William Veal Hutton, one of the most successful business men in St. Mary’s, is a son of George Martin and Ann Austin (Veal), Hutton, and was born in Ringwood, Hampshire, England, April 16, 1825. He belongs to an old Somersetshire family. His father was a linen draper, and a successful business man.
William received an ordinary education in a private school, acquired a knowledge of his father’s business, and in the autumn of 1850 emigrated to Canada, and settled at St. Mary’s, then a very small village. Here he purchased a mill, and was engaged in the manufacture of flour until 1869, when he retired from business, his operations having been attended with marked success. While engaged in manufacturing flour, Mr. Hutton had a careful oversight of his business, and managed everything with prudence; hence his good luck, retiring in the prime of life, with a competency, and in a condition to enjoy it. He has a large and elegant stone house on the outskirts of the town, centrally located in an eighteen acre lot, embellished with shade trees, and fitted up with a great deal of taste, and there is spending the quiet afternoon of life with much pleasant surroundings. His conservatory it would be difficult to match in the country.
During his business years Mr. Hutton did not live wholly to himself; far from it; he did good service in the municipality of the town, and in other positions of trust and responsibility; was in the council several years; was mayor in 1866; a trustee of the grammar school a long time, and has been a magistrate since 1856.
In politics he is a Conservative, but has never been very active. His religious connection is with the Church of England, and, as far as we can ascertain, he has lived an exemplary life.
Mr. Hutton has three brothers residing in St. Mary’s, all belonging to the most successful and best class of citizens; Joseph Osman Hutton, a retired speculator in real estate, Theodore Hutton, a leading dry goods merchant, still in trade; and Albert Hutton, a retired miller. No family in the town is more prominent or more highly respected.