death the following April.
Shortly after his son?s hearing, Hutchings was denounced by the Manitoba Free Press for the ?ignorant arrogance of his purse-proud blatantly materialistic soul.? In his business and in his public dealings, Hutchings claimed authority and privileges on the basis of his success and his wealth. In the extreme, his example attested to the growing social tensions in the city of Winnipeg...
.
- David G. Burley
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
Sarah Ann Denby 1 was born on 11 Jun 1862. She married Elisha Frederick Hutchings on 3 Oct 1882.
They had the following children:
F i H Ethel "Hattie" Hutchings 1 was born on 21 Aug 1884. She had other parents. F ii D Louise "Lulu" Hutchings 1 was born on 24 Dec 1885. She had other parents. F iii Hazel A Hutchings 1 was born on 15 Aug 1890. She had other parents. M iv Earnest F Hutchings 1 was born on 21 Apr 1893. He had other parents. M v Harold G Hutchings 1 was born on 19 Jun 1895. He had other parents.
Elisha Frederick Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 13 Jun 1855 in Newboro, Leeds, Ontario, Ca.. He died on 14 Apr 1930. He was married on 3 Oct 1882. Elisha was counted in a census 2, 3 in 1901 in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Ca..
Other marriages:Denby, Sarah Ann
HUTCHINGS, ELISHA FREDERICK, harness maker, businessman, and politician; b. 13 June 1855 in Newboro, Upper Canada, son of Elijah Hutchings and Harriet Gifford; m. 3 Oct. 1882 Sarah Ann Denby of Newboro, and they had three daughters and two sons; d. 14 April 1930 in Winnipeg.
The son of a farmer, Elisha Hutchings attended the country schools of Leeds County, Upper Canada, until age 15 when he was apprenticed to a harness maker. After completing his training in 1873, he plied his trade as a journeyman for three years before seeking his fortune in western Canada. Unimpressed with Winnipeg and short of cash, he was attracted to Edmonton by rumours of gold strikes. There he found occasional work at his trade and supplemented it with hunting and trapping. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Winnipeg.
Hutchings had planned to go into business, but the theft of his money and clothing forced him to take wage labour once again. He studied briefly at night at Alexander Begg*?s short-lived Manitoba Commercial College. He worked on his own account as a harness maker for a short time in 1878, but in 1879 he bought a junior partnership in Richard Stalker?s harness-making business. By 1881 the firm had a retail and wholesale operation in Winnipeg under Hutchings?s direction and a retail branch in Portage la Prairie under Stalker. It possessed capital of between $10,000 and $20,000. When Stalker died three years later, Hutchings purchased his interest.
Hutchings made brief incursions into municipal politics. He served two two-year terms as alderman, 1887?88 and 1894?95. As well, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1900. Meanwhile, his business flourished with the settlement and growth of western Canada. In 1891 Dun, Wiman and Company reported its worth at between $75,000 and $125,000. By 1899 the extent of his investment had persuaded Hutchings to incorporate as the Great West Saddlery Company. The firm manufactured harnesses, saddles, trunks, and bags in Winnipeg and Calgary and ran a wholesale business in harness, saddlery, and hardware. As well, the company operated ten retail stores throughout the west and developed a significant export trade to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. By 1911 its assets were estimated at $750,000 to $1,000,000 and Hutchings himself was reputed to be worth $2,000,000, including his investments in several insurance and loan companies and building materials firms.
A major employer in Winnipeg, Hutchings had about 150 men by 1911. He actively recruited skilled workers in England. Disgruntled former employees disputed his claims of job opportunities and wrote home that his real goal was to depress wages and weaken organization among his workers. Hutchings routinely fired union men. In October 1911 he locked out ten employees who refused to sign a contract pledging not to start a union and not to belong to any association that supported strikes or promoted organization in his or any other business. When another 14 were fired for attending a protest meeting, the dismissed workers formed the Leather Workers? Union and declared a strike against Great West Saddlery. Early in December the company laid off workers in Calgary who refused to sign its employment contract. The labour disputes attracted attention in Winnipeg, where class lines were beginning to harden. The Voice (Winnipeg) condemned Hutchings for duping uninformed ?foreign-speaking? workers into signing the contract. The Trades and Labor Council supported the strike, as did several local unions, which contributed strike funds.
