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James Mason Hutchings

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"James Hutchings" redirects here. For those of a similar name, see James Hutchins (disambiguation).
James Mason Hutchings
Portrait of James Hutchings c. 1888
Born(1820-02-10)February 10, 1820
Towcester, Northamptonshire, England
DiedOctober 31, 1902(1902-10-31) (aged 82)
Yosemite, California, USA
Resting placeYosemite Cemetery
Children

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.

Biography

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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.[1]

In 1853, James Hutchings published The Miner's Ten Commandments in the Placerville Herald, capturing the social norms, challenges, and everyday life of California Gold Rush miners. This document, later reprinted as letter sheets, served as stationery for miners to document their experiences in the gold fields. Remarkably, over 97,000 of these letter sheets were sold in just over a year, a significant feat given that the entire population of the state was less than five times that number at the time.[2][3][4]

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.[5][6] (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.

Eviction from Yosemite Valley

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In 1864, Yosemite Valley was set aside as protected land by Congress in the Yosemite Grant. Despite this, Hutchings tried to claim 160 acres (647,000 m²) acres of the valley, arguing that preemption laws supported his case. However, the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed, confirming that Yosemite was meant for public use under the Yosemite Grant.[7][8] Although Hutchings lost the lawsuit, California still awarded him $24,000, recognizing that his early settlements helped promote Yosemite as a destination, significantly boosting tourism and economic benefits for the region.[9] In 1875, he was kicked out of Yosemite for repeatedly breaking the law by building on public lands.

Initially, people felt sorry for Hutchings, but as more information came out about his legal actions and the large payment he received, public opinion changed.[10] People realized he hadn't made a legal effort to own the land after getting the money.

Later Life

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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.[11]

Graves of James Mason Hutchings (right) and Gertrude Hutchings Mills (left) at Yosemite Cemetery

While visiting Yosemite, Hutchings was killed on October 31, 1902, when his horse reared and threw him from his buggy.[12] He is buried at Yosemite Cemetery.[13]

Further reading

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  • 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. ISBN 978-0-7006-1805-7. OCLC 714731511.
  • Kruska, Dennis (2009). James Mason Hutchings of Yo Semite. A Biography and Bibliography. San Francisco: Book Club of California. ISBN 978-0-9819-5971-9. OCLC 461317451.
  • 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 Yo-Ham-i-te Valley" Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine v1 #1:2–8 (July 1856) First account of Yosemite Valley with illustrations
  • James M. Hutchings "The Great Yo-Semite Valley," Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine, (October 1859).
  • 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

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  1. ^ Mason, Maryann (2018) Catlin’s Paintings Lure James Mason Hutchings to America Jefferson Public Radio
  2. ^ Hutchings, James (1853). "Miners' Ten Commandments". Legends of America. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ^ Image of "The Miner's Ten Commandments", (Placerville, California), 1853, Library of Congress: Printed Ephemera Collection.
  4. ^ "The Miners Ten Commandments". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 226, no. 26003. 1922-05-26. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  5. ^ Transcription of the California and Oregon travel diary Southern Oregon History
  6. ^ Kruska, Dennis (2012), Catalog for the Touring Yosemite exhibit, September-December 2012, at the Honnold/Mudd Library of the Claremont Colleges. pg. 1
  7. ^ 82 U.S. (1872).
  8. ^ "Yosemite National Park". www.nationalparkstraveler.org. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  9. ^ "Relief for the Yosemite Settlers". Tuolumne Independent. Vol. 2, no. 47. 21 February 1874. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Meeting of Tourists in Yosemite Valley - Vindication of J.M. Hutchings". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 1, no. 75. 20 May 1875. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  11. ^ Hutchings National Park Service
  12. ^ "Hurled to Death: J.M. Hutchings, "Father of Yosemite Valley" Killed". Madera Mercury. Vol. XIX, no. 36. 1902-11-08. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  13. ^ Medley, Steven P. (2012-10-02). The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Conservancy. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-930238-28-2.
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