WILLIAM T. HUTSON.
William T. Hutson, an Atchison business man, who has extensive industrial and commercial interests, and is a large land owner, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Platte county August 1, 1874, and is a son of E. P. and Johanna (Kelley) Hutson, the former a native of Clay county, Missouri, and the latter of Dublin, Ireland. E. P. Hutson, the father, had a very successful career, and at the time of his death, which occurred in Platte county, Missouri, in 1892, he owned over 2,000 acres of valuable land. He and his brother, Isaac, went to California in 1850, shortly after the discovery of gold. They were interested in the live stock business on the coast at that early day, buying cattle and driving them to the mining camps, where they found a ready market at very good prices. They were engaged in this business for twelve or thirteen years, and were very successful in a financial way. Isaac’s health failed while on the coast, and he returned to his Platte county home, where he died in 1864. After returning to Missouri, E. P. Hutson followed farming, and looked after his extensive interests until about the time of his death.
William T. Hutson, whose name introduces this sketch, is one of a family of six children, as follows: William T., the subject of this sketch; G. E., farmer, Platte county, Missouri; Capitola married W. P. Page, Platte county, Missouri; Pluma married Dr. Kirkfast, Austin, Neb.; Goldie married Barney Nolan, Sioux City, Iowa, and Galena married Edward Back, Atchison, Kan. William T. Hutson was reared on the home farm in Platte county, Missouri, and received his education in the public schools, and has made farming the chief occupation of his life. He and his brother, G. E., now own and operate 1,000 acres of land in Platte county, Missouri, where they are extensive growers of wheat and other grains. They are also extensive hog raisers and are among the most extensive farmers of Platte county.
Mr. Hutson came to Atchison in December, 1909, and since that time has been closely identified with industrial Atchison. He is president of the Atchison Paving Brick Company, and is a director in the First National Bank of Atchison. He was united in marriage in June, 1909, to Miss Esther Jackson, of Bigelow, Mo. She is a daughter of Richard and Varney Jackson, members of old and highly respected Platte county families. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson have one child, Virginia Lee, born June 23, 1912. Mr. Hutson is a Democrat.
JOHN BEYER.
John Beyer, banker and stock buyer of Arrington, Atchison county, Kansas, was born in Kapioma township, on October 9, 1871. His parents, Asa and Susan Beyer, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father having been born there in 1835. They came to Kansas in 1868, and settled in Kapioma township, Atchison county, where the father died in 1898, and the mother is still living. John Beyer is one of eleven children, as follows: Mrs. Mary Lewton, Benton township; Samuel, Kapioma township; Mrs. Christen High, Texas; David, farmer, Kapioma township; Jane, living on the home place; Clarissa, deceased; Martha Schiffbauer, Sumner county, Kansas; John, the subject of this sketch; Albert, Caldwell, Kansas, and Luctria Dodson, Kapioma township.
John Beyer attended the Cole Creek district school and at the age of twenty-one started out in life for himself. He bought an eighty-acre farm from his father, and worked this place five years and made a success of it. In 1900 he moved to Arrington, Kapioma township, and engaged in the livery business. He ran this until the following year when he sold out and bought the elevator on the Union Pacific railroad at Arrington. He bought and sold grain for six years, but owned the elevator until 1912. The year previous he began to deal in live stock and has continued in that business since. In 1904 the need of a bank was felt, and John Beyer, together with other leading citizens of Arrington, organized the present bank. For the past eight years he has been assistant cashier of the institution. Mr. Beyer owns farm land in Kapioma township.
In 1897 Mr. Beyer married Maud A. Coots, who was born in Holt county, Missouri, January 13, 1875. She is a daughter of Presley W. and Sarah (Campbell) Coots, both Missourians, whose parents were from Kentucky. The father is now living in Muscotah, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Beyer have one child, Flossie A., who is living at home. Mr. Beyer is a Republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JOSEPH H. WATOWA.
Joseph H. Watowa, a prosperous Atchison county farmer, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Buchanan county, January 24, 1864, and is a son of Joseph and Catharine (Fischer) Watowa, both natives of Austria. They were married in their native land, and immigrated to America in 1855, first settling in Wisconsin. Later, they located in Buchanan county, Missouri, and in 1879 came to Kansas, locating in Shannon township, Atchison county, on the place where Joseph H., the subject of this sketch, now resides. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Frank resides in Atchison county; Mary, deceased; Henry resides in Atchison county; Amelia; Joseph H., the subject of this sketch; and Paulina.