NATHANIEL HENRY HUTTON, M. Am. Soc. C. E.
Nathaniel Henry Hutton was born on November 16, 1833, in Washington, D. C,
and died in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 8th,
1907. His earliest ancestor in the United States of whom there is any record, John Strangeways Hutton, was born in New York City in 1684
and died in Philadelphia in 1792. His father was James Hutton, who married Salome Rich of Boston, Mass., in Washington, D. C.
Following the example of his elder brother, the late William Rich Hutton, M. Am. Soc. C. E., "Harry" (as he was familiarly called by those who knew him well) entered the service of the United States at an early age, adopting the profession of civil engineering. Neither had the advantage of a collegiate education, but they did have the good fortune to grow up under the thorough training of those days, in the specially excellent schools of Alexandria and Washington, taught by men like Ben Hallowell, Abbot and others. They made good use of those early opportunities, and by industry, faithful attention to duty, and continual study of the theory of engineering and the works of able engineers, their own experience and unusual natural talents enabled them to pass through the lower grades of the profession with credit to themselves, and with the respect and ever-increasing confidence of their superiors in their integrity and high tone, until they had come to rank well among the engineers of their period in the special lines to which their attention was called.
Mr. Hutton's work as a surveyor and engineer, up to 1896, may be summarized briefly as follows: He was U. S. Assistant Engineer on explorations and surveys for the Pacific Railroad west of the Missouri River, on the 32d and 35th Parallels, from 1853 to 1856, inclusive; Chief Engineer of the El Paso and Fort Yuma wagon road(Department of Interior) during 1857 and 1858; Surveyor on the western boundary of Minnesota (Department of Interior) during 1859 and 1860; U. S. Assistant Engineer on the defenses of Baltimore from 1861 to 1865 ; U. S. Assistant Engineer in charge of the improvement of the Patapsco River from 1867 to 1876, and on the Western division of the Virginia Central Water Line (survey 1874 to 1875) ; and from 1876 until his death he was Engineer to the Harbor Board of Baltimore; he was also U. S. Assistant Engineer in charge of surveys for a ship canal to connect the Chesapeake and Dela-
ware Bays during 1878 and 1879; Consulting Engineer for a project for a ship canal between Philadelphia and the Atlantic Ocean in 1894 and 1895; and Consulting Engineer for a projected ship canal to connect Lake Erie and the Ohio Eiver in 1895 and 1896.
For many years previous to 1896, and up to the time of his death, Mr. Hutton had been Chief Engineer to the Harbor Board of the City of Baltimore. That he held this office so many years, during the administrations of mayors and councils of opposing political parties, is proof that his services were considered so valuable as to be almost indispensable. Later, he became President of the Harbor Board, as well as Chief Engineer.
The following tribute from the Harbor Board shows the high esteem in which he was held by his associates, and it may be said with truth that this was the sentiment of the business men of Baltimore who were best acquainted with his work and ability:
"The death of Major Nathaniel H. Hutton, Engineer of the Harbor Board of Baltimore City, comes at a time and under conditions which cause especially deep feelings of sorrow and regret in the minds of the members of the Harbor Board. Immediately after the fire of February 7th and 8th, 1904, he was called upon by the citizens of Baltimore to suggest and design plans for the new docks and the improvements of the harbor of this City. The preparations of these plans, together with his other duties as engineer of the Harbor Board, devolved upon him a very great amount of skillful professional work, and it is probable that he unconsciously overtaxed his strength in this way.
The influence which Major Hutton has exerted upon the plans for the improvement of the Harbor, cannot be estimated. He has not lived to see the realization of what he has planned, bvit there can be no doubt that his activity and experience in this great work will be appreciated by his successors, and the citizens of Baltimore, when the full effects of his labors and efforts are realized.
Major Hutton was an engineer of rare ability and of vast and varied experience. He was a gentleman of the old school, and a most faithful engineer and honest public servant.
Resolved, that in the death of Major Nathaniel H. Hutton, the City of Baltimore has been deprived of a noble and trusted citizen and a capable and conscientious public servant, who has devoted many years of his life to her interests.
