"Mahlon Hutchinson, long one of the best known and. most distinguished members of the New Jersey bar, was a resident of Bordentown for over forty years. He was born in Philadelphia, May 10, 1823, and was the son of Randal and Mary (Keeler) Hutchinson, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was named for his grandfather, Mahlon Hutchinson, a Welshman, who was in trade in Philadelphia a great many years, and occupied a prominent position as a prosperous merchant, living to be fourscore years of age.
Randal Hutchinson, son of the elder Mahlon, was born in Philadelphia. He also was a merchant of that city, and accumulated a fortune, retiring from business toward the end of his life. His last days were spent in. Bordentown, where he died at the age of fiftyfive. His wife, who was of German descent, a member of one of the German-American families, which constitute much of the best part of the population of Pennsylvania, died in her forty-first year. She reared but one child, Mahlon, the subject of this sketch.
Mahlon Hutchinson received his early education in the public schools, including the Lawrenceville High School. In 1840 he entered Princeton College, and in 1841, when eighteen years of age, left that institution in order to study law with the Hon. Henry W. Green, of Trenton. In Mr. Green's office he completed the prescribed course of reading, and he was licensed as an attorney in 1845 and as a counsellor in 1854. He opened anoffice in Bordentown over fifty years ago, and at the time of his death, on the loth of September, 1896, was the oldest practising lawyer in the county.
In politics he was originally a member of the Whig party; and, when its offshoot, the Republican party, sprang into existence, Mr. Hutchinson was active in promoting the growth of that. In 1853, when the First District of Burlington County was formed, he was sent to the legislature from that district, and served during the session of 1853-54, declining re-election in 1855. While there he was prominent as a member of important committees, including the Committees on Judiciary and Educational Affairs and Insane Asylums. He was appointed by Governor Alden in 1860 Prosecutor of the Pleas for Burlington County, and he held the position five years. He was a Commissioner of the Supreme Court for twenty years, United States Commissioner thirteen years, Master in Chancery thirty years, and also an Examiner in Chancery. Actively interested in the affairs of his county and city, he materially aided in the construction of different lines of railroads through the State, and was prominently connected with many leading financial enterprises, including the Bordentown National Bank, of which he was Director and then President ; the Trenton National Bank, of which he was a Director thirty years; the Bordentown Gas Company, of which he was Director for a number of years and later President; and the Bordentown Water Company. In the progress of education also he took an active interest. He was a member of the city School Board for three years, and was President of the Bordentown Female College, of which he was a Trustee some thirty-five years.
On February 23, 1848, Mr. Hutchinson was married to Amy N. Shreve, a native of Burlington County. Her father, a farmer and lifelong resident of that county, died of cholera in 1836. Mr. Hutchinson is survived by his wife and one son, John P., who is a lawyer and real estate dealer, and was in business with him. John P. Hutchinson is attorney for the Bordentown National Bank, of which he is a Director. He married Miss Alice Newbold, and has three children — Mahlon, Newbold, and Alice. In politics he is a firm supporter of Republican principles.
Mr. Mahlon Hutchinson was an Odd Fellow for many years. He passed through all the chairs of Lodge No. 16, of Bordentown, served as District Deputy, and was a member of the encampment of this city. A Presbyterian in religious belief, he was a Presiding Elder of the church of that denomination in Bordentown. He was a man of remarkable intellectual force and grasp, and easily took a leading place among his fellows." [1]
[1] Biographical review Volume XIX, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Burlington and Camden counties, New Jersey (Boston 1897), 34, [InternetArchive].