The most controversial reaction came from Winnipeg?s Ministerial Association. At the request of several employees, the association appointed a committee in October 1911 to investigate the dispute. Its report, issued the following month, emphasized that wages and factory conditions were not issues, but that the right of organization was. In response to the report, the reverends Charles William Gordon*, Salem Goldworth Bland*, and Fred Cook moved that the association condemn Hutchings for discriminating against union men. Although the Reverend James Shaver Woodsworth*, a member of the committee, argued for the adoption of a stronger resolution against the open shop, the majority favoured moderate censure. Even this resolution created a breach, since the Reverend David Christie of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Hutchings was an office holder, resigned from the association. Pressure from the clergy did not move Hutchings and both the strike and the union collapsed.
In 1917 Hutchings again achieved national notoriety, this time for his attempts to seek an exemption from military service for his son Harold Gifford. His son, he argued before the appeal judge, was crucial to his plant?s operations. Besides, he said, ?I helped to build up this country not like some of these little one-horse men,? and having established a successful business, ?I want to hand it over to my son to keep.? Hutchings claimed to be planning a shipbuilding operation in Vancouver and to be intending to leave the saddlery business under his son?s management. It was charged that he had attempted to use his wealth in his son?s cause and had declined to contribute to the Victory Loan unless exemption was granted. Hutchings denied these stories and won an apology, though witnesses testified to the Victory Loan incident before the appeal judge. Former employees, now in the military, denied that Harold played a significant role in the plant?s operation. The exemption was rejected.
The Great West Saddlery continued as a family business. Hutchings sold his interest in 1928, but remained active as president of the Equitable Trust Company and the Canada Loan and Mortgage Corporation. In the summer of 1929 he experienced heart difficulties, which caused his death the following April.
Shortly after his son?s hearing, Hutchings was denounced by the Manitoba Free Press for the ?ignorant arrogance of his purse-proud blatantly materialistic soul.? In his business and in his public dealings, Hutchings claimed authority and privileges on the basis of his success and his wealth. In the extreme, his example attested to the growing social tensions in the city of Winnipeg...
.
- David G. Burley
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
He had the following children:
F i H Ethel "Hattie" Hutchings 1 was born on 21 Aug 1884. She had other parents. F ii D Louise "Lulu" Hutchings 1 was born on 24 Dec 1885. She had other parents. F iii Hazel A Hutchings 1 was born on 15 Aug 1890. She had other parents. M iv Earnest F Hutchings 1 was born on 21 Apr 1893. He had other parents. M v Harold G Hutchings 1 was born on 19 Jun 1895. He had other parents.
Andrew Hanna 1.Andrew married Emma Hutchings.
Emma Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 28 Mar 1863 in Newboro, Leeds, Ontario, Ca.. She died on 6 Mar 1955. She married Andrew Hanna.
They had the following children:
F i Margaret Hanna
Fredrick George Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 5 Jan 1885 in N. W. T., Ca.. He died See Notes. He married Mary Jane Bibaud on 15 Sep 1915 in Ft. Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Ca.. He had other parents.
Other marriages:Unknown
Mary Jane Bibaud 1 was born on 28 Oct 1897. She died See Notes. She married Fredrick George Hutchings on 15 Sep 1915 in Ft. Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Ca..
They had the following children:
F i Mildred Hutchings M ii Frederick Hutchings M iii George Hutchings M iv Thomas Hutchings M v Kenneth Hutchings F vi Muriel Hutchings M vii Roy Hutchings M viii Allwyn Hutchings
Fredrick George Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 5 Jan 1885 in N. W. T., Ca.. He died See Notes. He was married on 15 Sep 1915 in Ft. Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Ca.. He had other parents.
Other marriages:Bibaud, Mary Jane
He had the following children:
F i Muriel Hutchings M ii Roy Hutchings M iii Allwyn Hutchings
Joseph Hutchings [Parents] was born about 1790 in Seavington, Somerset, Eng.. He was christened about 7 Sep 1790. He married Sarah Hodges on 11 Nov 1810 in Seavington, Somerset, Eng.. Joseph was baptized on 7 Sep 1790 in Seavington, Somerset, Eng.. He was counted in a census in 1851.
Sarah Hodges [Parents] was born about 1783. She was christened on 5 Jan 1792 in (Seavington St. Michael), Seavington, Somerset, Eng.. She married Joseph Hutchings on 11 Nov 1810 in Seavington, Somerset, Eng..