Resolved, that the members of the Harbor Board, who particularly appreciate the full measure of loss suffered by his death, tender their sympathies to the family of the deceased, and that these Resolutions be spread upon the Minutes of the Board."
There are also appended resolutions adopted May 19th, 1907, by the Board of Public Improvements, of which Mr. Hutton was a prominent Member President and Chief Engineer of the Harbor Board, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, that by the death of Major Hutton the City of Baltimore has lost a most faithful and efficient public officer, whose long service as Harbor Engineer here and extended experience on important public works elsewhere made his services invaluable to this city.
Also by his death, we, his fellow members of the Board of Public Improvements, have lost a trusted friend and wise counsellor, whose uniformly genial and courteous nature greatly endeared him to us.
We extend to his family our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their great sorrow.
Mr. Hutton was a Charter Member and Vice-President of the Engineers' Club of Baltimore. At his death the Club took the following action in his honor:
Whereas, We, the members of the Engineers' Club of Baltimore, have learned with sincere sorrow of the death of our fellow member.Major N. H. Hutton; and whereas we recognize his earnest efforts, as a Charter Member and Vice-President, to promote the welfare of the Club, and the active, friendly and generous interest, manifested by him, in establishing its success
Resolved, that in his death the Engineers Club of Baltimore has been deprived of a distinguished member and a Loyal and Honoured Friend.
Mr. Hutton was also an architect of decided ability, as is shown by the outcome of the designs proposed by the firm of Hutton and Murdock, of which he was a member for several years, for the construction and alteration of a number of churches, dwelling-houses and warehouses in Baltimore, Washington, Virginia and Pennsylvania. One of his designs for a highway bridge in Baltimore was considered by a very judicious board to be the best among five that were submitted. Not only was Mr. Hutton esteemed as an able engineer and architect and a capable and faithful official, but he was admired and loved by his friends in an unusual degree. A few extracts are appended from many testimonials that have been received as proof of the statements already made.
After a long intercourse, under conditions which often test men's character, long-drawn-out surveys among the rough surroundings of camp life, in the midst of Indians and uncultivated and often lawless frontier people, both male and female, one of his closest friends writes:
'Tis said that you must sleep with a man to learn his peculiarities.Well, if
this is true, Harry and I ought to have become pretty well acquainted, for
the nights we stretched ourselves on the ground under the same blanket,
ate our grub out of the same tin pan, and drank our coffee out of the same
tin cup, ran through years, and during the entire time our affection became
closer. It was only necessary to know him to love him, and, of the many
acquaintances I have made during a long and varied life, I have yet to meet
the man who excelled him in the noble qualities of head and heart which he
possessed. He was one of Nature's noblemen, a conscientious Christian
whose only fear, if he knew what fear was, was to do wrong, and whose
sense of honor was as firmly fixed as the everlasting hills."
Another, with whom Mr. Hutton had close professional and personal contact in Baltimore,
gives the following high testimonial from himself and others of their mutual associate:
"All of us had the highest appreciation of his ability as an engineer and of the
value of his services to the city. He had been our Harbor Engineer for so many
years that he had become indispensable in the working of our city government.
His advice was frequently sought by
municipal engineers and other municipal officials, and his opinion was always
respected on all engineering questions. He was progressive, broad and liberal
in his views, yet conservative enough to hold down some of us younger and r
asher engineers. He was a conciliating and harmonizing influence at all gatherings
of engineers and meetings of boards and commissions. His personality was such,
and his manner was so genial and kindly, that he could regulate or harmonize where
others could not, and yet always retain the regard and affection of his associates.
Because of his years of experience and of his broad learning, his place in our municipal government will be hard to fill. His place in our affections can never be filled."
Another who had served with Mr. Hutton very closely for many
years adds:
"As an engineer, he was capable, careful, eminent and prominent,
and was consulted in the development of many projects of National
importance. On undertaking any new work he sought the results and
opinions of others of distinction and after giving careful consideration
formulated his plans.
