James Mason Hutchings (February 10, 1820 – October 31, 1902) was an American businessman and one of the principal promoters of what is now Yosemite National Park.
Born in Towcester in England, Hutchings immigrated to the U.S. in 1848, then went to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. He became wealthy as a miner, lost it all in a bank failure, then became wealthy again from publishing.
In 1853, he published The Miner's Ten Commandments.[1]
On July 5, 1855 James Hutchings set out on what would be one of the most historic trips to the region, leading the second tourist party into Yosemite.[2] (The first tourist party, in 1854, was led by Robert Bruce Lamon, but no account of the trip is known to be written.) He then became one of the first settlers in Yosemite Valley. Hutchings published an illustrated magazine, Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine that told the world about Yosemite and the Sierra. It was said "...upon the return of Hutchings' party, the descriptions staggered the skeptics and silenced the croakers. From this time forward can be considered the commencement of the visits of tourists." He was a tireless promoter, of himself and Yosemite. After Yosemite Valley was granted to California as protected land in 1864, Hutchings, through his interpretation of existing preemption laws, believed he was entitled to 160 acres (647,000 m²) of land in the Valley. He sued, unsuccessfully, to have those acres deeded to himself; the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Congress could establish the Yosemite Grant.[3] He did, however, get a generous payment from the state to help compensate for loss of land use. In 1875, he was banished from Yosemite Valley because of his constant challenging of the law prohibiting the construction of buildings on public lands.
Hutchings remarried twice and was an innkeeper for the Calaveras Big Tree Grove Hotel, north of Yosemite. Hutchings' prominence in Yosemite Valley allowed him to connect with figures of great importance to the history of Yosemite, including John Muir, Galen Clark and James McCauley.
While visiting Yosemite, Hutchings was killed on October 31, 1902, when his horse reared and threw him from his buggy. He is buried at Yosemite Cemetery.[4]
Further reading
Huntley, Jen A. (2011). The Making of Yosemite: James Mason Hutchings and the Origin of America's Most Popular National Park. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN978-0-7006-1805-7. OCLC 714731511.
Mrs. H. J. Taylor "James Mason Hutchings" in Yosemite Indians and Other Sketches (1936)
James M. Hutchings "California for Waterfalls!," San Francisco Daily California Chronicle (August 18, 1855) Contains an account of the first or second tourist party to Yosemite Valley
James M. Hutchings, editor, Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine (1856–1861)
James M. Hutchings "The Great Yo-Semite Valley," Hutchings' California Magazine, (October 1859). First account of Yosemite Valley with illustrations
James M. Hutchings Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California (1862). First travel guide for Yosemite Valley.
James M. Hutchings In the Heart of the Sierras (1888)
Hank Johnston Yosemite's Yesterdays, v. 2, chapter 2 (1991) has a biography of James Hutchings
Another detailed biography of Hutchings can be found in Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West: A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865 (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2000), pp. 312–316.
Hutchings' 1855 travel journal (along with his 1848-49 emigration journal) is available at the Library of Congress, catalog number MMC-1892
References
^Image of "The Miner's Ten Commandments", (Placerville, California), 1853, Library of Congress: Printed Ephemera Collection.
^Kruska, David (2012). Touring Yosemite exhibit Catalog. Hannold/Mudd Library of the Claremont Colleges. pg. 1
^"Yosemite National Park". www.nationalparkstraveler.org. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
^Medley, Steven P. (2012-10-02). The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Conservancy. p. 91. ISBN978-1-930238-28-2.
Works by James Mason Hutchings at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
and , two short radio readings from Hutchings' "The Miners' Ten Commandments," () from the California Legacy Project.
James M. Hutchings collection, 1873–1942. California State Library, California History Room.