They had the following children:
M i Alfred Hutchings. M ii Thomas Hutchings. M iii Elijah Hutchings
Elijah Hutchings [Parents] 1 was born on 7 Jun 1823 in Simenetshire, Eng. He died on 14 Mar 1923 in Newboro, Leeds, Ontario, Ca.. He married Harriet Gifford on 17 Sep 1843 in South Petherton. Elijah was counted in a census in 1901 in Crosby (North/Nord, Leeds, ON, Ca..
ELIJAH HUTCHINGS
REAL LEEDS PIONEER
DIES IN 100TH YEAR
March 14th 1923
.
Hewed Out Rome From Wilderness of North Crosby.
.
NATIVE OF SOMERSETSHIRE
.
Father of Men Well Known in Business Life of the Northwest.
.
Elijah Hutchings, who died at the old home in the Township North Crosbyon Wednesday, March 14, was born in Somersetshire, England , June 7,1823, and had he lived June 7 1923, would have reached the age of onehundred years. At death his age was 99 years, nine months and sevendays. Mr. Hutchings came to Canada in the year 1848 when Brockville waswithout railroad communication. From Kingston he went up the RideauCanal to the present site of Bedford Mills and there commenced a lifewhich meant hardship and privation. After some years he commenced tobuild on the farm where he spent all the remainder of his life
.
At the time of his arrival in Canada Mr. Hutchings was married and hadtwo children. Afterwards eleven more were born to Mr. and Mrs.Hutchings, making a family of 13, of whom eight are still living Eli, ofOttawa, in his 78th year, the eldest of son of the family; ElishaHutchings, president of the Great West Saddlery Company limited,Winnipeg; Robert J. Hutchings, vice-present of the Great West SaddleryCompany, Limited, Calgary; Arthur Hutchings, Winnipeg; and HerbertHutchings, on the old homestead in North Crosby; Mrs. Harriet Poole,Vancouver; Mrs. Annie Thompson and Mrs. Emma. Hanna, of Edmonton. Mr.Hutchings was predeceased by his wife and five members of their family.
.
The late Mr. Hutchings was a man of fine physical appearance and was apowerful man, capable in his youth of strength, beyond the ordinaryindividual and that strength he threw into the work of a nation builderwhen Canada was scarcely known and North Leeds was a wilderness. Withless than two a
cres of a clearance he chopped and cleaned up what is. now one of thebest farms in North Crosby and there raised and educated a family themembers of which have made a splendid mark for themselves in business.He was a man of very strong convictions and was fearless in his defenseof truth and l
iberty. In politics be was all his years a staunch Conservative. Hepossessed a pronounced religious faith with love of God in Christ as hisonly creed and he was ready when the call came and passed to his eternalhome.
.
The funeral took place from the old home on Friday, March 16. and wasconducted by Rev. W. G. Bradford of Ashton, a personal friend for fouryears of the late Mr. Hutchings, and was assisted by Rev. G. Mossop, ofNewboro. The bearers were Elijah, Earl and, Borden Hutchings, grandsons;F. L. Hutch
ings, grandnephew; Asa Pattemore and Lawrence Chant. The floral tributeswere many and very, beautiful.
.
The remains were placed in the vault at Newboro and will in the springbe interred in the family cemetery west of the village of Newboro.
.
W. G. B.
.
Burial: March 16, 1923, Hutchings Cemetery, Newboro, Ontario
.
Source: Harriette at robertjs@idirect.com
Harriet Gifford 1 was born on 2 Aug 1822 in South Petherton, Eng.. She died on 1 Nov 1892. She married Elijah Hutchings on 17 Sep 1843 in South Petherton. Harriet was counted in a census 2 in 1881 in Crosby North, Leeds South, Ontario.
They had the following children:
M i Eli Hutchings F ii Milenna Hutchings F iii Eunice Hutchings M iv Alfred Hutchings M v Thomas Hutchings F vi Harriet Hutchings M vii Elisha Frederick Hutchings M viii Arthur Hutchings F ix Eliza Ann Hutchings F x Isabella Hutchings 1 was born on 5 Feb 1861 in Newboro, Leeds, Ontario, Ca.. She died on 19 Jan 1870. F xi Emma Hutchings M xii Robert John Hutchings M xiii Herbert Hutchings