"As a public official, he was earnest, honest and faithful, possessing
a keen power of penetration, and his approval always carried weight.
"As a man, he was modest and retiring, affable and lovable, with
ever a kind word for his fellow-man, be he high or low, and all in all
a splendid type of a gentleman."
Still another says:
"I was thrown in intimate relations with him. He was always to me
the embodiment of a true gentleman, in the highest and best sense of
that word; honorable and truthful, above suspicion, always courteous
and always manly.
"As an engineer, he was well trained and on broad lines. I had
great confidence in him, and frequently consulted him about difficult
problems coming up in my work, and always got sound and helpful
advice. If I were called upon to name some special characteristic of
Major Hutton, which distinguished him as an engineer, I should say
that good judgment was his strong point.
"His death leaves a great blank, both professionally and socially.
My feelings for Major Hutton were those of real, genuine affection.
and I believe that most men who came in close contact with him had
the same. It is difficult to imagine a true man having any sentiments
for Major Hutton other than those of the profoundest confidence and
respect."
The writer knew Mr. Hutton for more than forty years, both professionally
and socially, and can fully bear testimony to the fact that what is said by
others in what precedes is not exaggerated. His domestic life was
charming and lovely.
In early manhood, Mr. Hutton married Miss Meta Van Ness,
daughter of Colonel Eugene Van Ness of the United States Army,
who was a member of the well-known and distinguished family of
that name in the State of New York. One of Mrs. Hutton's ancestors
was Admiral Van Ness of Holland, who lived in 1653 ; and in Scotland
her lineage dates distinctly and honorably at least to 1542.
Mr. Hutton passed from time to eternity in May, 1907, and his
devoted wife followed in September. They left three children, all
residents in Baltimore, Mr. Harry Hutton, Mrs. S. S. Busby and
Mrs. C.H. Wyatt.
Mr. Hutton was elected a Member of the American Society of Civil
Engineers on June 3d, 1896
Memoir of Nathaniel Henry Hutton prepared by William P. Craighill,
Past -President, Am. Soc. C. E. printed in the American Society of
Civil Engineers, January 1908
Hutton Family Tree
.
and died in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 8th,
1907. His earliest ancestor in the United States of whom there is any record, John Strangeways Hutton, was born in New York City in 1684
and died in Philadelphia in 1792. His father was James Hutton, who married Salome Rich of Boston, Mass., in Washington, D. C.
Following the example of his elder brother, the late William Rich Hutton, M. Am. Soc. C. E., "Harry" (as he was familiarly called by those who knew him well) entered the service of the United States at an early age, adopting the profession of civil engineering. Neither had the advantage of a collegiate education, but they did have the good fortune to grow up under the thorough training of those days, in the specially excellent schools of Alexandria and Washington, taught by men like Ben Hallowell, Abbot and others. They made good use of those early opportunities, and by industry, faithful attention to duty, and continual study of the theory of engineering and the works of able engineers, their own experience and unusual natural talents enabled them to pass through the lower grades of the profession with credit to themselves, and with the respect and ever-increasing confidence of their superiors in their integrity and high tone, until they had come to rank well among the engineers of their period in the special lines to which their attention was called.
Mr. Hutton's work as a surveyor and engineer, up to 1896, may be summarized briefly as follows: He was U. S. Assistant Engineer on explorations and surveys for the Pacific Railroad west of the Missouri River, on the 32d and 35th Parallels, from 1853 to 1856, inclusive; Chief Engineer of the El Paso and Fort Yuma wagon road(Department of Interior) during 1857 and 1858; Surveyor on the western boundary of Minnesota (Department of Interior) during 1859 and 1860; U. S. Assistant Engineer on the defenses of Baltimore from 1861 to 1865 ; U. S. Assistant Engineer in charge of the improvement of the Patapsco River from 1867 to 1876, and on the Western division of the Virginia Central Water Line (survey 1874 to 1875) ; and from 1876 until his death he was Engineer to the Harbor Board of Baltimore; he was also U. S. Assistant Engineer in charge of surveys for a ship canal to connect the Chesapeake and Dela-
ware Bays during 1878 and 1879; Consulting Engineer for a project for a ship canal between Philadelphia and the Atlantic Ocean in 1894 and 1895; and Consulting Engineer for a projected ship canal to connect Lake Erie and the Ohio Eiver in 1895 and 1896.
