William John Meek Hutchinson 1882 : Short Biography

William John Meek Hutchinson, son of Knox Hutchinson and Margaret Elizabeth Forgrave, was born Presbyterian in Garvagh, in Errigal parish, Derry, Ireland, in 1882. His siblings were Margaret Hutchinson, born in 1880, in Garvagh, and died single in 1937 in Belfast; Mary Ann (Minnie) Huchinson, born in 1884 in Garvagh, and married William E. Morrison Jr in Alleghany, PA, USA in 1906; Thomas James Hutchinson, born in 1886 in Garvagh, married Martha Jane Halliday in 1912 in Belfast and after her death, married Euphemia Clark Bethune in 1921 in Niles, OH; Robert Knox Hutchinson, born in 1889 in Garvagh, married Johanna Dalton in 1915 in Belfast; Elizabeth Forgrave Hutchinson, born 1891 in Garvagh, married John Henry Bradley Sr in 1915 in Belfast; Isabella Alexandra McNeary Hutchinson born in 1894 in Garvagh, married George Cree Jamison in 1914 in Belfast and after his death, she married Hugh Wallace about 1941 in Belfast; Sarah Jane (Sally) Hutchinson born in 1896 in Aghadowey, Coleraine, married Robert Charles Stanley Bower Jr in 1919 in Belfast; Hugh Smith Morrison Hutchinson born in 1898 in Belfast, and married Alberta A. Swager in 1935, in Erie, PA, USA. Until William immigrated at age 21, he worked as a farmer and for a grocery merchant in Belfast. William emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland in April 1903 aboard the Furnessia, and went to Philadelphia, PA, the United States. William married Elizabeth Chism in 1908 in Philadelphia. Elizabeth was born around 1876 in Philadelphia to John Chism and Jane Coulter, both from Ireland. Jane immigrated about 1863. John originally immigrated to Canada, then immigrated to the US around 1869. Elizabeth had siblings who were all born in Philadelphia: Mary Jane (Jennie) born 1869; Robert b.1872 d. 1874; Leticia born 1878 who married James Irwin; John R born 1880 who married Katherine Lynch; and William J. born in 1882 and married Katherine Mullin. William was naturalized on 16 September 1909 in Philadelphia, PA. William and Elizabeth had children, William Coulter Hutchinson in 1910, and Florence Elizabeth Hutchinson in 1913, both born in Philadelphia, PA. When the US entered World War I, William was 34 years old, and working at the Midvale Steel and Ordnance, Co in Eddystone, PA. Midvale Steel was a boutique steel company that manufacted Rifles, steel plates and parts for ships, railroads, and armaments. They are best known for producing the "Midvale Unbreakable", which are capped armor-piercing projectiles for warships. During World War I, Midvale had contracts for 140,000 eight inch Howitzer shells, 250,000 155 millimeter Howitzer high explosive shell forgings, and 850,000 tons of steel plates for the US Navy. William was not drafted to serve due to his age and family status, but he certainly played a role in support of the war effort. He worked in the department that manufactured rifles. At the end of the war, William leaves Midvale and goes back into the grocery store business. He becomes a store manager for A&P Grocery and later retires to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In his retirement years, he was a sales clerk for Schiff Bros Shoe Store. William died 5 July 1960 of a heart attack at home. His brothers Tommy and Hugh, and his sister Sally all attend his funeral in Atlantic City, where his brother Tommy also had a heart attack and died on 9 July 1960. William was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Pleasantville, PA. Sally's son, Bob Bower drove Hugh and Sally home where they buried Tommy in Niles City Cemetery, Niles, OH.