Robert J. Hutchinson, M. D.
Robert J. Hutchinson, M. D., physician and surgeon of Grand Rapids, Mich., was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, November 13, 1869, a son of George and Sarah (Shields) Hutchinson, the former of whom was a native of Sheffield, England, and the latter of the dominion of Canada. For many years the father was a merchant at Alliston, Ontario, where his life was principally passed, and where he died in 1891, but had lost his wife in 1875. Of the six children born to these parents, the doctor is the youngest; John is a farmer in Canada; William is a merchant in Cleveland, Ohio; George is succeeded to his father’s business and is still a merchant at Alliston; Martha Southwick lives in Stratford, Ontario, and Mary Ormerod resides at Stratford, same province.
Dr. R. J. Hutchinson acquired his literary education at Albert college, Belleville, Ontario, but prior to his graduation assisted in his father’s store for three years. W. R. Brock & Co., of Toronto, and then, for two years, by Edson, Moore & Co., of Detroit, but resigned this position to engage in professional study in the office of his cousin, Dr. S. S. Shields. He next entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which, after a three year’s course of study, he graduated in 1896. Having secured a position as house surgeon of the Union Benevolent Association hospital at Grand Rapids, he at once came to this city, and filled the position of intern so satisfactorily that, at the end of five months, he was elected superintendent of the institution, being the first incumbent after the creation of the office. Two and a half years later he resigned this position to assume charge of the practice of Dr. S. C. Graves during the absence of the latter as surgeon in the army.
Dr. Hutchinson is a member of the Grand Rapids Medical & Surgical society, of the Nu Sigma Nu society, connected with the Detroit College of Medicine, and also of a number of fraternal associations or orders. His religious affiliations are with the Division street Methodist church. In politics, he is republican. The doctor is the only representative of his family in Grand Rapids, but since coming to the city has made many warm friends, and has enjoyed an extensive and lucrative general practice.