For many years previous to 1896, and up to the time of his death, Mr. Hutton had been Chief Engineer to the Harbor Board of the City of Baltimore. That he held this office so many years, during the administrations of mayors and councils of opposing political parties, is proof that his services were considered so valuable as to be almost indispensable. Later, he became President of the Harbor Board, as well as Chief Engineer.
The following tribute from the Harbor Board shows the high esteem in which he was held by his associates, and it may be said with truth that this was the sentiment of the business men of Baltimore who were best acquainted with his work and ability:
"The death of Major Nathaniel H. Hutton, Engineer of the Harbor Board of Baltimore City, comes at a time and under conditions which cause especially deep feelings of sorrow and regret in the minds of the members of the Harbor Board. Immediately after the fire of February 7th and 8th, 1904, he was called upon by the citizens of Baltimore to suggest and design plans for the new docks and the improvements of the harbor of this City. The preparations of these plans, together with his other duties as engineer of the Harbor Board, devolved upon him a very great amount of skillful professional work, and it is probable that he unconsciously overtaxed his strength in this way.
The influence which Major Hutton has exerted upon the plans for the improvement of the Harbor, cannot be estimated. He has not lived to see the realization of what he has planned, bvit there can be no doubt that his activity and experience in this great work will be appreciated by his successors, and the citizens of Baltimore, when the full effects of his labors and efforts are realized.
Major Hutton was an engineer of rare ability and of vast and varied experience. He was a gentleman of the old school, and a most faithful engineer and honest public servant.
Resolved, that in the death of Major Nathaniel H. Hutton, the City of Baltimore has been deprived of a noble and trusted citizen and a capable and conscientious public servant, who has devoted many years of his life to her interests.
Resolved, that the members of the Harbor Board, who particularly appreciate the full measure of loss suffered by his death, tender their sympathies to the family of the deceased, and that these Resolutions be spread upon the Minutes of the Board."
There are also appended resolutions adopted May 19th, 1907, by the Board of Public Improvements, of which Mr. Hutton was a prominent Member President and Chief Engineer of the Harbor Board, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, that by the death of Major Hutton the City of Baltimore has lost a most faithful and efficient public officer, whose long service as Harbor Engineer here and extended experience on important public works elsewhere made his services invaluable to this city.
Also by his death, we, his fellow members of the Board of Public Improvements, have lost a trusted friend and wise counsellor, whose uniformly genial and courteous nature greatly endeared him to us.
We extend to his family our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their great sorrow.
Mr. Hutton was a Charter Member and Vice-President of the Engineers' Club of Baltimore. At his death the Club took the following action in his honor:
Whereas, We, the members of the Engineers' Club of Baltimore, have learned with sincere sorrow of the death of our fellow member.Major N. H. Hutton; and whereas we recognize his earnest efforts, as a Charter Member and Vice-President, to promote the welfare of the Club, and the active, friendly and generous interest, manifested by him, in establishing its success
Resolved, that in his death the Engineers Club of Baltimore has been deprived of a distinguished member and a Loyal and Honoured Friend.
Mr. Hutton was also an architect of decided ability, as is shown by the outcome of the designs proposed by the firm of Hutton and Murdock, of which he was a member for several years, for the construction and alteration of a number of churches, dwelling-houses and warehouses in Baltimore, Washington, Virginia and Pennsylvania. One of his designs for a highway bridge in Baltimore was considered by a very judicious board to be the best among five that were submitted. Not only was Mr. Hutton esteemed as an able engineer and architect and a capable and faithful official, but he was admired and loved by his friends in an unusual degree. A few extracts are appended from many testimonials that have been received as proof of the statements already made.