March 10, 2023
james, mason, hutchings, james, hutchings, redirects, here, those, similar, name, james, hutchins, disambiguation, february, 1820, october, 1902, american, businessman, principal, promoters, what, yosemite, national, park, portrait, james, hutchings, 1888born,. James Hutchings redirects here For those of a similar name see James Hutchins disambiguation James Mason Hutchings February 10 1820 October 31 1902 was an American businessman and one of the principal promoters of what is now Yosemite National Park James Mason HutchingsPortrait of James Hutchings c 1888Born 1820 02 10 February 10 1820Towcester Northamptonshire EnglandDiedOctober 31 1902 1902 10 31 aged 82 Yosemite California USAResting placeYosemite CemeteryChildrenFlorence HutchingsGertrude Hutchings MillsWilliam Mason Hutchings Contents 1 Biography 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditBorn in Towcester in England Hutchings immigrated to the U S in 1848 then went to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush He became wealthy as a miner lost it all in a bank failure then became wealthy again from publishing In 1853 he published The Miner s Ten Commandments 1 On July 5 1855 James Hutchings set out on what would be one of the most historic trips to the region leading the second tourist party into Yosemite 2 The first tourist party in 1854 was led by Robert Bruce Lamon but no account of the trip is known to be written He then became one of the first settlers in Yosemite Valley Hutchings published an illustrated magazine Hutchings Illustrated California Magazine that told the world about Yosemite and the Sierra It was said upon the return of Hutchings party the descriptions staggered the skeptics and silenced the croakers From this time forward can be considered the commencement of the visits of tourists He was a tireless promoter of himself and Yosemite After Yosemite Valley was granted to California as protected land in 1864 Hutchings through his interpretation of existing preemption laws believed he was entitled to 160 acres 647 000 m of land in the Valley He sued unsuccessfully to have those acres deeded to himself the U S Supreme Court ruled Congress could establish the Yosemite Grant 3 He did however get a generous payment from the state to help compensate for loss of land use In 1875 he was banished from Yosemite Valley because of his constant challenging of the law prohibiting the construction of buildings on public lands Hutchings remarried twice and was an innkeeper for the Calaveras Big Tree Grove Hotel north of Yosemite Hutchings prominence in Yosemite Valley allowed him to connect with figures of great importance to the history of Yosemite including John Muir Galen Clark and James McCauley While visiting Yosemite Hutchings was killed on October 31 1902 when his horse reared and threw him from his buggy He is buried at Yosemite Cemetery 4 Further reading EditHuntley Jen A 2011 The Making of Yosemite James Mason Hutchings and the Origin of America s Most Popular National Park Lawrence University Press of Kansas ISBN 978 0 7006 1805 7 OCLC 714731511 Mrs H J Taylor James Mason Hutchings in Yosemite Indians and Other Sketches 1936 James M Hutchings California for Waterfalls San Francisco Daily California Chronicle August 18 1855 Contains an account of the first or second tourist party to Yosemite Valley James M Hutchings editor Hutchings Illustrated California Magazine 1856 1861 James M Hutchings The Great Yo Semite Valley Hutchings California Magazine October 1859 First account of Yosemite Valley with illustrations James M Hutchings Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California 1862 First travel guide for Yosemite Valley James M Hutchings In the Heart of the Sierras 1888 Hank Johnston Yosemite s Yesterdays v 2 chapter 2 1991 has a biography of James Hutchings Another detailed biography of Hutchings can be found in Peter E Palmquist and Thomas R Kailbourn Pioneer Photographers of the Far West A Biographical Dictionary 1840 1865 Stanford CA Stanford University Press 2000 pp 312 316 Hutchings 1855 travel journal along with his 1848 49 emigration journal is available at the Library of Congress catalog number MMC 1892References Edit Image of The Miner s Ten Commandments Placerville California 1853 Library of Congress Printed Ephemera Collection Kruska David 2012 Touring Yosemite exhibit Catalog Hannold Mudd Library of the Claremont Colleges pg 1 Yosemite National Park www nationalparkstraveler org Retrieved 2020 02 10 Medley Steven P 2012 10 02 The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park Yosemite Conservancy p 91 ISBN 978 1 930238 28 2 External links EditWorks by or about James Mason Hutchings at Internet Archive Works by James Mason Hutchings at LibriVox public domain audiobooks A New Commandment and Third Commandment two short radio readings from Hutchings The Miners Ten Commandments California State Library from the California Legacy Project James M Hutchings collection 1873 1942 California State Library California History Room Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Mason Hutchings amp oldid 1115122428, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
