George W. Hutchinson

GEORGE W. HUTCHINSON. Among the vocations which call for specialized knowledge, inherent talent and broad experience in order to gain success few make greater demands than that of the consulting engineer. A leader in this field of interesting work in Roanoke County is George W. Hutchinson, who is carrying on his profession successfully at Roanoke, in the vicinity of which city he has a number of creditable achievements on his record.

Mr. Hutchinson was born at Goshen, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and is a son of Henry Hutchinson. John Hutchinson, the great-grandfather of George W., was born at Tinkling Springs, Augusta County, Virginia, and was a descendant of one of three brothers who came together to America., two settling in Pennsylvania and the other, the ancestor of George, W. Hutchinson, in Hanover County, Virginia. From there the latter moved to Augusta County, Virginia, as a pioneer. About 1718 [sic] there were two companies raised in Augusta County for service in the French and Indian war, and in these two companies there were seven Hutchinsons who fought under Gen. Andrew Lewis. George W. Hutchinson, grandfather of George W., of this review, was born in Augusta County, and was a, farmer during the greater part of his active life. Ile served several years, including the period of the war between the states, as clork of Monroe County, now in West Virginia. He married a Miss Joyce and later took up his residence at Staunton, where his death occurred.

Henry Hutchinson, the father of George W. Hutchinson of Roanoke, was born at Union, Monroe County, and for many years was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Staunton, where he died in 1909, after a successful career. Ile married Katherine Abernathy, who was born at Richmond, Virginia, daughter of Alex Abernathy, who was born in Scotland, where the family tree (a copy of which is in the possession of Mr. Hutchinson) dates back to 1061. Alex Abernathy came to America in 1839 to 1840 and settled at Richmond, where he formed a partnership with Peter Henderson, and established the Peter Henderson seed business, with which he continued to be identified until his death. He married a Miss Tinsley, whose ancestors were pioneers of Eastern Virginia, and she survives him and resides at Irvington, New Jersey. She reared five children: George W., Helen B., Kate A., May L. and Henry H. George W. Hutchinson attended the public schools of Staunton and after further preparation at a private school, pursued a course at Bethel Military Academy. He then entered the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, from which lie was graduated in 1899 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and a post-graduate course gained him the degrees of Mechanical Engineer, Bachelor of Science and Civil Engineer. After graduating in 1900 he entered the employ of the American Locomotive Company as engineer of tests, and spent five years in that capacity, his next employment being with the Old Dominion Iron Corporation as meteorological and plant engineer Three years later he resigned and became engineer of maintenance of way construction of the Virginian Railway Company, but left this position to spend two years as a contractor. He then opened an office at 6 Kirk Street, Roanoke , where lie has since followed his profession as a consulting engineer, with a large and representative clientele. He has numerous business, fraternal and civic connections, and is one of his city’s energetic and progressive citizens.

In November, 1915, Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage with Miss Ellen II. Hobart, who was born at Atlantic City, New Jersey, a daughter of Thomas D. and Cornelia H. Hobart, and to this union there have been born two children: Ellen H. and George A. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson are members of St. John’s Episcopal Church.