After a long intercourse, under conditions which often test men's character, long-drawn-out surveys among the rough surroundings of camp life, in the midst of Indians and uncultivated and often lawless frontier people, both male and female, one of his closest friends writes:
'Tis said that you must sleep with a man to learn his peculiarities.Well, if
this is true, Harry and I ought to have become pretty well acquainted, for
the nights we stretched ourselves on the ground under the same blanket,
ate our grub out of the same tin pan, and drank our coffee out of the same
tin cup, ran through years, and during the entire time our affection became
closer. It was only necessary to know him to love him, and, of the many
acquaintances I have made during a long and varied life, I have yet to meet
the man who excelled him in the noble qualities of head and heart which he
possessed. He was one of Nature's noblemen, a conscientious Christian
whose only fear, if he knew what fear was, was to do wrong, and whose
sense of honor was as firmly fixed as the everlasting hills."
Another, with whom Mr. Hutton had close professional and personal contact in Baltimore,
gives the following high testimonial from himself and others of their mutual associate:
"All of us had the highest appreciation of his ability as an engineer and of the
value of his services to the city. He had been our Harbor Engineer for so many
years that he had become indispensable in the working of our city government.
His advice was frequently sought by
municipal engineers and other municipal officials, and his opinion was always
respected on all engineering questions. He was progressive, broad and liberal
in his views, yet conservative enough to hold down some of us younger and r
asher engineers. He was a conciliating and harmonizing influence at all gatherings
of engineers and meetings of boards and commissions. His personality was such,
and his manner was so genial and kindly, that he could regulate or harmonize where
others could not, and yet always retain the regard and affection of his associates.
Because of his years of experience and of his broad learning, his place in our municipal government will be hard to fill. His place in our affections can never be filled."
Another who had served with Mr. Hutton very closely for many
years adds:
"As an engineer, he was capable, careful, eminent and prominent,
and was consulted in the development of many projects of National
importance. On undertaking any new work he sought the results and
opinions of others of distinction and after giving careful consideration
formulated his plans.
"As a public official, he was earnest, honest and faithful, possessing
a keen power of penetration, and his approval always carried weight.
"As a man, he was modest and retiring, affable and lovable, with
ever a kind word for his fellow-man, be he high or low, and all in all
a splendid type of a gentleman."
Still another says:
"I was thrown in intimate relations with him. He was always to me
the embodiment of a true gentleman, in the highest and best sense of
that word; honorable and truthful, above suspicion, always courteous
and always manly.
"As an engineer, he was well trained and on broad lines. I had
great confidence in him, and frequently consulted him about difficult
problems coming up in my work, and always got sound and helpful
advice. If I were called upon to name some special characteristic of
Major Hutton, which distinguished him as an engineer, I should say
that good judgment was his strong point.
"His death leaves a great blank, both professionally and socially.
My feelings for Major Hutton were those of real, genuine affection.
and I believe that most men who came in close contact with him had
the same. It is difficult to imagine a true man having any sentiments
for Major Hutton other than those of the profoundest confidence and
respect."
The writer knew Mr. Hutton for more than forty years, both professionally
and socially, and can fully bear testimony to the fact that what is said by
others in what precedes is not exaggerated. His domestic life was
charming and lovely.
In early manhood, Mr. Hutton married Miss Meta Van Ness,
daughter of Colonel Eugene Van Ness of the United States Army,
who was a member of the well-known and distinguished family of
that name in the State of New York. One of Mrs. Hutton's ancestors
was Admiral Van Ness of Holland, who lived in 1653 ; and in Scotland
her lineage dates distinctly and honorably at least to 1542.
Mr. Hutton passed from time to eternity in May, 1907, and his
devoted wife followed in September. They left three children, all
residents in Baltimore, Mr. Harry Hutton, Mrs. S. S. Busby and
Mrs. C.H. Wyatt.
Mr. Hutton was elected a Member of the American Society of Civil
Engineers on June 3d, 1896
Memoir of Nathaniel Henry Hutton prepared by William P. Craighill,
Past -President, Am. Soc. C. E. printed in the American Society of
Civil Engineers, January 1908
Hutton Family Tree
.
